Fluke season starts off hot this weekend after a bit of a slow week.
The best fluke bait has been spearing and salted mackerel on bucktails. Some guys using bobbers and gulp too. You’ll need to come into the shop if you want to find out the secret colors of gulp they’ve been hitting!
Give us a call at 609-296-4406 to get geared up and get in on the spring action!
Most of Great Bay and Barnegat Bay Unmarked
Not sure why the marks haven’t been put in yet but most of Great Bay is unmarked. We hope you still have your tracks from last year!
We also got word that Double Creek in Barnegat Bay has finally been marked as of 5/8. You would have thought the opening of Fluke season would have made them open it but that hasn’t been the case.
As always be careful when navigating the channels on lower tides.
Fluke Fishing in New Jersey Begins
Gavin, Luke, and Miles with some nice fish
Fluke fishing in Great Bay has been off to a hot start.
Some of the best caught fluke have been in the bays, the ocean still needs to warm up a hair before the wrecks start producing quality doormats.
Fluke season at this point of the year is best to target the bays. Once the ocean warms up it’s go time to head out front and hit the wrecks.
How to Fish for Summer Flounder in New Jersey
To fluke fish in New Jersey you need to a rod & reel combo, a hi lo rig, a bucktail, and some bait whether it’s artificial or not is up to you.
You need enough weight to get to the bottom because if your bait isn’t tapping the bottom…you ain’t fluke fishing!
Rod: 7’6 ft medium or medium heavy rod
Reel: 3-5k reels will be able to handle most fluke
Bucktail: The more tide/wind in the water the heavier bucktail you’ll need to reach bottom. In the bay you typically need 1/2 oz, 3/4oz to touch bottom. 1oz to 2oz on the windier days. In the ocean it can be anywhere from 1oz to 6oz depending on tide and wind.
Bait: Spearing, salted clam, salted mackerel, live minnows, and gulp are all good baits. You can even mix them up on the top and bottom of the hi lo rigs.
Give us a ring if you need any help getting set up!
Finding the Right Spot to Fluke Fish
Anabelle & AJ with some nice fluke this weekend
Fluke love to attack their prey from below. These bottom feeders camouflage themselves on the bottom and spring up when they see a good meal.
Summer flounder and fluke in general love to hide at the bottom of holes and near wrecks with structure.
So if you’re wandering Great Bay or Barnegat Bay and find a 10-15 ft hole with some marks, throw a bucktail down and see what happens!
Bluefish Caught in Great Bay
Bluefish came in on Saturday in droves and seemed to be all over Great Bay.
These light tackle busters are great fun but can really beat up your soft baits and plugs. Which is why we recommend anglers to cast their old plugs.
Some bluefish had nice size to them, some in the 2-4 lb range.
Upcoming Fluke Fishing Tournaments
The Fourth Annual Raging Raymond Fluke Tournament is coming up June 3rd & June 4th. All proceeds go towards Nemours Children’s Health in Deptford and Cherry Hill.
For more information, check out their Facebook page or call Alex at 609-845-7653.
Price: $100, 4 anglers per boat, cash or check made out to Raging Raymond Fluke Tournament.
Prizes: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd heaviest 2 fluke. Fluke and Bluefish super calcuttas as well
Raging Raymond Fundraiser at Jersey Mike’s
Details: Jersey Mike’s in Little Egg Harbor is doing a fundraiser all day on June 2nd.
Grab a sub or two before heading over to the Captain’s Meeting 7pm on June 2nd at American Legion – Post 493. Hell maybe even load up the cooler for the weekend if you’re an angler fishing in the torunament.
Weigh ins: Festivities begin on June 4th at 1pm American Legion – Post 493, $15 for wristbands. Food & beverages included. Alcohol is not included.
American Legion is located at 420 Radio Road, Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087
Bass River Vahalla Flounder Open Tournament
The Vahalla Fishing Open begins May 20th at Bass River.
Entry is $110 per boat with $1,500 for first, $1,000 for second and $500 for third based on a two-fish total weigh-in; there will also be calcuttas for big bag (three fish) and heaviest fluke of the tournament.
No captains meeting. Festivities will be held at Breeze’s Dock Bar & Grill at New Gretna, NJ.