My 1st post this year. I have been fishing in the Manasquan almost exclusively due to the 16' boat. It has been a little better about 20 to 1 keeper ratio up from 30 to 1 last year. The fish this month have been noticeably larger than the last. I find that as September gets closer the sizes go up. I expect August in the surf and river to be better than the last several years as far as fluke go. Me and my brother were out today and saw the most unbelievable site a 450 pound 60yo + man wearing a speedo. Being a PPB local you just don't see that every day even in my Navy days in Europe you would never see that. His belly was so big it looked like he was naked from the front. (sorry if your eating) My Bro had several beers in him and he was laughing his ass off.
For you guys fishing the tournament tomorrow if the weather permits go outside otherwise the rivers best spot has been as it goes from 20' to 12' on the inside of the inlet on the incoming tide, but from the train bridge has been better than the rest. The only bait that has caught any fish has been either white or chartreuse gulp minnow. High/low buck tail on the bottom and a hook only a foot above. Top hook is way out fishing the bottom. I have been using 4/0 or 5/0 circle hooks for the last three years and have had very few bad hook ups killing very few fish.
If you see a 16" side console green/tan (30 yo tracker) aluminum boat that's me, I have a NJSWF decal on my wind shield and put my boat in the canal.
Good luck to everyone tomorrow.
