Temperature for Fluke

[BoatGuy]

I just Googled the water temp near Port Jefferson. It is a chilly 38.8 degrees.

What temp do fluke like to have to start biting? Opening day is May 4th. My guess is the water may still be cold.

 

[Leprechaun]

I don't really go by water temp - in fact I don't even have a water temp gauge in my boat. This is because where I fish the surface temp that a sensor would pick up bears no real relationship with the bottom water temp.

Probably for surface-feeding fish like pelagics the temp up high means something, but not for the fluke, seabass and blackfish I look for. Even into the third week of June, with air temps in the 80's, fish can frequently come aboard that feel like they've spent the night in a refrigerator.

Anyway, from what I recall, the Sound fishing from Port Jeff out towards Horton's Point typically kicked off around Memorial Day. But from what I have read, even that is nowhere near a sure thing - not the past 6 or so years. Its been a bit of a tooth-pull putting together a nice catch up there. Maybe the newly proposed 18.5" limit will help a bit.

In my area, south of JI, we used to slam the fluke on the open sand right around then as well. No more - at least not the past four or so seasons. Now the really good fishing by me doesn't get rolling until the second/third week of June, and some seasons even later. I guess if I fished up in the Bay's shallows there could be some decent fish to be found. But I'm not a fan of boat traffic, narrow channels and tons of seaweed-clogged rigs. Too frustrating.

So I don't know if that helped - probably not. But at least I gave you a "when" if not an actual temp.

Oh, one more thing - the really old-timers used to tell me that a very cold Winter was conducive toward a big sand eel population the following Spring/Summer. That actually seems to be true, based on my observations.

 

[longcast]

Last year, we fished almost exclusively from a 17 foot skiff, so bay only. Temperature where we got the bites were low 50's and up. I get what you are saying Lep but the water we fished was no more than 10 feet, and 4 in some places so water temp would probably drop a bit. Marked bait and saw bait in other parts of the bay closer to the ocean and no bites. Not very scientific, but our experience. We know of a 10+ caught in the same rip we fish by boat by a surfcaster last year. Saw the picture. Know the owner of the shop who weighed it. Heard about a few 5-7's but did not see, so discount that a little. They are there! Did not experience seaweed issues. Some, but nothing too aggravating. Heard the same for sand eels, but last year was the first year where I could put more time into the sport. Will keep in mind.

 

[NoFlukenName]

I’ve caught them in Peconic Bay in mid April when water temp at surface was only in the low 50s and bottom was surely cooler. I think bait presence is a more critical factor here than water temp.

 

[hartattack]

From mid-April until season opens I enjoy catch/release fluking from shore. Shallow water with outgoing tide is optimal. And i use Spearing on plain jighead in early season, not gulp, no teaser. Can't wait....

 

[OVERBORED]

Good question. I always fished the back bays early. All from long beach to Merrick.

I'd rather fish early in the season and find the bite than wait and find out I should have been there last week. Some areas are warmer than others. The bay temps are never uniform.

 

[Bachala]

Years ago, the PB's would fish for fluke on opening day and while the bite was slow compared to summertime the big fish were always pulled early in the season. I have seen great bites out of Mattituck the 2nd week of May. I would say the water temperature in that area is not nearly as big a factor as is the bait. When the squid and sand eels show up, the fluke are not far behind. I fished Sands Point early May for fluke once when I had my boat in Port Chester NY. My friends thought I was nuts. I came back with a nice bucket of big fluke. They were shocked when they saw them.

 

[BoatGuy]

Years ago, the PB's would fish for fluke on opening day and while the bite was slow compared to summertime the big fish were always pulled early in the season. I have seen great bites out of Mattituck the 2nd week of May. I would say the water temperature in that area is not nearly as big a factor as is the bait. When the squid and sand eels show up, the fluke are not far behind. I fished Sands Point early May for fluke once when I had my boat in Port Chester NY. My friends thought I was nuts. I came back with a nice bucket of big fluke. They were shocked when they saw them.

This is interesting. I remember when I was younger and winter flounder had St Patty's Day as the opening. We went in April and caught fish in April. Summer flounder (fluke) I do catch fish in early May. I have noticed keepers are harder to get after the 4th of July. I mentioned that to Crazy Alberto one day. He asked his usual question: "Do you know why?"
(Alberto would tell you the answer the question but strived more for you to understand). I had no answer to his question.
He said "Squid. The big fish follow the big bait, squid."

So, when you said " I would say the water temperature in that area is not nearly as big a factor as is the bait. When the squid and sand eels show up, the fluke are not far behind." That matched what I would see. I have to look at my fishing log and see it there is a pattern.

 

[OVERBORED]

Biggest fish always came from Shelter Island area coinciding with squid run.

 

[BoatGuy]

Where up to 45.3 (at the surface).

 

[hartattack]

They're here now, 20"er caught from Belmar dock yesterday