Monday, June 29, 2015

More Weather

I have not been happy with the weather this season because it effects the fishing. Low pressure and east winds shut down the bite on the outside grounds. Friday, we had good fishing in the afternoon in a spot close to home and when I returned there Sunday a slight swell, barely perceptible, was rolling in from the ocean and we never had a bite. The inside spots are protected and we tried an area for the first time this year and found lots of fluke willing to bite. The majority were small to just short "party boat keepers" but we found a few 19 to 20 inch fish for the cooler. Good weather equals good fluking.

Saturday, June 27, 2015

A New Member To A Special Club

Friday was a great day to be fluking and on the first drift we inducted Randy into the "Pioneer Ten Pound Fluke Club." Randy B. landed our first doormat of the season, pushing the scale to just over ten pounds, on a pink and white gulp grub. As for the rest of the day, it was our best day of fluking to date, with well over 100 landed, and everyone walking off with at least two keepers. Special thanks to Anthony "The Barker" ( also a club member) for providing lots of laughs and some special treats from the Polish deli. I can't wait to do it again and we have open spots this Wednesday.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Good Weather = Good Fluking

The problem is good weather has been rare this season. It may seem nice on the land, but the persistent east and south winds have made it tough out on the fishing grounds. The fish have not moved into the bay yet, and we have to take a little ride to the ocean to make a catch, and the wind becomes a big factor. Friday the wind was lite from the west and we had the best action of the season. It was mostly shorts but some one had a fish on the line all day long. Evelyn had three keepers and one of them will be the guest of honor at the dinner table today. Saturday was forecast to be a nice day, but we had a steady east wind that increased to over twenty knots. We tried to get outside, but had to retreat into the bay. We even tried striped bass fishing but only managed some shorts and missed bites. Tom K., Keith K., Steve, James, Joe, and the big pool winner "Staten Island" Tony had lots of fun despite the dreary weather. Today, I kept the boat on the wooden anchors. Heavy rain and a south east wind is not good for fluke fishing. On the bright side, some of the boats reported seeing some squid and if the squid move into the bay, the big fluke will follow.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

June Gloom

What's with all this dreary weather? The persistent east and south winds are not helping the fishing. Sunday is the first day of summer and the forecast is for rain. There are some fluke around but like in all fishing conditions must be right to make a catch. Better days are coming.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

First Day of Fluke

While we have caught some beautiful fluke this season, we have been spending most of our time striped bass fishing. Today was the first day we spent all our time fluke fishing and we found them right where we left them. Seven keepers hit the ice out of over seventy caught. I can't wait to get back out there, it will only get better.

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Hot and Cold

The fishing is just like the weather. On land the temperatures hover around 90. Out on the bay, you may need a sweat shirt. The bass and blues were active early in the week but seemed to have backed off as the water in the bay warms. The fluke fishing is still a struggle but some nice ones have been landed lately as Robert G. and friends had a fun day Friday, with a 5 1/2lb. and 7lb. topping off the catch. It's time to begin the fluke hunt.

Monday, June 8, 2015

Another Good Week

The striped bass continued to bite this week. I think they liked all the east wind and cool temperatures. The bluefish also showed up on the grounds to keep the rods bent. Fluke fishing remains slow, but we do put a few keepers in the boat on every trip and we have not spent a full day on the fluke so far this spring but I think next week we will start to look for them. "Tugboat" Fred and the gang from West Milford went home with heavy bags of bass and blues topped off with a few fluke. Mike M. had two nice fluke, the biggest at 6lbs., our largest to date. Mike L. had a spring slam of a keeper fluke, blues and a 14lb. striped bass.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Underwater Fluke Video

Noreast.com has a short film by John Skinner of fluke behavior. Anyone that fishes for fluke has to see this footage. It just may change the way you think about what's going on down there.

More Bass

We got to the grounds on Sunday and were greeted with the sight of big striped bass blowing up on bunker schools. It was amazing to watch. Set up on fish and had our limit in short order and released many more. The rest of the day was spent looking for fluke and they have been hard to find due to the cold water. We worked some shallow spots and tried to hide from the persistent south wind and found some better short action and a few good ones. Mike and Cathy each had a keeper, Roger had two nice ones, and Rebecca nailed the 5 1/2lb. pool winner. It should only get better.