Fluke, fluke, fluke and more fluke but only one keeper!

[Bob]

Went looking for the big fish today as part of the JCAA Tourn. fishing deep and using big baits.  Started fishing at 7 in Ambrose trying to hook the one that did not fit in my net and got away last week.  The drift was ssllooww and required power drift.  Started at # 13 and drifted out to 4, only one bite but no fish.  Then headed over to the reef.  Hardly anybody there and the fluke also were missing.  After depositing some lead on parts of the reef I moved on to the rocks.  Tried several drifts in different locations but again "0" fluke.  By now I was getting a little discouraged and decided to move north by the beach to see if I could at least catch a throw back. Well, I found the mother load.  Got there at 1pm and put three rods in the water, well almost, never got the third set before both other rods were jumping.  This continued for three hours as I made the same drift over and over again. I had one 21.5 incher, three sea robbins, three skates, JCAA wanted us to report on the number and condition of the released fish during the Day7.  By four the radio was saying the storms are coming, raining in NYC. I headed in after a long day of dropping and reeling.  How did the others do.  I see Irish Eyes got a space.

[IrishAyes]

Great effort Bob. It was tuff today.

I was at the rocks, we caught a few keepers and some shorts there. Biggest there was the same as yours, 21 1/2.

I lucked out on my last drift off of Asbury and found two nice fish in a short time. Other than that, it was a tuff day of catching.

[Still Running]

It was a hard to find keepers for most of us out there, but what a great weather day. It was a little to nice.

[Bob]

Was a very tuff day till I found the fish but nothing of any size.  I was falling asleep at the computer so I see the report trails off at the end. I kept count as JCAA wanted and I caught 47 fluke. Many were last years keepers but only one went over 18.  I know it is early but if this continues it will be a very slow year.  Saw Luna Sea who passed me heading south along the beach.  Called them on the radio but no respose, hard to hear when you are moving.

Talked to several others at the dock and clean up, same story, maybe one or two fish many with none, settling for bluefish or sea bass. Fish and Wildlife was there checking fish.  He had some guy from PA who obviously was in trouble as the Officer was pulling the boaters wheeled cooler to his State vehicle so he could separate and count the fish which were illegal.  He even had his lunch cooler in hand.  The boater and his son seemed dismayed and kept asking how this was going to be resolved.  The Officer said, why don't you take your boat out and then come over to my truck, this is going to take awhile and bring your drivers license with you!  Assume the state Treasury will be helped, is that is possible.  I have an idea, the state should charge for radio checks, wait a minute, better not give them any revenue ideas.

[Still Running]

  Would be a good money maker

[catfish hunter]

wardens were in keyport also ,they checked my fish 2 times ,not many in the marina caught many fish it was a slow day for all

[salty pig]

Fluke dont like a certain depth ive been noticing ... Guys were catching them in 15ft last week  and 55 ft seems like they all over  but the bigger ones like deeper water ... Am i correct in my assumption?

[Luna Sea 5]

should be.. who has short, shorts... we have short, shorts..

[Still Running]

My one and only keeper (20") yesterday came in 25' of water.

[catfish hunter]

Fluke dont like a certain depth ive been noticing ... Guys were catching them in 15ft last week  and 55 ft seems like they all over  but the bigger ones like deeper water ... Am i correct in my assumption?

fluke move into differant depths during certian tide stages,learn and pattern them and you will increase your catchs ,everyone always says they stoped biting but they didnt they moved ,they always feed you just lost the pod of them .

[FINITALIA2]

good effort