Where'd they go?

It was a pretty good blow and we are at the end of the fluke season.

They really were not here anyway...................................

I hear what you're saying longcast. However, our last four outings have been very exciting since we started using peanut bunker. The shorts are much larger fish and our last two outings, prior to the Noreaster, have produced bookend fluke of 9# 10oz' (9.61 on the baitshop's certified scale). Not that I'm greedy but I was hoping for a couple more of those before the fat lady sings.

What was water temp in bay before and after the storm? That should give you your answer.

I wanted to go out this week and try one last time for Fluke. I had a feeling the Fluke were gone , glad I didn't go out. Now we have to wait for the water temps to drop that'll spur on the Bass and Blues. Maybe in a week or so we'll see the weakfish schools off the beach. Really no reason for me to go out this week, the South Shore bays will have slow fishing this week and next.

the South Shore bays will have slow fishing this week and next.

Maybe fluke. You sure of that comment for the others you mentioned?

I mean, to be selfish, one less boat out there for me to contend with, lol. :oops:

I'm out of Jones Inlet and early October it stinks . 55 years I've fished that area. Maybe if you go out 30 miles it's good, around the bay inlet area it stinks .I'm out there during the week when the bay /ocean is empty- Thank goodness!

Wait all year for October to come. In the blink of an eye it's November and the fat lady is warming up..........

I said early October it's slow and then it starts heating up mid October on. What is there to catch in the bay now ? Pockets of blues here and there , the bass are lying low until dark, I'm sitting home this week because I know it's a slow period now.

The fluke are on the move, there are fish west of the Robert Moses bridge up to the sore thumb area. The tide is key along with live bait. Had two of my friends do very well yesterday. And the captree party boats are picking away at keepers

No such thing as slow period. Find a small pocket of fish somewhere and...........well, that takes more work than sitting home waiting for someone else's report.

decent amount of 17-19” in the bay. Good bite of quality fish a couple of days ago in 100-105’ before the SW yesterday. No glow = no bite. Fresh belly made it happen.

Caught many Fluke on Friday on Clams when targeting seabass at inshore NJ reef. Was tempted to try for out-of-season fluke but the by-catch Triggerfish and Blackfish kept me clamming. Great 88 degree October day on water with son, unbeatable. But yep, the Fluke are still here. . . .

Based on my experience midweek I’m thinking they can be found in the area you saw me and there’s a keeper or 2 to be had with some effort on the right tide with wind👍

Agreed!

If I had a good motor and another guy on board, I'd go out to the reefs. I always had good reef fishing about now when I went out on a bigger boat. I don't venture outside the inlet much these days because I usually go out by myself. I'll go a mile or two off the beach when the Bass and Blues start feeding heavily. I probably traveled thru Jones Inlet about 700 times in my lifetime and want a 100 percent safety record. I ran aground in that Inlet one time in a deep keeled Lobster Boat and got broadsided by a big wave that almost turned the boat on it's side , so I'm nervous going out by myself. I appreciate all the people here trying to help.

That's really something catching Fluke in 100-105 feet of water. That was probably out East ?

Yes , this spot requires a very specific combination of wind/ tide and bait concentration. Even when the stars align it’s 50/50.

Today is the 8th of October, we got out last Saturday but despite an extensive search we were unsuccessful in our quest for peanuts. We fished our usual fluke spots for this time of year and did catch some small shorts on gulp and spearing but feel we could have done better if we found the 'Nuts'. Has anyone possibly seen any peanuts around the Jones inlet area recently. Just curious because we're gearing up for this weekend and wondered if some are still in the bay? Thanks guys, truly looking forward to the 15th and a change of venue. Come on Blackfish!