Fluke fishing in northern water continues to tease anglers with a ten to one mix of shorts to keepers, and bass fishing remains an evening bite. Increasing amounts of smaller bluefish are moving into the bays, and inshore bluefishing caught fire as the full moon arrives.
It looks like fishing should be good, barring any weather problems. Good numbers of weakfish are also moving into the bays. However, it’s still about 25 shorts to every keeper. Bottom fishermen are enjoying a solid mix of sea bass, ling and tog, along with increasing amounts of porgies. The first bonito, albacore and croakers have been caught in northern waters, and we got the first reports of yellowfin being taken.
Our first report of the week was upbeat information on the fluke fishing from Moe at Moe’s Bait and Tackle. Bigger fish are coming from the deeper channels in 50 foot plus water. Ambrose Channel and Chapel Hill Channel have been the best bets, with the moving tides giving up the fish on killies, squid and sand eels. Moe said there is also a decent amount of fish around Chapel Hill.
We got a second report of better size fluke from Dan at the Outdoorsmen who told us he too got word of bigger fluke in Ambrose. However, wind against the tide for a good part of the week and the midweek holiday cut down on the reports that he got.
JERSEY CITY
The better fluke action is along the New York side of the lower river, says sources at MM Bait and Tackle. Most of the fish being caught are in the 2 to 4-pound class on large killies. Striper fishing has slowed down. However, some of their regulars are pulling schoolies at Breezy Point. Bluefish have taken over the fishing in the East River, with the slammers taking plugs and tin.
Liberty State Park and the Hoboken Pier were the two spots mentioned by the folks at Har-Lee-Rods. They said there is no heavy action. However, daybreak is seeing some cocktail blues and short bass, with worms taking the bass and tin catching the blues.
The Tin Can Grounds and the north side of the Ambrose Channel served up some good catches of fluke for anglers. Captain Andy said Steve and Mike “P” started the week off with good bottom fishing by boating a solid mix of sea bass, porgies and fluke. Harry the “Indian” took the pool with a pair of 4-pound fluke. On a sad note, Andy asked me to mention that one of his regulars on the boat, police officer Dominick Infantes, was killed while on duty this past week. Andy said Dominick was a good fisherman and a gentleman who will be missed by all who knew him.
STATEN ISLAND
Fluke fishing has been good along the New York side of the bay, according to sources at Michaels Bait and Tackle. The Narrows Channel and Bug Light have been the top spots for their customers. Along with fluke, there are also a good amount of blues on the top, and anglers homing in on the birds and casting tin and poppers are finding some brisk action.
PERTH AMBOY
Captain Marty Haines was one of the first boat captains who told me of the big improvement in fluke fishing this past week. Marty said the boat is seeing a better amount of keepers on its daily trips. Greg Hansen was aboard on Wednesday for a good pull of fluke, topped by a 7-pound pool fish. Mike Daniwicz and Roger Miller boated their limit of flatties to 4 pounds on Saturday’s trip.
SOUTH AMBOY
Better fluke fishing also ruled the decks of the boats according to captain Gary Bouchard, with pool fish ranging between 4 and 6-1/2 pounds on most trips. Some of the boat’s recent pool winners were Ernie Topper on Monday with a 4-pound fluke, and Bill Wille on Tuesday with a 3-1/2 pounder. Mike Barfeild won the pool on Wednesday with the top fish of the week, a 6-1/2-pound flattie, and Barbara Ust and Bob Scluye landed 4 pounders. On Saturday, the Rich McDunna party scored a good catch of fluke, with Sal Delucia being the pool winner.
Back bay fishing gave up limit or near limit catches of fluke for anglers fishing the bay states captain Kevin. On Tuesday, the John Topolosky charter limited out with flatties to start the week. Near limits of fluke to 19-1/2 inches were scored by the Gary Delisanti and Jim Havlin charters on Wednesday and Thursday. Weekend charters saw near limit catches of fluke to 20 inches for the Ross Buckalow and Terry Lee parties while fishing off Mount Loretta.
PORT MONMOUTH
Captain Bill called to say he fished with Bob and Bill who bagged a catch of big blues. They also caught some bass. After catching the blues and stripers, they then switched to fluking for a few keepers on the way home.
KEYPORT
Dennis over at the Keyport Marine Basin was another shop owner who spoke of good fluke fishing. Eleven-year-old Bernie Simpson boated three fluke to 20 inches while fishing with his grandpa by the Yacht Club. Tony Massa checked in with a 6-1/4-pound weakfish he caught by the 1 Can in Keyport, and Ed Gryzeski picked up a 7-pound, 14-ounce and 7-pound, 3-ounce pair of doormats by Buoy 1.
