Winter flounder

[Blackfish Doug]

I hope that this year we see more winter flounder trips on this board. I don't care how much it costs for bait. I did many Fluking trips where I lost over $100 in bucktails & gulp & got nothing but shorts. My average is at least $20 in tackle loss for a fish that is not as good eating or fighting fish. This is why I no longer have any interest in fishing for fluke. I would say that 2 keeper flounder have more meat then 3 keeper fluke. Most of the time when your flounder fishing your culling your flounder just keeping your biggest fish. You spend less gas money to get to the fish not as much traveling time as well. If anybody is doing any open trips or if anybody is looking for somebody to fish with them & split costs I would be willing to do it if it fits my work schedule just pm me. I know the picture shown is from a offshore trip but I have caught flounder like this in the back bays as well.

[Scrubby]

Did you just say fluke are not good eating??

[Blackfish Doug]

Originally Posted by Scrubby

Did you just say fluke are not good eating??

In comparison to winter flounder I think it's a much better eating fish hands down. If it wasn't for the raw fish & I don't eat raw fish I feel your eating the sauce not the fish. I would rather eat a flounder,sea bass,cod, blackfish,Ling,whiting,any tuna,Mahi,wahoo its on the bottom of my eating fish list sorry. I didn't say it was a bad eating fish my statement was comparison to winter flounder.

[Gerry Zagorski]

I'm with you Doug.... Flounder are much better eating then Fluke.

Too bad the regs are what they are...

Used to look forward to fishing for them in April when we launched the boat for the season. We'd fish for them until the Stripers showed up.

In spite of the regs people are still fishing for them but the fishing has been tough up in the Raritan Bay and rivers these past few seasons. Hopefully they make a decent showing this year.

[NJ Dave]

Caught a few flounder this year off shore while sea bassing. He'll of a fighting fish and tasty.
I agree with Doug, fluke fishing in NJ is a waste of time. I don't enjoy the fishing, the throw back to keeper ratio sucks, and the fight is just so so.
Bring on the show shoes.

[bigal427]

Have to agree flounder are better eating then fluke. But to say fluke fishing is a waste of time? It's probably one of the most popular fish to fish for in the summer. Down in Barnegat Bay you get a good early summer bite and do not have to run far and fish in shallow water and fluke seem to fight harder when hooked in shallow water. If they drop the size to 17" I could see a lot of limits coming out of the bay. Also winter flounder fishing has not been good in Barnegat Bay in the Waretown area for at least the last five years noting like it use to be. It's been hard to get your 2 fish limit

[tautog]

I have my offshore hooks tied up, number 6 virginias on 30lb leader.

[Blackfish Doug]

Originally Posted by bigal427

Have to agree flounder are better eating then fluke. But to say fluke fishing is a waste of time? It's probably one of the most popular fish to fish for in the summer. Down in Barnegat Bay you get a good early summer bite and do not have to run far and fish in shallow water and fluke seem to fight harder when hooked in shallow water. If they drop the size to 17" I could see a lot of limits coming out of the bay. Also winter flounder fishing has not been good in Barnegat Bay in the Waretown area for at least the last five years noting like it use to be. It's been hard to get your 2 fish limit

Why am I being misquoted so much nowhere did I post that is was a waste of time. The areas where I fish is mostly the rough stuff that's where the big boys live I understand it losing tackle & is all part of the game. I no longer want to spend close to $200 on a bad day & look at nothing but ice in my cooler. I know down by where you fish there is plenty of fluke & it can me a lot of fun even if you don't get a keeper. Matching the proper gear to the size of the fish is a great challenge. But I know quite a few fisherman who do fish in your area that do very good with the winter flounder in the bay's. The problem is that when it's good by you most of the fisherman are already into the fluke when that good bite is going on.

[bulletbob]

When I lived in Union Beach I lived for flounder fishing.. It was incredible fishing back then.. Fluke fishing was great too, but in my opinion, winter flounder are a lot more fun.. Better fight inch for inch, WAY better eating, no comparison, and for whatever reason, I just liked them better back then and still do to this day.. LOVE those massive snowshoes we see on the bottom fishing boats in spring and summer!.. I hope we have a big resurgence in population in the bays and rivers,,, but I have my doubts sad to say... bob

[Joey Dah Fish]

I did a few offshore trips with Mimi last season with Steve O. A lot of nice flounder were caught. And yes much much better eating than fluke.