Winter Flounder - Nostalgia

[Reel Class]

It's a shame our flounder fishery has become what it has become due to regulations and a very clearly diminishing population. I grew up in the 80's when this fishery was something ALL OF US took for granted. Buckets full of fish without even blinking an eye, and now they're virtually a forgotten species. Hell, if this was 5 years ago, we'd be prepping the boat and would be in for 4/1 to start fishing for flounder and wouldn't think about targeting bass or bottom fish. Man, have times changed

I sincerely believe if WE speak up maybe something can get done in this one instant. If no one complains up the ladder, "things" get forgotten and buried (hypothetically speaking).

I miss fishing for these things and Maybe our angling "groups" can do something for us and the rest of the recreational sector to at least get us a longer season and maybe even get us back that 10 fish bag limit, if not a few less. Businesses, especially tackle shops prospered when there was interest in flounder (chum, worms, clams, rigs, etc.) and even us in the charter business put a few bucks in our pockets when we targeted the blackbacks.

I attached some pics (from ~1999-2008 mostly from the old reel class and a couple from Capt Robbie's old Sea Hunter), feel free to post your thoughts.

(Please don't criticize me for the one pic of that "short bass" LOL - that was when we had slot fish we could KEEP)

[tautog]

My feelings on flounder are that for some reason, the population stays offshore more. Back when we had more flounder in the rivers and bays, you would catch a few in the deep during the warm weather, but now that the backwaters are spotty, there are spots paved with flounder in the deep. I have had drop and reel fishing out there by switching to number 6 virginias and smaller pieces of bait with no chumming other than the baits of other patrons. I don't know how many times I have seen 100 flounder come up out there in a few hours of fishing with no chumming and large 3/0-4/0 hooks.

[mako28]

There is no shortage of winter flounders in RB or JB. I say this from experience. I still can limit out any day and then some with a 10 fish limit. People may say there are no fish, not as many fish, blah, blah, blah. I say you don't try hard enough. The fish are here. No I don't keep 10 fish now.

[Bob T.]

With a 2 fish limit I haven't even tried for them. I use to hear a lot of complaints about the fyke nets in the rivers, is that method still used?

[Papasown]

I really miss the "good old days"of flounder fishing. When I was a kid growing up on LBI in the late 1940's and 1950's, my Mom and I would walk from Surf City over to the bulkhead on the eastern most part of the old causeway where it enters Ship Bottom from Cedar Bonnet Island. We would open 2 cans of cat food with a beer can opener, and throw them down on the up current side, close to the bulkhead. If we had a couple clams, we would crack the shells and drop one every few minutes while we were fishing. Our flounder hooks, baited with bits of bloodworm and clam, would be tied with one off the leader of the other, and were allowed to move freely from the 3-way swivel and sinker, (the same way I set it up today). We would limit out in the fall/winer season with huge flounders in no time, and if we fished in the spring, the catch would usually be smaller.
I always enjoyed the winter flounder fishery, and since I joined the Jersey Coast Shark Anglers in 2003, I have always fished in their annual Flounder Tournament. These Tournaments, and the one's sponsered by other groups gave the small boat fisherman a chance to get out in the rivers and bays, and stand a chance at winning a tournament. I am proud to say that I won the JCSA's last tournament (and calcutta) , knowing that this too is perhaps a thing of the past. But I still love to get out there with my Grandkids, and catch ém up, Papa

[jerseyhunter]

I remember back in the 60 as a kid having a grand old time in Belmar catching in the spring. I used to go with my dad in the winter to check on the boat in dry dock at Campbell's Marina in Shark River Hills in Feb and remember this old couple sitting on the dock catching and within minutes the fish would be frozen , it was that cold. My Dad said to me in front of them that they wanted to go home but couldn't cause they were also frozen to the dock. LOL Like the song says "Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end".

[NoWorries]

Originally Posted by Bob T.

With a 2 fish limit I haven't even tried for them. I use to hear a lot of complaints about the fyke nets in the rivers, is that method still used?

Used to be the way we would start our saltwater fishing every year. Fyke nets are still around last few years,not sure about this winter because of Sandy. Doesn't seem right, commercial should be shut down too. Catch and release from shore has been very good last few years before the March 23 open season but there's been an early exodus from the rivers/bays. I haven't been out this month yet but will fish in my local area after the season opens.

[frugalfisherman]

Don't winter flounder come into the rivers and bays to spawn?

[action]

two flounder bah humbug more bull shit.hook um to cook um

[Blackfish Doug]

Plenty of Flounder are around this picture was just from 2 years ago. I had at least 9 or 10 keepers in a half day of fishing. I only kept my limit this picture was from a group charter on the Monger. Everybody on board that day had their limit & yes it was worth it. There was more meat on those 2 keepers then there would be on 2 keeper Fluke. At least with Flounder your chances of limiting is a lot better. I really got to laugh when I read only 2 keepers. I always do good with the Flatties & yes I would love to see more keepers added to the catch. I would love to see a longer season into the summer months or a fall season to fill in the gaps when the Fluke season ends.