The Ammo Pier served up good catches of fluke, according to Chris at Crabby’s Bait and Tackle. Roger Houseman tipped the scale with a pair of 6 and 8-pound fluke, and his son Roger junior topped him with an 8-1/2 pounder. On the weakfish front, Becky Pagliugh caught her first weakfish, a 6 pounder, while her dad Dave decked a 7-1/2-pound trout. The shop’s weekly contest winner was Joe Fischer with a 9-pound fluke taken off Keansburg.
HAZLET
A 6-1/2-pound fluke by Mark Flalley started the weigh-ins at the Tackle Box. Phil told me the biggest fluke of the week were 8-pound doormats by John Flemm and Joe McPherson, who also boated a 6-pound flattie. Bobbie and Pete Daley limited out with fluke to 3-1/2 pounds on Friday.
A mix of weakfish and blues kept rods bent according to captain John said the crew fished with Ray on Saturday, putting them into weakfish to 6-1/2 pounds and blues, then hit the fluke for a decent pull. On Sunday, the Chris’ party hit the slammers to a good catch, then finished up their trip with eight keeper fluke.
LEONARDO
The reports of good fluke fishing continued to come in when we spoke with captain Freddy Coles of the Freddy C. Fred said the fluking really broke open about midweek, with his best fishing coming on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. “Blackfish Scissors,” one of the boat’s regulars, limited out and boated a 6-pound, 9-ounce fish for the pool on Friday. Most pool fish are in the 4 to 7-1/2-pound class, and limit catches are becoming a lot more common for seasoned fishermen.
MIDDLETOWN
The waters off Keansburg are giving up better catches of fluke, reports Alan at T and A Bait and Tackle. Judith Mikilitus used spearing-squid combinations to boat a good pull of fluke to 4-1/2 pounds. Top flatfish to tug on the scale was a 10-pound, 14-ounce fluke-a-sauris taken by Barry Heffernan on Killies off Sandy Hook. Joe (age 7) and Nick (age 4) caught their first fluke topped by a 3-pound, 14-ounce fish. In addition, Alan said he is starting to get reports of weakfish being caught in the Navesink River on worms and Fin-S Fish.
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS
Rental boat catches of fluke are still heavy with short fish, according to Rob at Atlantic Highlands Bait and Tackle. Boat fishermen are starting to pick up some weakfish in the Reach when the traffic is light. However, the better weakfish activity is in the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. Rob said he has been seeing some good fly rod action with the weaks in the late afternoons on orange and brown clousers.
Larger fluke have been putting smiles on the faces of anglers fishing aboard the Prowler. “Bucktail Pete” came up with a good catch of flatties to 6-1/2 pounds on a midweek trip, and John W decked a 7-1/4-pound doormat for the pool on Friday’s trip.
Raritan Reach Channel and the Knoll are serving up bigger fluke to fisherman sailing on the Sea Tiger. He too said he is seeing a big improvement in the fluke fishing, with most pool fish being in the 4 to 7-1/2-pound class. Rich “L” picked up the 7-1/2 pounder for the biggest fish of the week.
HIGHLANDS
Over at Julians Bait & Tackle we also got word of better fluke fishing at the Reach and along the channel edges in the bay. Weakfishing has been picky at best, and here too, the word was to fish the rivers for the better fishing. Some boats are still catching bass on the troll and on worms at the Knoll after dark. As with other shops in this area, we were told surface feeding blues are starting to pop all over the bay.
SEA BRIGHT
Fluke fishing is showing signs of life in the Shrewsbury River. Five good-size keepers to 6-1/2 pounds were boated by Doug C, Mike P and Boomer G during the week. Mike E checked in with a 5-pound, 11-ounce flatfish he caught by the Oceanic Bridge. Fly rod fishermen are picking up mixed size weakfish on the flats in the Navesink River on streamers, mostly in the late afternoons when boat traffic is slow.
BRADLEY BEACH
Fluke fishing is still holding up along the inshore waters, reports Scott. Most of the better fishing has been off the Red Church, Spring Lake and Deal in 35 to 50 feet of water. Fluke fishing in Shark River is starting to see more short fish, and small weakfish have also been reported mixing in with the fluke.
SHARK RIVER
Fluke fishing remains good in Shark River. I fished with Greg on Tuesday afternoon and despite the gale force winds, we still managed 26 fluke and a weakfish. That’s a better ratio then I have been seeing elsewhere. Most of the bigger fish were by the party boats and in the North Channel, and light tackle is a must. Fluke fishing along the inshore waters off the beaches is also good. Ed Kirschenbaum limited out with fluke to 7-1/2 pounds off the Red Church, and Sharon Kunz and party boated some keepers to 6 pounds off Asbury.
BELMAR
Over at the Fisherman’s Den we were informed that the fluke fishing has been hot and cold in Shark River because of the recent windy conditions. Here too, we got word of some better fluking along the inshore waters at the Red Church and off Spring Lake. The deeper waters there are producing bigger fluke when drifting conditions are favorable, Tom said.
