Fluke Fishing in New Jersey
New Jersey is well known for its summer flounder or "fluke" fishing, which is best in May and June when the fish move to inshore coastal waters. Great numbers of fluke have been found in the region in recent decades, however, today it can be a challenge to catch large fish that regulations allow you to keep. According to local fisherman Milt Rosko, "in some waters of our state, it's not uncommon to catch 20 fluke without a single fish measuring up to the minimum size." But larger fish exist, he insists, and they are frequently caught by anglers who know the right techniques.
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Fluke
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Fluke are flatfish distinguished by their large mouths that extend beyond their eyes, both of which are located on the same side of the head. Fluke will often rest lying on their side on the ocean floor. They are sometimes referred to as the "chameleons of the sea" because they have the ability to alter their coloring to blend with their habitats. Different shades of green, blue, gray, and orange are common. During the summer months, small- and medium-sized fluke are drawn inshore to bask in the warm waters, and they are frequently found in and around eel grass beds and wharf pilings. Larger fluke, affectionately called "doormats," tend to stick to deeper waters. Large adults can weigh up to 26 lbs. and extend 37 inches. The New Jersey state record is a 19-lb., 12-oz. fluke that was caught in 1953 off Cape May.
Bait and Tackle
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Fluke fishing in New Jersey can be done from local piers and jetties, rocky shores and the beach, as well as from a boat. Common methods of fishing the species including trolling, still-fishing and casting. A 7- to 8-foot spin rod with 12-lb. test line is recommended for inshore fishing for small and medium sized fluke in the 2- to 4-lb. range. Fishing for larger fluke in the deeper waters offshore will require 15- to 20-lb. test line to handle bigger fish and stronger currents, and you may benefit from a slightly longer rod if you are trolling or jigging over the side of a boat. Effective lures include weighted bucktails and chrome ball jigs that can be baited with strips of squid, mackerel, or the belly of a fluke.
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Tips
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A popular method of fishing fluke is to drift your bait along the water bottom. When drifting you should leave the bail of your reel open and use your finger to apply pressure to the line for control and enhanced sensitivity to unnatural movements of your line. When your line stops drifting and you feel a tug, let it run free for a moment to allow the fish to get a good chomp on the bait before setting the hook. If you are using a ball jig, keep your line as perpendicular to the water as you can, and allow the jig to settle at the bottom, then bounce it gently. Violent jigging is ineffective. If you want to take a fluke home in New Jersey you will have to catch a big one, and this is not likely to be done without a substantial piece of bait.
Locations
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Popular spots to fish for large fluke in New Jersey include the waters off Elberon and Deal, Barnegat's ridges and its artificial reef, the Sandy Hook bays and the channels of Raritan. Protected rivers and bays such as the Shrewsbury River, Shark River, the Manasquan and the Barnegat bay are home to may small- and medium-sized fluke, and you may also find some doormats if you're lucky.
Fees and Regulations
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You do not require a saltwater fishing license to catch fluke recreationally. The 2010 New Jersey recreational fluke season opens May 29 and runs to Sept. 6, and includes Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. The recreational possession limit is six fluke per day, and each of these fish must be 18 inches or longer. Cleaning or filleting fish while at sea is prohibited.
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References
- Photo Credit fishing image by BengLim from Fotolia.com
