Post your 2019-2025 Fluke Pix & Trip Reports Here!

[movetheboat]

Have you done the trip before? I never have but hearing from friends who have, DD fish are scarcer this year…..wonder if it’s just a cyclical thing or if it’s pressure on the fishery….

yes I have done it before......my capt has had 50 over 10 lb this year

 

[george]

yes I have done it before......my capt has had 50 over 10 lb this year

I just want 1 ?. Until I catch it. Then I'll want just 1 more

 

[hartattack]

went to Nantucket shoals Monday on a 6pk. No big guys...but an easy boat limit by 10 A.M. Hung around the Cape for a couple of days with my brother.

We experienced similar Nantucket bite 2 weeks ago. My buddy and I were throwing back 17-18"ers (Mass. minimum size reg is only 17") and captain told us that's all they've been catching since an epic June doormat bite. Limits were easy pickins but pool fish was only 6 lbs. Codfishing the next day was incredible. Haddock were pushed offshore by these pleasantly bigger than expected Cod. Highlight of trip was the 200+ lb Porbeagle shark that ate a Cod, everyone onboard got a hunk for the grill - yummy!

 

[Leprechaun]

Hit my favorite deep bottom yesterday with fellow NYAnglers Frankie/NYSharpie and Eddie/Tognut18 for not so great results. Worked my ass off for a total of five keeps to 4lbs for the boat. A not very impressive showing, I would say - especially after the past few week's worth of superb fishing.

Beautiful day, no real ocean, 2-3oz jigs the whole trip - the fish just didn't bite worth a damn. Can't say if they were off their feed, what with all the recent storm's cooler run-off, or if they've already moved on, which I find tough to believe. Another trip later this week will be more definitive. WX not looking so great for this coming week though, so maybe not . . .

 

[longcast]

I am sure you gave it your all! New moon Monday, so we shall see what the week brings.

 

[longcast]

Finished off the weekend with a few hours out on the bay looking for anything thing willing to tug on the line. Managed to grab 2 big sea robins and 7 fluke. Fluke were all in the 18-19 inch range although the one 19 would have been a stretch. See below the multi colored one. And no, the red is not blood. Very cool!! They hit hard and put up a spirited battle. Same 1/4 oz spearing imitation bucktail, 1/2 wide strip of imitation pork rind, and the Gulp sandeel. Also tried a barely visible rip further up in the bay which went from 5 to 8 feet but not a steep drop. Had one lively blast of the pencil popper but that was it. Bait was a bit scarce but he was there. Will try on the outgoing on the opposite side later in the week. Will also probably start tossing eels again too. Miss doing that. No dragging down the middle of the inlet, just tossing on the bars and letting it float off. We shall see. Be well, and be safe out there!

 

[Leprechaun]

Sailed solo today on a gorgeous ocean to "my office." Started out with the spinning rod and 2oz lead heads. Had to slowly segue up to 6oz-sinkered B/S Rigs thru the morning's new moon tide. Caught at least a dozen heart breaker-sized shorts, not a keeper to be found.

Except on my last drift - of course. Finally got the "right" hit and slowly played it to the boat. A solid 6lb fish. Put the net in the water and the fish power-dived under it, pulling the hook free. Sometimes its not so easy to net a nice one all by one's self. My initial disappointment gave way to a realization that the past month and half have been pretty awesome - so maybe its fitting that the last nice keeper on the Lep will live to see next season. . . if the draggers don't get him this Winter, that is.

Highlight of the day was a monster whale breach a hundred or so yards away. I missed the initial jump, but did see the fall-back splash - it had to have come completely out of the water, as I turned just in time to see what looked like a depth-charge plume, at least 15' in the air. He did come up a few more times as he worked his way West into the tide, but only to take a breath and go back down. Some days nature is truly an awesome sight.

So ends my fluke season. Time to break down the rod/reel setups, clean/tune everything up and stash it all away. Also time to pull out the East-end Sea Bass tackle - for a trip or three on Capt. Mike's Greenport based "The Captain's Table" - and to make ready all the tog gear. And while I'm at it, time to catch up on some boat maintenance, and get it ready for togging as well. It really was a great late fluke season while it lasted. . .

 

[longcast]

Awesome season!!

 

[hartattack]

Memorable day today in South Jersey. The fluke seem to be migrating along the beach rather than usual offshore route. We did well in 50', got our 13 man limit and then the fun began: a friendly competition to see who could swing the biggest fluke. 24"ers, 25, didn't matter because we already had what we came for. Using 2 oz jig in September sunshine was a blast.

 

[Snapprhead27]

Sailed solo today on a gorgeous ocean to "my office." Started out with the spinning rod and 2oz lead heads. Had to slowly segue up to 6oz-sinkered B/S Rigs thru the morning's new moon tide. Caught at least a dozen heart breaker-sized shorts, not a keeper to be found.

Except on my last drift - of course. Finally got the "right" hit and slowly played it to the boat. A solid 6lb fish. Put the net in the water and the fish power-dived under it, pulling the hook free. Sometimes its not so easy to net a nice one all by one's self. My initial disappointment gave way to a realization that the past month and half have been pretty awesome - so maybe its fitting that the last nice keeper on the Lep will live to see next season. . . if the draggers don't get him this Winter, that is.

