Fish Finder / Finding Fish???

[sea nymph]

Two Questions?

1.  Are fish finders useful for Flounder?
2.  Looking for a decent spot to bay/river fish in the spring/summer for flounder.  Around the central part if NJ.

Brief History -  I bought a boat last year so my 6 year old son can begin to enjoy bay fishing and crabbing.  I have done a lot in the past in Maryland and I am NOT new to boating.  I'm looking for decent fishing areas that we can get to during the week where it's not too crazy and he won't get bounced around by the wakes.  We're looking for areas in the central part of NJ.  We live in PA and the Shark & Manasquan are convenient but small (looking for a little larger area that's pretty close).  Six year olds have little patience, so the closer the better!
We have a 17ft. with a 90 horse. 
Also, my wife wants to buy me a fish finder for Christmas, but I don't know how useful they are for Flounder.
Any advice would be great!!!!

[mboy]

You won't see flounder in the mud with them, but you will be able to see the holes, dropp offs, channel edges etc that they live and feed around
I would imagine Sandy Hook is closer to you, no?

[bassnblues]

I'm assuming your talking summer flounder or Fluke...

Fish finders are not that useful in finding fluke/flounder themselves because they lie flat to the bottom.

They are very helpful in this type of fishing to be able to find a certain depth, structure or schools of bait. When you get used to using it, you'll be able to tell different bottom types too.

This past year I've come to feel that a GPS is very worthwhile in Fluke fishing because they get bunched up in small areas. If you can repeat a good drift, you'll have a good day.

Hope this helps...

[CapBob]

As has been said you will not be able to see Flounder/Fluke on the fish finder but you will find structure for fishing.

Structure is a simple as a 2' rise in the bottom, channel edges, creek bottoms, wreck, obstructions, etc. These all hold bait which inturn hold fish.

As anything practice with your finder and you will be come quit adapt at reading the bottom, fish marks, bait balls, etc.

Best way to figure out where you are going to fish is to ride over the area and mark on your GPS the points of structure, your GPS unit will also show your drift line.

Pretty soon you will have a book full of numbers (longitude and Latitude) where you have found some good structure.

A lot of structure has been found by accident going from place to place, it is good to have a high speed transducer which will read while you are motoring.

If you are going to get serious, the use of your charts, GPS and Fish Finder will put you where you want to go.......as opposed to just following the fleet around and hoping they know what they are doing.

Prime example is one of the more favorite channels that the fleet fishes for Fluke in consistantly holds more fish at a certain depth line. Many times I have been out holding this line having my people bail in good fish while other boats were 50-60 feet away not catching...at times it is just a matter of a few feet.......good luck, anything we can do to help

[Luna Sea 5]

fish finders are a must for depth, structure, water temp, etc... You will not see any fluke on it as they are bottom dwellers.  But, it still is a very usefull tool to help target them.

[bassnblues]

To answer the second part of you question. I'd recomend trying Keyport. There's a few launch ramps and plent of bait shops.

When you come out of the harbor, you'll see a bunch of sailboats moored. As a starting point, just go right outside the sailboats and start drifting.

Keep checking this site and you'll get some great tips.

[mboy]

I caught a 24.5" Fluke week after the season closed right by the sailboats in keyport this year.

[IrishAyes]

What everyone else has said is gospel.  Find the structure and you will find the fish.