Your go to for opening day Fluke!

[shrimpman steve]

Ohhh do I miss opening day.

[hartattack]

Shark River Special: Naked Spearing on 1/2 oz jighead, teaser above with another naked spearing - on your favorite trout rod: can't wait

[TerriMc223]

Tap dancer (three way) rig. 2 to 3oz Bucktail or jig head with gulp grub(Nuclear chicken or New Penny )as the "weight" , chartreuse gulp swimming minnow and really angry killie on the trailer hook. Will use fresh strip bait ( sea robin e.g.) if available as well.
I also got some new rigs at the Point Pleasant Fishing Flea market over the winter I am anxious to try from " One on Jigs" which I have seen others use with good results both locally and off Nantucket.
I usually fish on a party boat out of Atlantic Highlands ( Atlantic Star). I try to get there early to grab a good spot in the pulpit or one of the stern corners. For opening day most everyone starts out just inside the hook: Bug light to Coast Guard Station etc. Heavy fishing pressure there but I have done well there in the past.
It is always great to be out fluking on opening day!

[Detour66]

Thanks for sharing your "go to" rig information. I will be going with a JW Fluke candy rig and also a 3 way rig with either spearing or live killie ! See ya all at Bug Light Friday morning! Tight lines!

[fishpro28]

Originally Posted by AVA67

If I was going out on the opener out of the Atlantic Highlands I would be starting with a basic 3/8 oz spro high and 1-3 oz (what ever it took to hold on the swing) spro low combo the the little spro tipped with gulp and the bottom jig tipped with a strip of whatever I had, squid, mackerel, bluefish, ect.

BUT I would have a second rod rigged with a very basic single hook rig with a light leader. If you see fish coming up on bait (think the rental rods catching fish) I would make the switch to bait with no hesitation.

I spent too many cold early seasons when I was working deck watching the "sharpies" jigging up nothing while the rentals and kids were catching keepers on bait. Their are many days in the cold water when especially the bigger fish won't chase a jig, but will gladly inhale 2 spearing as they gently float by.

This is spot on my experience also. It seems Gulp works better in warmer water temps. I’m one of those sharpies that insisted on bucktailing instead of bait....getting outfished by kids. Lol

[the directa]

Meat , meat and more meat nothing fancy