New Jersey Fishing Reports

Thu., Aug. 28, 2008

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Fishing Reports Now Feature Article

Like Peanut Butter and Jelly:
Summertime Fluke and Sea Bass

By Capt. Allen Gonzalez,
Reel Class Charters, Point Pleasant

Capt. Allen Gonzalez,
Reel Class Charters

Fluke and sea bass combos are a staple during much of the summer for Capt. Allen Gonzalez and Reel Class Charters. Both open-boat trips and charters sail for the palate-pleasers, and combining the two types of fishing adds to the fun, the dinnertime menu and the chances of hooking up. Allen specializes in this fishing and is a go-to captain for these types of trips. Charters during the season will eventually also target weakfish, croakers, porgies, false albacore and bonito. Striped bass and bluefish are a focus in spring and fall, and trips kick off in early spring with winter flounder fishing.

Allen is a sixth-grade teacher in the Teaneck public schools. He grew up summering at his grandparents’ vacation home in Ortley Beach, and as a child began fishing nearby Barnegat Bay, the surf and the Manasquan River, waters he still fishes today. His family always owned boats, and he ran the vessels almost since he can remember.

Fishing became an obsession, and friends started tagging along with him as he spent much of his time with rods and reels in his hands. One thing led to another, and he earned his captain’s license, and he started offering charters. Reel Class Charters is now his second job, but it’s also a practical way to make good use of all the time he’d be spending fishing anyway, because he loves it. His charters are invited to share and learn about the experience.

Call: 201-248-5281

Visit Reel Class Charters' web site.

Fishing for fluke and sea bass go together like peanut butter and jelly in summertime. Targeting and catching both on a given day in the ocean is always a possibility!

Fluke can be picked up near the beaches, but you won’t catch many sea bass there. You’ll see them in the mix with fluke if you’re fishing at wrecks, rock piles and artificial reefs.

When fishing a wreck or rock pile for fluke and sea bass, a day with a relatively slow drift is necessary, so the boat doesn’t fly over the structure.

You should choose spots that are low-profile instead of super-high, jagged structure to avoid continually snagging and losing rigs.

In my neck of the woods, spots like the Sea Girt Reef, the Shrewsbury Rocks, the Elberon Rocks, the Rattlesnake and the Axel Carlson Reef are among many other great spots for targeting the two palate-pleasers.

A sturdy, medium-heavy, 7- to 7-1/2-foot rod with a conventional reel should do the trick. As an example, I couple a 7-foot St. Croix rod with a Penn 975 reel spooled with 40-pound Power Pro.

Fast-tapered rods, or rods with soft tips, don’t mix well with fishing nastier bottom, so make sure the rod is a moderate taper with backbone plus a powerful, lifting tip.

Spooling the reel with braided line adds more sensitivity and cuts through the water best, allowing lighter sinkers to be used.

A monofilament shock leader married to the braid via a modified Albright knot or a uni-to-uni knot is the way to go. A 6- to 8-foot length of 40-pound, clear mono is a good choice, because it can withstand the rubbing of hard bottom.

Bait wise, sea bass and fluke have common appetites. Squid strips are probably the No. 1 choice, and Pro-Cut squid has gotten a big play from anglers in recent years.

Combining that strip with a lively killie, sand eel or spearing will get even more attention from fluke and sea bass alike.

Bunker strips, mackerel strips, and, in a pinch, bluefish or sea robin strips are alternative baits and will do the trick well.

Imitation baits like those produced by Gulp, especially the pink twisters, also get big play from fluke and sea bass fanatics.

As far as rigs go, I love to send down bucktails on hard bottom, baited with one of the strip baits mentioned above. Adding a soft plastic teaser above the bucktail gives it that much more appeal to the hungry bottom dwellers.

Standard high-low rigs will mostly catch sea bass, but a standard fluke rig with a high-hook added just above the rig itself can get you fluke plus a few sea bass.

Here’s a simple game plan: Have one or two anglers fish a high-how rig, focusing on sea bass. Have another angler bouncing a bucktail for a combo of the two species. And have another angler drop down a fluke rig with a high-hook added for sea bass.

This fishing is a favorite for my charters during much of the summer. Both fish are some of the best-eating, and the opportunity to land two species on one trip increases the fun.