New Jersey Fishing Reports

Thu., Aug. 21, 2008

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Fishing Reports Now Feature Article

Fluking Kept Simple
By Capt. Mick Trzaska, CRT II , Atlantic Highlands

Capt. Mick Trzaska,
CRT II

Capt. Mick Trzaska started working as a captain in addition to his full-time job in the early to mid ‘70s. He ran fishing charters up and down the coast from Point Pleasant to New York Harbor for the next 30 years, based at a number of ports, such as Belmar for 13 years and New York Harbor for 5 or 6 years. He’s been chartering from Atlantic Highlands for the past 8 years, and became a full-time captain 5 years ago. Mick has also been an avid scuba diver for many years, has served as a dive instructor, and has made many dive trips, including to the Andrea Doria. Born and raised in East Brunswick, Mick began fishing as a toddler with his father and grandfather on Barnegat Bay, where they used to rent a boat to fish and crab. His father and grandfather were also avid anglers, and they probably would’ve liked to do it professionally, but Mick put that plan in action. Maybe more than anything, Mick brings many years of experience on his fishing charters.

The CRT II’s charters certainly target fluke, a mainstay for most of the season. But charters also sail for striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, winter flounder, porgies, sea bass and tautog from Raritan Bay to the ocean. Scuba trips also take place. Capt. Mick Trzaska has run charters for more than 30 years.

Call:
732-672-2802
732-291-1525

Visit CRT II’s web site.

I must have finished cleaning my third or fourth 5-gallon bucketful of fluke when my mate dropped another next to me and said, “Three more to go.”

That was a long time ago, after a very successful fluke charter, before bureaucratic rules and regulations made it difficult to catch many fluke--summer flounder down south, fluke up north.

Things change, but to catch fluke today, the same methods can be used that were successful more years ago than I care to remember.

I prefer to use an old, tried-and-true method to catch fish, particularly fluke. It’s called KISS, or “Keep It Simple, Stupid.”

In our endeavor to learn how to catch more flatties, and hopefully a few large enough to take home, let’s start with basics.

First, fluke are a migratory species. They winter on the continental shelf, obviously in deep water. In springtime they begin an inshore migration to the local rivers and bays, in search of food.

In the New Jersey area, the first fluke are generally reported seen in late April, and will continue residency until late September, when they’ll begin the offshore trek once again.

Early season fluke will spread out in the rivers, bays and near-shore waters in the shallows to take advantage of the sun’s warming rays. Feeding at this time of year is sporadic and sluggish, until water temps rise above 60 degrees, when feeding becomes steady.

Fluke are “in” during late spring to early fall, and fluke are “out” from late fall to early spring.

So, adhering to KISS, what do we need to catch fluke?

1). A boat is helpful.
2). A rod and a reel.
3). Bait.
4). Rigs.
5). A location to fish (with saltwater).
6). A method.

1). I won’t elaborate on item 1. Make sure it floats and is suitable for the body of water you intend to fish.

A fluke boated on the CRT II.

2). Rod and reel: For the reel, you have a choice between conventional or spinning. I prefer conventional reels for fluking for better control and sensitivity. Match your reel to a 6- foot or 6-1/2-foot rod with a semi-stiff tip. This is a 10- to 15-pound-line outfit. If fishing offshore humps, lumps or wrecks in deeper water, bump that up to 20 or 25 pounds.

3). Bait: What do fluke eat? While filleting the fish we’ve found squid, spearing, sand eels, herring, small weakfish, shrimp, tiny lobsters, baby fluke, sea robins, clam, baby blueclaw crabs, peanut bunker, etc. What bait works consistently? KISS principle: The best in my opinion is a combo of squid strip with either spearing or sand eel. Occasionally a strip of sea robin will do.

4). Rigs: Again, KISS. Simplicity in rigs seems to produce the most fish. Forget about the beads, spinners, skirts, and B.S. that is sold during the blue light special. Go with a wide-gap, Mustad, 3/0 to 5/0 hook, snelled (learn how) to a 30- to 36-inch mono leader of 20-to 25-pound test, tied to a three-way swivel with a sinker clip.

5). Location: Remember, spring in, fall out. In the early season fish flats or shallows. During summer target flats and channel edges. In late summer and fall fish the channel edges, channels and channel slopes. Check your tides, and avoid wind-against-tide situations. Days with westerlies are best for drifting the beach on the ocean side. During easterlies and southerlies, stay inside.

6). Method: Set-up in a likely location. Attach a sinker adequate for the speed of the drift. You should feel the sinker bouncing bottom. Bait your hook, drop it to the bottom, let out some line after contact, and wait. Do not set the hook on the first bite. Let the fish eat a little. Set the hook once. Reel in. Remove fish from hook. Smile. Do it again.

Keep it simple.