Post your 2019-2025 Fluke Pix & Trip Reports Here!
Deal NJ, 60 feet deep. Action all morning, quick 3 man limit up to 25", August Fluking is back baby !!
Once in a while you can get shown the light
In the strangest of places if you look at it right
In the strangest of places if you look at it right
First MateOriginal Crew286 postsSince 2018
Finally!
Headed out to my offshore office with Kevin/Longcast and Capt. Mike on a gorgeous ocean. Hopes weren't very high as everyone knows this fluke season has been something of a disappointment. Going home with a single fish in the box has been the norm over my past few solo trips - the result of scarce decent fish as well as the outrageous disparity between our NY limits and Jersey's far more liberal regs.
Well, not today. We had a very good pick of almost keepers right away, with us starting out fishing my favorite "corner" of the grounds. I quickly put a 5-er in the box, followed by another nice one by Capt. Mike. Once that area got overrun by various weekend "entities," including a party boat that sailed all the way from Captree (only to leave after less than an hour - can you say "boat ride?"), it was time to move on to greener pastures.
Went to one of my pet drift lines and found instant life. Another 5-er for me. then a fattie flattie 6 by Mike. And so on, as we picked thru a ton of Jersey keepers, putting together a solid catch for the day. Ended the trip with two x 4lbs, two x 5lbs, Mike's 6 lber best of the day, and a couple of 20" fish for good measure. So, 7 quality fish for the three of us is what I consider a good catch nowadays.
I actually pulled a swifty on the little bastids - by leaving the big 70-quart Coleman home, and taking along my much smaller 48-qt Igloo instead. "Lowered Expectations." The good juju worked like a charm - filled it right to the top with some really solid fluke. And about time too.
Such a nice ocean today, spinning gear with 2oz jigs were all we needed to do the damage. Hopefully this is the start of a decent late season bite.
Headed out to my offshore office with Kevin/Longcast and Capt. Mike on a gorgeous ocean. Hopes weren't very high as everyone knows this fluke season has been something of a disappointment. Going home with a single fish in the box has been the norm over my past few solo trips - the result of scarce decent fish as well as the outrageous disparity between our NY limits and Jersey's far more liberal regs.
Well, not today. We had a very good pick of almost keepers right away, with us starting out fishing my favorite "corner" of the grounds. I quickly put a 5-er in the box, followed by another nice one by Capt. Mike. Once that area got overrun by various weekend "entities," including a party boat that sailed all the way from Captree (only to leave after less than an hour - can you say "boat ride?"), it was time to move on to greener pastures.
Went to one of my pet drift lines and found instant life. Another 5-er for me. then a fattie flattie 6 by Mike. And so on, as we picked thru a ton of Jersey keepers, putting together a solid catch for the day. Ended the trip with two x 4lbs, two x 5lbs, Mike's 6 lber best of the day, and a couple of 20" fish for good measure. So, 7 quality fish for the three of us is what I consider a good catch nowadays.
I actually pulled a swifty on the little bastids - by leaving the big 70-quart Coleman home, and taking along my much smaller 48-qt Igloo instead. "Lowered Expectations." The good juju worked like a charm - filled it right to the top with some really solid fluke. And about time too.
Such a nice ocean today, spinning gear with 2oz jigs were all we needed to do the damage. Hopefully this is the start of a decent late season bite.
"Luck" is when preparation meets opportunity.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
CaptainOriginal Crew2,216 postsSince 2018
Well, we gave it a real good shot anyway
Repeating success has been a near-impossible task this fluke season. Ran off with our host George and my friend Frankie who runs his boat Teresa V out of Howard Beach. Beautiful ocean, light breeze and quarter moon phase made it look like a perfect "spinning rod" day. Yeah, nope. Forget that. Despite the relatively gentle ocean a very strong under-current had us using 5 and 6oz bucktails to stay in contact with the bottom. Kinda weird, but I've seen it before out on the offshore grounds.
Anyway, tons (and I mean TONS) of Jersey keepers right thru the trip with only two "NY-style" fish in the box by lunchtime. Late in the trip the S breeze came up, forcing the use of 8oz sinkers. Put another two fish away for a trip total of 4 keeps, one x 5lbs, one x 4lbs, and a couple of 20-inchers. That late bite had some serious-weight contenders come unbuttoned after a few cranks - tough to keep them stuck in those conditions. Not the results we were looking for, but it is what it is this season.
Repeating success has been a near-impossible task this fluke season. Ran off with our host George and my friend Frankie who runs his boat Teresa V out of Howard Beach. Beautiful ocean, light breeze and quarter moon phase made it look like a perfect "spinning rod" day. Yeah, nope. Forget that. Despite the relatively gentle ocean a very strong under-current had us using 5 and 6oz bucktails to stay in contact with the bottom. Kinda weird, but I've seen it before out on the offshore grounds.
Anyway, tons (and I mean TONS) of Jersey keepers right thru the trip with only two "NY-style" fish in the box by lunchtime. Late in the trip the S breeze came up, forcing the use of 8oz sinkers. Put another two fish away for a trip total of 4 keeps, one x 5lbs, one x 4lbs, and a couple of 20-inchers. That late bite had some serious-weight contenders come unbuttoned after a few cranks - tough to keep them stuck in those conditions. Not the results we were looking for, but it is what it is this season.
