Is the ocean ready for fluke fishing? Boats to give it a try
The ocean water temperature is slowly but surely creeping up toward the 60 degree mark, and a few captains are going to test the grounds for fluke, starting this weekend.
Capt. Bob Bogan and crew on the Gambler party boat were finishing up final preparations on Thursday in anticipation of sailing for fluke on Saturday. Bogan said he may scout out some of the high ground on the Klondike on a hunch, to get started. He sometimes the fluke head there first.
At the same he, and several other for-hire captains have their eyes set on the black sea bass opener, which is this coming Wednesday, or May 17. Capt. William Egerter Jr. on the Dauntless, who's been fishing for ling, has observed quite a few sea bass already as his fares have been chucking them back.
The sea bass will probably be enough to hold the boats over until the water really warms up enough for the fluke to get aggressive. The temp was about 56 to 58 degrees in the surf on Thursday, depending on which locales one checked.
More: Fishing good in Sandy Hook Bay, kingfish biting on Long Beach Island
The blues and fluke and keeping anglers busy in the Manasquan River. The main areas for the blues are off Fisherman's Cove and around Treasure Island, said Zach Thomas at Brielle Bait & Tackle. He heard some chatter about an 8-pound fluke landed in the river, though that fish never came to the shop scales. He did however, observe some three and four pounders being yanked out. As far as the fluke goes, he said people are mostly using spearing, live killies and Gulp baits in the river.
There are some big bluefish in Barnegat Bay. Grumpy's Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park weighed in an 8 pounder for Bob Ferguson. He was fishing with bunker. There's been some blues in the surf, too. Jingle's Bait & Tackle in Beach Haven said a fisherman entered in the island's spring derby brought a bluefish in from the Barnegat Light surf on Wednesday. Grumpy's also had some reports of blues from Island Beach State Park, or ISBP.
The buggy fishermen on IBSP are bringing in striped bass on clams during the day. There have been fish over 40 inches that have been released on the island. Grumpy's said they're starting to see more fluke poking around in the ISBP surf.
More: What's biting: get the latest fishing reports here
Speaking off bass though, New Jersey's Marine Fisheries Council was scheduled to meet Thursday evening and discuss the emergency ruling for striped bass. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission adopted a 28-31 inch size regulation in order to meet a long-term rebuilding goal. States have until July 2 to implement the measure, which, as of now, would be in effect for 180 days. The meeting was too late for this deadline.
A couple of party boats went offshore to the deep for tilefish. The Norma K III sailed Saturday into Sunday and returned with a boat limit on golden tilefish. The biggest of the bunch were 25 pounds. Anglers also reeled in some white hake.
On the sweet water, the fishing is pretty on the wild trout streams of Hunterdon County. Chris Lido, former editor of The Fisherman Magazine, landed one that was close to seven pounds. He never took the fish out of the water for a measurement. He was using a size 16 olive RS2, or "Rays Semblance" fly pattern to match the sporadic caddis hatch.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ fishing: Ocean fluke fishing? Boats to give it a try
