08-14-2009, 08:47 AM
NJ Fluke ![[Image: fishing.gif]](http://cthuntnfish.com/images/smilies/fishing.gif)
called "best of the year"
BY JOHN OSWALD
STAFF WRITER
Captains for fluke reported excellent throughout the area. Almost to a man, they talked of more and bigger fish coming over the rails. Tackle shop owners had similar tales to tell of good fluking this past week.
Capt. Joe Bogan of the Jamaica II, Brielle, reported the best fluke of the summer with the greatest amount of big fish he's seen all season. Limits were common and a 7-pound fluke was usually not big enough to win the pool.
Big catches this past week were Fred Morris, Ewing, who caught three 8-pounders in one day to take over first place in the monthly pool, and Gus Smethers, Toms River, also did well with an 8-pound, 10-ounce fluke, plus his limit.
Capt. Ron Kish of the Capt Cal II in the Belmar Marina, said that this past week was very good for fluke. There were lots of fluke caught and Thursday was the best day of the year. Many customers had their limit or close to their limit.
He reported that the Lighting Rod Crew, Browns Mills, had 12 keepers up to 6 pounds with the squid-spearing combo being an effective bait along with the Spro![[Image: buck.gif]](http://cthuntnfish.com/images/smilies/buck.gif)
tails.
Also in the mix, Capt. Kish reported, were jumbo sea bass. Capt John DeRose skippered the Capt. Cal II on an afternoon charter with the Jersey City Fire Dept. that was very productive with keeper fluke and sea bass.
Capt. Ron's Fishermen, Atlantic Highlands, also had a good weekend of fluke. Several ![[Image: angler.gif]](http://cthuntnfish.com/images/smilies/angler.gif)
s got their limits with big fish with John Froelich, Somerset, leading the way, catching his third limit and pool winner of the of the season.
The Fishermen has been splitting its days between the ocean and bay depending on conditions. Capt. Ron said bigger fish are showing up every day, including a 9.2-pounder last Thursday. Bucktails and Spro setups have been the best for the larger keepers.
Capt. Ed Bunting of the Seahorse, Atlantic Highlands called it a great week of. The Seahorse fished in Raritan Bay by the Navy Pier to the point of Sandy Hook. The Seahorse landed plenty of keepers, ranging up to 50 or 60 per day depending on the number of people on the boat. Squid and killies or mackerel and killies were the best producers.
Chris Salus at Crabby's Bait and Tackle in Keyport also said fluking picked up in his neck of the woods, with more keepers showing up among the shorts. Joe Silvers fished around the 11A can and had his limit up to 7.6 pounds. Jermie Wilson fished close to Sandy Hook and got his limit, including an 8.4-pound fluke on a Fluke Master jig tipped with a squid strip. Chris also reported a nice body of weakfish making an appearance in the Raritan Reach.
Wayne at Hoffman's said keeper fluke are coming in from all the usual spots such as the the lumps around the Sea Girt reef, and the Axel Karlson Reef. Bob Gramm on his "Bimini Gal" came in with nine keepers. Wayne also reported good bluefin action for the boats heading offshore.
Capt. Jack Shea of Barnegat Bay Fishing Charters reported that slow weakfishing has led him to switch to fluking if the weakies don't show within an hour. The strategy worked well last Friday for the Steve Mastej party of three who caught upwards of 40 fluke in two hours. Gulp swimming minnows and custom teasers were the hot baits.
Most of the fish were in the 16- to 17-inch range, he said, but they still ended up with plenty of fish in the box by the time he headed back to the dock.
John Christensen at Scott's Bait and Tackle reported weighing in a doormat on Monday, a 10.3-pound fluke caught off Deal by Pete McLaughlin of Neptune. He said the reports coming in from that area have been very good.
Finally, Tommy Kilgannon at Pell's Fish and Sport, Brick, joined the chorus when he reported fluking has picked up considerably, especially south of the Manasquan Inlet. Joe Moorman landed a 7-pound fluke on the Axel Carlson Reef using a whole squid.
[signature]
called "best of the year"BY JOHN OSWALD
STAFF WRITER
Captains
for fluke reported excellent throughout the area. Almost to a man, they talked of more and bigger fish coming over the rails. Tackle shop owners had similar tales to tell of good fluking this past week.Capt. Joe Bogan of the Jamaica II, Brielle, reported the best fluke
of the summer with the greatest amount of big fish he's seen all season. Limits were common and a 7-pound fluke was usually not big enough to win the pool.Big catches this past week were Fred Morris, Ewing, who caught three 8-pounders in one day to take over first place in the monthly pool, and Gus Smethers, Toms River, also did well with an 8-pound, 10-ounce fluke, plus his limit.
Capt. Ron Kish of the Capt Cal II in the Belmar Marina, said that this past week was very good for fluke
. There were lots of fluke caught and Thursday was the best day of the year. Many customers had their limit or close to their limit.He reported that the Lighting Rod Crew, Browns Mills, had 12 keepers up to 6 pounds with the squid-spearing combo being an effective bait along with the Spro
tails.Also in the mix, Capt. Kish reported, were jumbo sea bass. Capt John DeRose skippered the Capt. Cal II on an afternoon charter with the Jersey City Fire Dept. that was very productive with keeper fluke and sea bass.
Capt. Ron's Fishermen, Atlantic Highlands, also had a good weekend of fluke
. Several s got their limits with big fish with John Froelich, Somerset, leading the way, catching his third limit and pool winner of the of the season.The Fishermen has been splitting its days between the ocean and bay depending on conditions. Capt. Ron said bigger fish are showing up every day, including a 9.2-pounder last Thursday. Bucktails and Spro setups have been the best for the larger keepers.
Capt. Ed Bunting of the Seahorse, Atlantic Highlands called it a great week of
. The Seahorse fished in Raritan Bay by the Navy Pier to the point of Sandy Hook. The Seahorse landed plenty of keepers, ranging up to 50 or 60 per day depending on the number of people on the boat. Squid and killies or mackerel and killies were the best producers.Chris Salus at Crabby's Bait and Tackle in Keyport also said fluking picked up in his neck of the woods, with more keepers showing up among the shorts. Joe Silvers fished around the 11A can and had his limit up to 7.6 pounds. Jermie Wilson fished close to Sandy Hook and got his limit, including an 8.4-pound fluke on a Fluke Master jig tipped with a squid strip. Chris also reported a nice body of weakfish making an appearance in the Raritan Reach.
Wayne at Hoffman's said keeper fluke are coming in from all the usual spots such as the the lumps around the Sea Girt reef, and the Axel Karlson Reef. Bob Gramm on his "Bimini Gal" came in with nine keepers. Wayne also reported good bluefin action for the boats heading offshore.
Capt. Jack Shea of Barnegat Bay Fishing Charters reported that slow weakfishing has led him to switch to fluking if the weakies don't show within an hour. The strategy worked well last Friday for the Steve Mastej party of three who caught upwards of 40 fluke in two hours. Gulp swimming minnows and custom teasers were the hot baits.
Most of the fish were in the 16- to 17-inch range, he said, but they still ended up with plenty of fish in the box by the time he headed back to the dock.
John Christensen at Scott's Bait and Tackle reported weighing in a doormat on Monday, a 10.3-pound fluke caught off Deal by Pete McLaughlin of Neptune. He said the reports coming in from that area have been very good.
Finally, Tommy Kilgannon at Pell's Fish and Sport, Brick, joined the chorus when he reported fluking has picked up considerably, especially south of the Manasquan Inlet. Joe Moorman landed a 7-pound fluke on the Axel Carlson Reef using a whole squid.
[signature]
