Catch to Keep Pole

[Bayclub Carl]

I know it's early, but until the cows show up I was wondering how the new Summer Fluke regs. will affect your catch to keep ratio this Season 2008. I had over one hundred Fluke with twenty keepers. Of those keepers only eight were eighteen inches or greater. I'd appreciate the input.

[gradyfish265]

Last year we had over 300 keepers, we had a 4:1 keeper to short ratio for the season on my boat. We had 16 fish over 5lbs and 5 fish over 7lbs, the largest going 2 ounces under 10lbs. Most of our keepers were 19"+ . I know from talking to guys down south they did not fair nearly as well, and I know guys in my area who did not either. Best advice I can give is to work deeper water and structure, and stick with it. Also use larger baits to entice larger fish and weed out the smaller ones. Another tip, start a log of your trips if you do not have one, write down the date where u fished, the time, conditions and tide as well as bait. After 3 years or so you will begin to see patterns of fish movements. Between my Dad and I we have 14years of logs which can help us fish spots and stay away from fleets of boats and have very productive trips. Also, once you find fish and can figure out a pattern, it can help you figure out where they may move to and stay on top of them.

[sunbeammate]

big bait big fish.... when fluking i only use whole squid never strips.

[livetofishnj]

Last year we had over 300 keepers, we had a 4:1 keeper to short ratio for the season on my boat. We had 16 fish over 5lbs and 5 fish over 7lbs, the largest going 2 ounces under 10lbs. Most of our keepers were 19"+ . I know from talking to guys down south they did not fair nearly as well, and I know guys in my area who did not either. Best advice I can give is to work deeper water and structure, and stick with it. Also use larger baits to entice larger fish and weed out the smaller ones. Another tip, start a log of your trips if you do not have one, write down the date where u fished, the time, conditions and tide as well as bait. After 3 years or so you will begin to see patterns of fish movements. Between my Dad and I we have 14years of logs which can help us fish spots and stay away from fleets of boats and have very productive trips. Also, once you find fish and can figure out a pattern, it can help you figure out where they may move to and stay on top of them.

Note to Self: follow grady out of the marina this year....

[Bayclub Carl]

Thanks G. Appreaciate the advice. I'm using minnow/squid combos. What bigger baits would you suggest? Do you think heavier bucktails will do? Thanks again.

[Bayclub Carl]

Thanks Sun. You answered one of my questions to Gradyfish.

[livetofishnj]

big bait big fish.... when fluking i only use whole squid never strips.

I think that's part of the equation.

We'll still catch keepers, the fishery is as healthy as we've ever seen it. It's just a matter of doing things like fishing the right spots and the right baits that will help you get over the size. If you go out and drag a minnow and squid strip you might have a tough time limiting out, but bounce a big bucktail, use whole squid, or big strips around the right places and you'll score. Fish the ocean, deep channels and borrow pits, structure, structure, structure. Skip the beachfront bait dragging and learn how to power drift a wreck or work a channel edge and you can find some nice fish.

The bigger problem for me will be the continued non-parity of NJ and NY regulations and continued hassles on Raritan Bay. I'd hate to be fishing one of the south Jersey estuaries though, that's gonna be a tough game....

[Bayclub Carl]

Thanks for the advice Live. I'm just hopeing that the new regs don't cause people to keep shorts out of frustration. That would defeat the purpose.

[gradyfish265]

Bryan Rose is 100% right on, excellent advice. I tip ALL my rigs with a strip bait, there are tons that work, both artificial and natural bait strips. I also fish atleast one rod with a green bucktail teaser above my bottom hook. I usually fish 2 hook rigs I hand tie. I use 30lb mono with a 3/0-4/0 kahle hook on top, and a 3/0-4/0 long shank eagle claw hook on the bottom(I believe it is an aberdeen, it is no longer made but I find them and stock up every now and then) and a 3 way swivel and weight clip at the end. I put the green bucktail teaser above the long shank hook, this is the hook i put my strip bait on and a killie goes ontop, my other hook is just a killie. As you can tell between the bucktail teaser, strip bait and killie it is a large bait. I'd say about one third our keepers and 2/3 of the big fluke were hooked on this rig, especially when fishing structure. White also works well, but green has been the most productive, have not had a ton of luck with pink. You can buy store bought rigs that are similar, but most I have seen are single hook rigs with kahle hooks.

Bryan...I guess I'll have to outrun your buddies polar or make some pit stops on my way out....
I'll keep you posted when the fishing gets good and where the bite has been. Last season I fished one spot for almost 2 months straight, never had more then 2 other boats there at a time, and they usually did a drift and left.

Only thing I hate about the fluke season is every year it ends earlier and earlier and kills the best fishing as the fish leave our bays through the channels and it really gets good. I'd rather have it start a little later honestly. Oh well, guess I'll be running the canyon more this season.

[Bayclub Carl]

Great advice guys. Thanks for helping me out. I use a double hook rig and I'll work another rod with the chartreuse bucktail,squid/minnow combo. Catch em up boys.