Highlight of the day was a monster whale breach a hundred or so yards away. I missed the initial jump, but did see the fall-back splash - it had to have come completely out of the water, as I turned just in time to see what looked like a depth-charge plume, at least 15' in the air. He did come up a few more times as he worked his way West into the tide, but only to take a breath and go back down. Some days nature is truly an awesome sight.

So ends my fluke season. Time to break down the rod/reel setups, clean/tune everything up and stash it all away. Also time to pull out the East-end Sea Bass tackle - for a trip or three on Capt. Mike's Greenport based "The Captain's Table" - and to make ready all the tog gear. And while I'm at it, time to catch up on some boat maintenance, and get it ready for togging as well. It really was a great late fluke season while it lasted. . .

You had a great season out there!! I'm booked with Capt Mike for tog in October. Can't wait!

 

[Capt Richie]

havent posted my last couple of trips been really busy but nothing to get excited about had 9 fish to 6lbs & 7 on another just 19 to 22" fish

but today was a different story it was a slam dunk ...three man limit by 1130am,, two fish around 3 lbs the rest 5.5 to 8 lbs ...they wanted the jig today big time ...

 

[george]

havent posted my last couple of trips been really busy but nothing to get excited about had 9 fish to 6lbs & 7 on another just 19 to 22" fish

but today was a different story it was a slam dunk ...three man limit by 1130am,, two fish around 3 lbs the rest 5.5 to 8 lbs ...they wanted the jig today big time ...

Congrats on that!

 

[captmike28]

Headed out to Montauk to try and cash in on the waning 2021 Fluke season with long term customer Chef Nader and his friend Kim. Had reports that the fish are starting to stack up just south of the point which is usually a sure sign they are getting ready to move on.

Spent 3 hours of the flood in a very swift flood tide that required the use of my drift sock to slow us down to around a 2-2.2kt. drift. Had a steady pick of Fluke during this period and managed to box 5 keepers to 5# among many other short fish.

The bite tapered off as the tide slowed so we headed south to Cartwright to try and fill out the catch. Here we were rewarded with 4 more keepers with the top 2 fish going 6 and 7# respectively and a dozen healthy Sea Bass to 3#. So, the Chef goes home with some excellent table fare for him to work his “culinary magic”!

 

[Leprechaun]

So that's a Wrap of the 2021 Fluke season for the Capt. and crew of the Leprechaun - time to unpin this thread, 'til next May.

Here off JI it started way late, with icy cold water thru June. But after the 4th of July it really got rip-roaring good, with nearly every trip a winner. Some quality fish came aboard this year, with Capt. Mike Bady's 8lb5oz beast, my "7lb even" and Georgie's 6lb8oz fish the best three that hit the boat's bleed box this season. Of course all of us had some real thumpers on the line, but those never made it to the net. Had to all be DD's, right?

 

[hartattack]

Just like clockwork.... they're here the day b4 taxes are due. Just got this 20"er off one of the docks in Belmar, central NJ.

 

[BennyV]

Just like clockwork.... they're here the day b4 taxes are due. Just got this 20"er off one of the docks in Belmar, central NJ.

Awesome dude!

 

[Leprechaun]

Quick post of my "season status." I've been busting it on some major repair work on the Lep - a very nasty transmission repair (BIG thanks to Mark M. and Mark K. for the heavy-duty muscular assists - you guys are awesome friends), and an engine rewire job have consumed most of my time, so far this Spring. Hey, she ain't gettin' any younger and so this sort of work is to be expected. Anyway, all done now and so begins my "normal" Spring prep. Should be floating by Memorial Day, or shortly thereafter. THEN we'll see about the local fluking.

In the meantime a trip or two on "The Captain's Table" for those bronto Peconic Spring-time porgies that Capt. Mike and I love to catch. Mmmm, home-cooked scup tacos/lettuce wraps . . .

 

[Litugboat]

First trip of the year for me. Fished very very local to Freeport. Very slow only 3 fish but 2 were keepers. White 5" jerk shad on 1 \2 oz head in shallow water was the only thing that got bites. At least the boat ran good and I got dinner out of it.

 

[Leprechaun]

"At least the boat ran good . . ."

This is the most important part of each season's first trip. I did so much work on my own rig this past month, I can only hope that it all works out for the best on my first run!

Anyway, glad to hear that the fish are stirring!

 

[hartattack]

NJ update: Fluke season opened on Monday but rain/muddy water prevented us from our usual opening day tradition. I've been Fluking from shore and doing well since mid-April (catch n release). NJ Fluke regs for 2022 are 2 between 17 and 18" and ONE over 18". Three of us fished Shark River Belmar on my friend's Parker on Tuesday for a 2-hour Shakedown (as Chinacat knows: "ya just gotta poke around"). Mission accomplished... 3 over 20", 3 'slots', 6 shorts in two hours.
These new NJ regs are great for the party boats but us hardcore Flukers will soon be disappointed when Ocean Fluking for the ONE 'over' each angler is allowed. Culling will result, I just hope the culled 'overs' will swim away...