Atlantic City Weekly

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As with many anglers, I got “hooked” on fishing when my grandfather introduced me to the sport as a young kid.

As I remember, he took me, my sister and cousins to a pier on north Long Beach Island, and we caught a passel of blowfish by just dropping a weighted line down with several hooks baited with squid. The fish were so plentiful you could reel in two and three at a time with no breaks in the action. We cleaned them (OK, my grandfather did), and we had them for dinner that night. Even as a kid I remember a sense of accomplishment in making a meal out of what I located, caught, cleaned and cooked myself (OK, with a lot of help).

That experience led to half-day flounder trips on party boats in the bays and off the front beaches, all-day trips to the reefs and ridges for “slammer” bluefish and, over time, pursuit of just about every prized species the state had to offer — including a couple of jaunts trolling for big game like tuna and marlin in the offshore canyons. For many who spent a lot of time in a seashore environment, this progression may have a familiar ring to it.

Being out on the water and trying to coax a prized catch into a boat or onto the beach or pier is a lot of fun. Action varies from trip to trip, and sometimes you’ll catch your limit one day and — even under ideal conditions — be unable to get anything to bite the next. That element of uncertainty is part of the sport’s appeal.

Over the years, state fish and game regulators have taken measures to ensure that action stays fairly consistent, and species’ population numbers remain suitably high, by enforcing size and bag limits on game fish vigorously pursued by recreational anglers.
In the summertime, summer flounder (called “fluke,” and distinctly different from winter flounder) are easily the most sought-after quarry by recreational anglers.

Right: A nice-sized fluke caught on a local party boat.

When I was growing up in the 1970s, we kept any and all fluke we could carve even miniscule filets from, as did many others. Not only did the species’ numbers noticeably dwindle, but fewer and fewer decent-sized fluke were being caught. In the mid-’80s the state put a 13-inch size limit on any fluke kept, and it was incrementally increased over the years to today’s 18-inch, eight-fish-per-day limit.

Recreational fishermen may grumble that the limits are too strict — reluctantly releasing plenty of nice 16 and 17 inchers, and rarely coming anywhere near the eight-keeper limit — but flounder fishing has improved immensely since the state started enforcing rules about 25 years ago. The same might be said about striped bass (the primary-targeted N.J. quarry during the fall), weakfish and other species that saw their numbers threatened.

While the summer’s still young, flounder fishing is off to one of its best starts ever this year. Many area party boats have reported putting as many as 300 fish on the deck in a four-hour trip, and while the vast majority of those are too small and must go back in the water, it still makes for a fun outing. Generally a half-day party-boat trip (most run two trips — 8am-noon and 1-5pm) for fluke runs about $25 per head (less for seniors and kids) and includes bait. Rod-reel combos can be rented for a nominal fee and, of course, you may bring your own onboard. Fluke season started in May and runs later than usual this year, to Sept. 25.

Area party boats generally run daily throughout the summer (weather permitting), and some proven winners are (north to south) the Fishfinder in Brigantine, the Highroller out of A.C.’s Gardner’s Basin, the Jessie O and the Keeper off Amherst Avenue in Margate, the Duke O’Fluke in Somers Point, and the North Star in Ocean City.

The best results for fluke fishing is a combination of squid and live minnow on a single hook (on a monofilament leader about 30 inches away from the sinker) or high-low rig. Jigging a bucktail with cut bait like squid, spearing or mackerel works well, as does artificial bait like Berkeley Gulp or Fish Bites. Fluke are found throughout the bays and inlets, and at varied depths. Drifting a boat (as opposed to anchoring) works best, as fluke are generally ambush predators that lie in wait for prey to pass them.