Fluke: The Feds were right

[Mike K]

South Jersey back bay is way better this year. Opening day I had three keepers by 8:00 AM. Now, the reefs are starting to produce. Was at OC reef Thursday for 3 hours went 1 for 4. Now some will call that a bad day, but boats out there earlier had limits. It's not even July yet. August is usually best on the ocean reefs. Threw back a 14" Sea Bass too. A guy like me can make a meal out of a 14" Bass, but the rules are the rules.

[Detour66]

If the Feds where right there would be no Fluke anywhere. You are saying they are out in the ocean feeding on squid and that's keeping them where the food is.So there are Fluke..just not in SH Bay. July-August are mostly the best Fluke months. Let's give it a chance. I know of some sharpies that are cleaning house every time they go out so the fish are there. BTW...how far offshore are these Fluke ...I am ready to take a ride! Tight lines!

[SaltLife1980]

Last year the bay was full of bait early in the season which is why it was stupid fishing right off the bat. This year is a different year. Cant compare this years to last years catch already bc the variables are different. If all the bait and all that was in the bay again like last year and this year we were not catching shit id say you have a point.

[NoLimit]

We are having one of the best years on fluke....mostly in 16' or less

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by AndyS

It's only June !!! Year after year after year the best fluke fishing is in August. Does anyone not keep a log book or remember years past ??????

good fluking usually starts the last two weeks of June in the raritan Bay.
Ocean fishery starts to heat up by the second week of July.
But with the water colder than normal this spring with all the SE heave. its not surprising the fishery is a few weeks late.

as said when all the bait still out east gets here it will be like someone flipped the switch.

Just one look at the reports east of FI shows they are pounding fish there daily

.

[Reelron]

What you say may be so, but I see some very valid arguments presented here.

I also believe that by following the size limts they restrict us to we help them to be right. As long as we allow them to bump the minium size up we keep moving into the area of taking only the larger breeders! Thus no fluke. Until we are "allowed" to take reasonable size fish we are creating our own problem!

[Togfather2530]

Agreed 100%. Every year it will decline

[Joey Dah Fish]

Not sure if many of you noticed. But we had no real tog bite throughout the April until the very end. In addition no real serious Striper consistency throughout late may and through June. Now Abrasion is saying fluke are very scarce. Well from my perspective just look at water temps and the fact we probably had a total of 8 day in 2 months of west winds and I think most of us can agree water temps are everything. Fluke just started showing up last week in the ocean and give it time. Keep watching those winds we need a good 3-4 consecutive days of west winds and I think you will see much improved fishing. Not to mention the amount of rain we have seen May and June. But to judge the fluke season in this first couple of weeks is irresponsible. Obviously not a long time fisherman or just looking at how great last spring was and comparing it to this spring. Every year is different that fishing.

[FISHGERE]

abrasion you got it right, look at the pictures they cant even get three fish not good. fishing stinks

[Gerry Zagorski]

Not saying the feds are right, but even a broken clock is right twice a day

Lets talk once the water warms up and the bait fish move in. Look at all the Cod, Winter Flounder and Ling being caught... They are all cold water fish and usually gone this time of year.

Any way you cut it, what they are doing right now isn't working for the fish or the fishermen. Time for some drastic changes.

Point in case, according to them Sea Bass are fully rebuilt yet we are facing a quota reduction?? Heck, you can hardly drop down a piece of squid or clam and not catch one.