Winter flounder on the manasquan river nj saltwater. Check out this howto video for more tips on catching winter flounder. From first time anglers, to expert anglers night time flounder gigging has been a longtime texas tradition for decades. Florida sportsman s 50 favorite sportfish of florida. We see some decent fish every day but not big numbers yet, bob reported, saying the warming this week should only intensify the bite and bring more anglers to the docks and bulkheads looking for a flatty or two. From the beach and bays to the ocean depths, fishing writer and videographer, john skinner, takes the reader along in pursuit of these fish from boat, shore, and kayak. Add a squid strip andor sand eel to hook and its a dynamite rig. Catches of winter flounder weighing 3 pounds or more often reward anglers fishing with jason colby, a licensed guide for 35 years. I think he said they use to fish the indian river in delaware near the power plant. How to catch boston harbor winter flounder new england.
With over 176,000 acres of public lakes and 27,300 miles of fishable streams, virginia is sure to provide something for every freshwater angler. The geographic distribution ranges from nearshore habitats to offshore fishing banks along the atlantic coast of north america. Dec, 2017 another key location for winter flounder fishing is near warmwater discharges of power plants and refineries. Early spring and late winter flounders put on the feed bag here in the nj coastal area bays and rivers. This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you. April 1 st marks the beginning of winter flounder season this year.
Flounder is one of the most often overlooked fish in florida saltwater. Whether you are new to fishing or new to long beach island, greg wants to help. Adult flounder in the 5 to 6 pound range can be caught on daytona beach inshore fishing trips even in winter. Mar 10, 2017 greg is an accomplished angler with great knowledge of saltwater fishing from the light tackle back waters to the surf and jetty as well as inshore and offshore big game fishing. The population of winter flounder is not doing well. Mar 09, 2010 fishing a slack line is a favoured tactic so that the fish feel little resistance when they take the bait, although even with a slack line a positive bite can be detected with ease in calm conditions. Pensacola fall flounder run overview instant help for. A fly that fits all the way into a flounders mouth is the best size. While it is possible to fish for flounder from a stationary location, youre a lot less likely to catch one this way.
Some inlets, particularly the more southern ones, will hold flounder throughout the winter. Early spring through may usually is prime target time, but these fish will sometimes linger a bit longer in the bays. Under these new measures, no commercial fishing vessel is permitted to harvest southern new england winter flounder in order to protect this vulnerable stock. Winter flounder is an estuarine flatfish found in almost all shoal water habitats along the northwest atlantic coast. It lasted about a month throughout many favorite winter flounder haunts in barnegat bay. If the flounder are biting, youll be glad you brought plenty.
While the stocks of flounder within narragansett bay have totally collapsed, they are healthy in the coastal ponds and. By april, we do more and more fishing in sandy hook and raritan bays. Want to know how the pros go after flounderaka fluke. Atlantic highlands sandy hook flounder fishing the sea. Click here to learn more about john skinners book, fishing for summer flounder. A simple flounder rig or a double hook spreader rig with a 26 ounce sinker attached, for holding the bottom in a current or while drifting, are the most popular methods used. Catching flounder in the winter the online fisherman. Flounder are a sitandwait ambush predator, so artificial lures are very effective at fooling them. In the spring it usually starts off in the end of march and lasts though mid may and in the winter december through february. Fishing virginia offers excellent, extremely diverse angling opportunities. Flounder typically stay in one place on the bottom, and youll need the bait to cross their path to hook one. If youre serious about winter flounder fishing, buy at least one flat of seaworms per 6hour trip. Regardless of the time of year always bring sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, and shoes.
Fishing for winter flounder nj saltwater fisherman your. Nov 09, 2019 flounder typically stay in one place on the bottom, and youll need the bait to cross their path to hook one. A few years ago, i had a fishing buddy of mine tell me about how back in the day, they use to fish for winter flounder on nice winter days. Flounder have a relatively small mouth, but dont tell that to a 20 incher.
Fishing for summer flounder fluke jigging from shore. Aug 08, 2019 fishing for flounder isnt rocket science, but its better to go into it knowing a few tricks and techniques if it can give you an edge out on the water. Swimming behaviour of winter flounder pleuronectes americanus. Flounder is a good, lowfat source of b vitamins and an excellent source of niacin. New hampshires seacoast are most likely to encounter winter flounder, though, so it pays to refresh your knowledge of this forgotten fishery. They feed on small invertebrates, shrimp, clams, and worms. Youll find flounder also called fluke anywhere there is a sandy bottom, since they lay flat on the bottom. The association between big winter flounder and the estuaries of devon and cornwall is a strong one, built up over the years on reports of fish averaging 3lbs and, on occasions, topping 5lbs. Fishing for fluke casting bucktails and berkley gulp alive from shore. Whats biting november navarre kayak fishing is the areas largest kayaking fishing service and provides anglers with the opportunity to land a fish a lifetime. Flounder are always a taste bonus to your cooler box when out fishing the tampa bay area waters.
Not to be negetive but this same article was posted last year and i have noticed a few other repeats as well also i bought john spinners book and although its great reading fishing for flounder in the northeast in new york is totally different then fishing for flounder in florida or any where in the south for that matter the northeast is deeper colder and different structure most of the. To catch winter flounder, you can use a very basic rig with only a hook line and sinker in addition to the clams. Galveston fishing report wintertime fun on the upper texas. Baitfish congregate here during cold spells, making it a sort of buffet for flounder. Learn about winter flounder and targeting these fish in the waters around lbi. Since 1995, i have been fishing for winter flounder on the manasquan river and the northern part of barnegat bay. The flounder bite in raritan bay, nj and jamaica bay, ny provide some of the most reliable early spring action in the northeast. We have the best flounder fishing city island, new york has to offer. I fish the kingsbridge estuary regularly through the winter for the simple reason that it has consistently produced the larger fish in recent years. Most of the offshore flounder are caught by fishermen bottom fishing for groupers. Island current fleet has the perfect boats, tools, bait and experience to get those flounders jumping on your line. Check us out for more fishing articles, videos, and gear.
