With the fluke season behind us, did you do better or worse than last year.

[BoatGuy]

If you guys can mention if you fish North Shore, South shore, Conn or NJ, it may help to see if others are seeing the same as you.

 

[pequa1]

If you guys can mention if you fish North Shore, South shore, Conn or NJ, it may help to see if others are seeing the same as you.

Only 11 voted. Maybe toss it and establish new polls as above ( ? ) But some would still say its Spot Burning LOL !!

 

[captmike28]

Our Fluke season in 2020 was disappointing by North Fork/East End standards but probably better that experienced by anglers sailing out of other ports.

Sadly the spring run in Peconic Bay was a mere shadow of what it used to be. While most of the fish caught were of decent size, 4-6#, the quantity was way off. During the prime window from early May through mid to late June I found it nearly impossible to put together a limit catch.

The fishing off Gardiners Island was truly a nightmare. I only made 2 serious attempts to fish there and managed a total of 3 keepers for 2 full days efforts. One trip saw a fair number of shorts mixed in while the other was really quiet. Even the Sea Bass population in this area seemed subdued last year. Something funny is going on with either bait or water temps here as I have been fishing this area for over 50 years and never saw Gardiners this poor.

Montauk Fluke fishing was certainly much better than the other grounds I normally work but even here the results were not as strong as we have enjoyed in recent years. I made a total of 8 trips to Montauk from the North Fork last summer with mixed results. First of all, the best bite started about 2 weeks later than previous years, not taking hold until mid July. My numbers worked out as follows. Four trips were solid with full boat limits and fish up to 8.2#. Two trips were just OK coming in a few fish short of a limit with Fluke up to 7.5# finding the box. The other two trips were tough with just a few keepers caught on each outing and our days being bailed out by the excellent Sea Bass action. Although some folks had better results with some very large fish, this is the first season in the last 3 that we did not see a single fish over 10# hit the deck. By comparison, we saw 3 DD's caught in 2019 and 2 in 2018. I know I am spoiled but for Montauk , which I believe offers some of the best opportunities for catching really large Fluke on LI, it was not a banner year.

I'm sure we all hope for an improved Fluke bite in 2021, especially since it has to be one of the most popular species in our area.

 

[BennyV]

Our Fluke season in 2020 was disappointing by North Fork/East End standards but probably better that experienced by anglers sailing out of other ports.

Sadly the spring run in Peconic Bay was a mere shadow of what it used to be. While most of the fish caught were of decent size, 4-6#, the quantity was way off. During the prime window from early May through mid to late June I found it nearly impossible to put together a limit catch.

The fishing off Gardiners Island was truly a nightmare. I only made 2 serious attempts to fish there and managed a total of 3 keepers for 2 full days efforts. One trip saw a fair number of shorts mixed in while the other was really quiet. Even the Sea Bass population in this area seemed subdued last year. Something funny is going on with either bait or water temps here as I have been fishing this area for over 50 years and never saw Gardiners this poor.

Montauk Fluke fishing was certainly much better than the other grounds I normally work but even here the results were not as strong as we have enjoyed in recent years. I made a total of 8 trips to Montauk from the North Fork last summer with mixed results. First of all, the best bite started about 2 weeks later than previous years, not taking hold until mid July. My numbers worked out as follows. Four trips were solid with full boat limits and fish up to 8.2#. Two trips were just OK coming in a few fish short of a limit with Fluke up to 7.5# finding the box. The other two trips were tough with just a few keepers caught on each outing and our days being bailed out by the excellent Sea Bass action. Although some folks had better results with some very large fish, this is the first season in the last 3 that we did not see a single fish over 10# hit the deck. By comparison, we saw 3 DD's caught in 2019 and 2 in 2018. I know I am spoiled but for Montauk , which I believe offers some of the best opportunities for catching really large Fluke on LI, it was not a banner year.

I'm sure we all hope for an improved Fluke bite in 2021, especially since it has to be one of the most popular species in our area.

