Hi All,
So you have been reading the reports about good NJ Fluke fishing and you are wondering, "Did I miss it?"
The answer is, "No Way!"
Although the shortened season will truncate one of the most productive parts of the season, The Fall run, you have a lot to look forward to up to the close of the season on September 10, 2007.
Right now, up and down the coast, you can still catch nice Fluke in the bays, rivers and estuaries, although their is evidence that the fish are staging to move out to the ocean in preparation of their offshore migration for the Winter.
Please click "Read more" for the entire article ...
For those fishing from land, your best bet is to fish at inlet jetties and from the surf. The key bodies of water are the Raritan Bay; Sandy Hook Bay; Shark River; Shark River Inlet; Manasquan River; Manasquan Inlet; Barnegat Bay (especially at the BB, BI and "40" buoys and the mouth of the Forked River and Oyster Creek); Barnegat Inlet; Beach Haven inlet; Little Egg Inlet; Great Bay; Brigantine Inlet; Absecon Inlet; Great Egg Harbor Inlet; Corson Inlet; Townsends Inlet; Hereford Inlet; Cape May Inlet; and the Delaware Bay, to name a few locations. If you have more detailed questions or information to share regarding these areas, please join us in our "Fishing Reports" Forum at
http://njsaltwaterfisherman.com/forums/index.php?board=23.0 .
I prefer a spinning outfit for fishing from jetties or the sand. I use a fishfinder rig with enough weight to get to the bottom. I use killie (mud minnow)/squid or spearing/squid for bait, although there are many good choices. An alternative to the fishfinder rig is a bucktail tipped with killie (mud minnow)/squid or spearing/squid. In either case, it is important that the bait not remain stationary for long periods of time or you will find yourself catching many skates. In inlets, please throw upcurrent and your line will flow with the current naturally. Do not underestimate how close the Fluke can be. There are many times where they lie in ambush in one foot of water right in the suds.
For boaters, you can fish all the described rivers, bays, estuaries and oceanfront with the same techniques. In addition, you can access the many NJ Artificial reefs. As you are aware, structure attracts baitfish and are great ambush points for Fluke. Structure can mean a change in the bottom (i.e. a dropoff); a wreck; rubble; jetties; rocks; and clam beds for examples. I perfer to use a conventional rod/reel combo with a fishfinder rig with enough weight to hold straight up and down. I also prefer to use braid (i.e. Power Pro) due to its increased sensitivity; less weight to get down in the strike zone; and increased hook setting capability because of its lack of stretch versus mono. A bucktail is also effective. Whatever bait you try, I like to use live (i.e. snapper, killie (mud minnow)) or freshly killed. Don't be afraid to get right in the structure. You will lose a lot of terminal gear so keep it simple. However, you will greatly increase your chance of catching a true doormat (10 lbs. +).
So, while fishing for NJ Fluke has been very good up until now in 2007, you still have a chance to get out and be successful with one of NJ's most popular recreational fish!
Thanks,
Capt. Ed
