Party Boat Atlantic Highlands 8/9/07

[Bucktail]

I ran all the way up to AH cause I heard the fluking was hot up there.  Well I finished with two keepers and a half dozen shorts.  Pool winner was about 2 1/2 lbs.  Nobody had a limit.  It picked up towards the end of the trip but we ran out of time.  Not a great day (fishing wise).  But I don't get out all that much lately, so it was nice to feel something tugging on my string!! 

BTW, are party boats exempt from using fluke strips for bait?  The mates on the boat I was on were handing them out to some of the "regulars".

[vespo]

I did a fluke trip from AH on a party boat earlier this week- it was hit or miss, a lot of shorts, only 2 keepers for me. There were two fairly big fluke competing for the pool.

Bait of the day was sand eels and squid. The only guy who was getting consistent hits was using live bait (snappers and killies). My day would have been better if I got a good set on the two or three that ran off with half my bait- can't help jumping the gun sometimes...

Anyway, the real problem seemed to be that there was hardly any wind, so the drifts were so-so, not much you can do about it but use your technique to the best of your ability, and go out another time when the bite is better.

Wonder if you had the same problems I did with the wind?

[IrishAyes]

First off, nice report.  And it is always a good day of fishing, it's just not a good day of catching.

Next, no, the party boats are NOT exempt from the fluke strip regs.  If they get caught they will pay the price.  I don't understand why they would take a chance of ruining their reputation for a few regulars who would come back day after day anyway.  Conservation and State Police-Marine Division do put officers on the party boats as fishermen.  They will watch and take notes.  At the end of the day the party begins for them.  

[Luna Sea 5]

 

[Ruger314]

Looks like a call needs to be place to fish and game!!!

I hope the guy is a member here..who's aCo is paying attention!

[Hotrod]

I was under the impression that they are exempt from the fluke belly regs. since they are allowed to clean fish at sea.

[Capt. Ed]

Hi All,

Using fluke belly in NJ waters is forbidden.

I have been fighting about this since they started letting the Party Boats fillet at sea.

The intention of the permit is to have the fish fillet done before docking, not to let their Customers break the law.

This practice, as Capt. Joe stated, is wrong.

Capt. Ed

[Bucktail]

I was pretty sure that wasn't right, but I didn't say anything at the time (since I really wasn't sure). 

Personally, I think the ban on fluke belly is silly.  If the racks are kept then you should be allowed to use them.

Your thoughts?

[CapBob]

The way it is going you won't be allowed to catch Fluke so using Fluke bellies you can't get won't be of concern..........

Just me being facetious   

Never could understand people taking a chance like that when you run a business,