I hate to say it but misery loves company. I think I feel a little better that this is more widespread than just my neck of the woods.

 

[Chinacat]

Heres an example of my 2020 Fluke season
1 of my few keepers was on a clam and small bait holder hook while hunting for triggers in shinnecock inlet
I was alone and when I got my first eyeball of it, I was practically tripping over myself to get the net before it spit the hook?‍?

 

[pequa1]

While I caught three more keepers off the yak than I did in 2019, none were of the larger sizes from 2019. Targeted weaks instead after the first couple of them caught as a by-catch. We find them tastier and they sure as hell fighter better than the flatfish.

 

[BennyV]

Heres an example of my 2020 Fluke season
1 of my few keepers was on a clam and small bait holder hook while hunting for triggers in shinnecock inlet
I was alone and when I got my first eyeball of it, I was practically tripping over myself to get the net before it spit the hook?‍?View attachment 29190

Funny you mentioned this. We had quite a few fluke, albeit mostly shorts, while porgy fishing. We alternated between drifting for porgies and anchoring. When the bite was a little slower we did better on the drift.

 

[captmike28]

Considering how many Fluke seem to be caught "by accident" on clams, I'm starting to think maybe it should become a mainstream bait for the flatties!
Oh, wait, I forgot the Sea Bass will rarely give them a chance to get to it!!!

 

[Snapprhead27]

Did good in GSB the week before it ended. The bite was so good that the bay looked like mid summer out on the water.

 

[Capt Richie]

I had a great year..went two to three times a week & caught my limit or close to it almost every trip...I did stay away from weekend fishing & the so called hot spots & mostly fished small drops...I also found that the bite was picky & would turn on & off quickly...so you really had to put in the time & work small areas when the bite was on..cant wait for June ocean bite to start

 

[DarthBaiter]

My season sucked cuz I had motor problems and had to pull the boat out during the season. Hopefully this year I can bring home some flatties for the table.

 

[Leprechaun]

I went thru a few trip-robbing, annoying repairs as well last season - ignition, cooling, electronics. Nothing that required pulling the boat though, thank the Lord!

Did I mention I hate boats? Well, maybe not, but I really don't love 'em all that much, either.

Oh, how I wish I had a friend or two that knew something about fishing. ?

Then I could fish from their boats instead of my own rig. ?

 

[DarthBaiter]

I say the same thing about friends with boats when I'm prepping her up in the spring, but after a few trips on my buddies boats, I'am always happy to be back on mine fishing where I want to how I want to when I want to.

Like Jack Sparrow said, "where ever we want to go, we'll go."
As long as we have the fuel capacity.

 

[Leprechaun]

Jack Sparrow, eh?

Here’s my favorite quote - which I recite to myself whenever I get in over my head on a boat repair:

Truer words were never spoken. . . .

 

[movetheboat]

blackfish are getting bigger and bigger...but Charlie Nappis fluke record has been holding up since the 70s...I got drunk with this guy in West LAKE IN THE 80S

 

[DarthBaiter]

It wasn't attacked by a racoon?

 

[movetheboat]

It wasn't attacked by a racoon?

those pants scare them

 

[DarthBaiter]

those pants scare them

I had a pair like that in the 70's, wish I had that fluke too.

 

[george]

I went thru a few trip-robbing, annoying repairs as well last season - ignition, cooling, electronics. Nothing that required pulling the boat though, thank the Lord!

Did I mention I hate boats? Well, maybe not, but I really don't love 'em all that much, either.

Oh, how I wish I had a friend or two that knew something about fishing. ?

Then I could fish from their boats instead of my own rig. ?

I was on a trip with you this year when you said, and I quote "I know I'm going to burn my arm but I gotta check that plug wire" You then burnt your arm, got us running and we ended the day with our limit.

That is one trip I will never forget.

 

[Leprechaun]

Oh, I remember it too.

The burn scars on my left arm are finally starting to fade.

"When the goin' gets tough. . . "