"Luck" is when preparation meets opportunity.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
CaptainOriginal Crew2,216 postsSince 2018
Yeah, me too.
But in 2025.
Uggh. 🙄
But in 2025.
Uggh. 🙄
"Luck" is when preparation meets opportunity.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
CaptainOriginal Crew2,216 postsSince 2018
Anytime I take a deep drop fluke trip, I get that anticipation of the shot at a quality fish. It's that feeling, knowing that no matter how small the fish are - and in this case, we're calling 18-19 inch fish small - in my opinion, you are in the best deep water fluke fishery on Long Island.
We all feel that things are off, but the fact is, without question, if the size limit were 18 1/2 like last year, we would have limited by 1 pm with a 5-pounder, a 4-pounder, a few 20 inches, and a bunch of 18-19 inch fish. That's in crappy condition. In fact, if this were last year, we would have considered it a great day.
So maybe it's not as bad as we think. Maybe we're again seeing regulations squeezing us out of another fishery.
In any case, I'm on board for the next one 🙂
We all feel that things are off, but the fact is, without question, if the size limit were 18 1/2 like last year, we would have limited by 1 pm with a 5-pounder, a 4-pounder, a few 20 inches, and a bunch of 18-19 inch fish. That's in crappy condition. In fact, if this were last year, we would have considered it a great day.
So maybe it's not as bad as we think. Maybe we're again seeing regulations squeezing us out of another fishery.
In any case, I'm on board for the next one 🙂
George R. Scocca
george@nyangler.com
www.nyangler.com - Your Secret Spot Online !
george@nyangler.com
www.nyangler.com - Your Secret Spot Online !
CommodoreOriginal Crew5,174 postsSince 2018
Send some of those fish to the east. It's been pretty much pathetic in the Fire Island area. Reef has shorts and very few keepers. Decided to go for triggers before the tide for fluke. With a beautiful ocean, got on a piece and action was on. We probably had 35-40 triggers, keeping 19 nice fish. Triggerfish are one of my favorites. These were bled, chilled and filleted. My fishing partner didn't want any. So, I got out the vacuum sealer and have a nice freezer of triggers for the winter. Got a bunch of blueclaws and cooked them up for a nice snack.
I'm done with the longer runs for fluke until things get better. I plan to switch over to skinny water fishing with my Carolina Skiff and small bucktails tipped with spearing in the back bay.
I'm done with the longer runs for fluke until things get better. I plan to switch over to skinny water fishing with my Carolina Skiff and small bucktails tipped with spearing in the back bay.
First Mate510 postsSince 2021
Maybe we're again seeing regulations squeezing us out of another fishery.
Yes, of course! That's the thrust of every one of my reports this season. 👍
"Luck" is when preparation meets opportunity.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
CaptainOriginal Crew2,216 postsSince 2018
Send some of those fish to the east. It's been pretty much pathetic in the Fire Island area. Reef has shorts and very few keepers. Decided to go for triggers before the tide for fluke. With a beautiful ocean, got on a piece and action was on. We probably had 35-40 triggers, keeping 19 nice fish. Triggerfish are one of my favorites. These were bled, chilled and filleted. My fishing partner didn't want any. So, I got out the vacuum sealer and have a nice freezer of triggers for the winter. Got a bunch of blueclaws and cooked them up for a nice snack.
View attachment 84054
View attachment 84055
I'm done with the longer runs for fluke until things get better. I plan to switch over to skinny water fishing with my Carolina Skiff and small bucktails tipped with spearing in the back bay.
CaptainOriginal Crew1,853 postsSince 2018
Shrimp Stuffed Fluke Roll-Ups
Wifey had to work late, so inspired by my friend Frankie/Teresa V, I made dinner tonight - Broiled shimp-stuffed fluke roll-ups in a light white wine sauce, with air fryer-blistered Shiseido peppers and fries - washed down with iced Sangria. Really great!
Wifey had to work late, so inspired by my friend Frankie/Teresa V, I made dinner tonight - Broiled shimp-stuffed fluke roll-ups in a light white wine sauce, with air fryer-blistered Shiseido peppers and fries - washed down with iced Sangria. Really great!
"Luck" is when preparation meets opportunity.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
CaptainOriginal Crew2,216 postsSince 2018
So my son is home from college for the weekend. Asks if we can get out. Sure. His request was to grab bunker and try for bass. No problem. Snag some, drift, no bass, blues on every pass. Catch the last of the incoming for fluke. Well, we caught probably 30 or so fish, me anchoring a big skate and a monster dogfish in the bay. Next thing I know 3 keeps are in the boat and I did not contribute. lol.
Big was 5.20, the others some very solid fish.
Big was 5.20, the others some very solid fish.
AdmiralOriginal Crew20,417 postsSince 2019
View attachment 84216
Nicely done.
CaptainOriginal Crew1,853 postsSince 2018
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Post your 2019-2025 Fluke Pix & Trip Reports Here!