Push the worm up the shank until you get to the eye of the hook. Fishing for winter flounder by william muller author isbn. Tackle, tactics, and techniques of the masters are exposed in this oneofakind howto fishing book. Some anglers mistake winter flounder for summer flounder or fluke and sometimes even for halibut. A look at some of the gear i prefer for light tackle jigging. The winter flounder pseudopleuronectes americanus, also known as the black back, is a righteyed dextral flatfish of the family pleuronectidae. Flounder fishing city island bronx, ny island current. Winter flounder feed during the day because they depend on sight to locate prey. Apr 03, 2016 the winter flounder, a master of disguise with a wandering eye.
The first thing to consider is a sunny day, with an outgoing tide. Fishing for flounder with flies may be more effective than fishing for them with larger lures. Pensacola fall flounder run overview image courtesy of the florida fish and wildlife conservation commission flounder general overview four species of flounder are commonly caught in florida waters. While the stocks of flounder within narragansett bay have totally collapsed, they are healthy in the coastal ponds and around point judith. Even when winter hangs on a little longer than it should, there are still fish to be caught. He fishes up to six anglers aboard his 26foot openconsole goldline with a 300 hp yamaha. I like to fish as light as possible for these flatties. Fishing with some great folks who been in this business for a long time. To rig the seaworm, pinch it by the head and thread it onto the hook, starting at the point. Whether you call them fluke or flounder, theyre challenging, fun to catch, and among the best eating fish that inhabit the waters along the east coast and gulf states.
Fishing a slack line is a favoured tactic so that the fish feel little resistance when they take the bait, although even with a slack line a positive bite can be detected with ease in calm conditions. These areas are frequented by anglers seeking redfish and to some extent trout during the winter but there are flounder below them. There are actually four relevant types of atlantic flounder. We offer half, threequarter or full days for inshore, offshore and tarpon fishing. They are one of the best tasting fish in our waters and a great way to begin and end the fishing season.
Here we will list some basics you have to consider to increase your chances of winter flounder fishing success. In the fall of 2003, i purchased angela rose and have been a professional charter guide since. Mar 11, 2016 your how to on how to catch winter flounder. These flounder fishing tips could be the best ever salt strong. If had to choose only season to flounder fish it would be spring and one month it would be april. Fish mainly striped bass, bluefish, toadfish, and summer flounder, birds, invertebrates, winter skate, and marine mammals prey on larval and juvenile winter.
Apr 01, 2016 april 1 st marks the beginning of winter flounder season this year. Artificial lures can be very convenient for you as well, as there is so much casting and dragging involved in pursuing flounder that many times a natural bait which is usually hooked through the lip would need to be replaced every other cast. The very limited number of anglers who had their boats operational and ready to go on opening day realized excellent fishing from the start. Dec 06, 2019 not to be negetive but this same article was posted last year and i have noticed a few other repeats as well also i bought john spinners book and although its great reading fishing for flounder in the northeast in new york is totally different then fishing for flounder in florida or any where in the south for that matter the northeast is deeper colder and different structure most of the.
By steve medeiros winter flounder the recreational winter flounder season in rhode island officially began on april 15 and runs for 31 days. The small size of flies lend themselves to smaller flounder mouths. The winter flounder season used to start on march 1 and extend until may 31, with a fall season usually starting on august 1. According to the classic ichthyologist book, fishes of the gulf of maine, edited by bruce b. Tricks of flounder fishing include moving the bait regularly to explore the ridges and gutters. It is native to coastal waters of the western north atlantic coast, from labrador, canada to georgia, united states, although it. Flounder are not generally targeted much in the bay area as they are in the countrys more northern states, but they are caught quite often while targeting other species in the tampa bay area. Fishing for summer flounder fluke jigging from shore, boat. Howto catch articles and videos, wheres the bite, regulations, and more. Greg is an accomplished angler with great knowledge of saltwater fishing from the light tackle back waters to the surf and jetty as well as inshore and offshore big game fishing. In our area, we do most of the earlyseason fishing in the shrewsbury and navesink rivers.
Chasing flounder on lure is not anything new, and when i started reading up on flounder i came across many articles in old books about making. Tactics and venues for big winter flounder planet sea fishing. It is native to coastal waters of the western north atlantic coast, from labrador, canada to georgia, united states, although it is less common south of delaware bay. Now, if you are looking to experience a huntingfishing trip combined we can definitely do that, and this is the absolute best time of year for it. Winter flounder find food by way of scent, so chumming the water with crushed clam is a great way to get into numbers of winter flounder. Many believe that its the areas southern exposure to milder winters keeping the shore crabs peeling that keeps the flounder fishing standard so high. And whether youre fishing during the day or figuring out how to catch flounder at night, its never a bad idea to lean on the pros for helpful tips. Local bait shops, such as bobbies in barnegat light, reported a run on bloodworms and sandworms, both favorite baits. Chapter 3 presentation, rods, and reels fishing for.
Another key location for winter flounder fishing is near warmwater discharges of power plants and refineries. Fishing for winter flounder doesnt require any fancy gear. Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only. Its been a long winter and were all ready to get back out on the water. And since most of my flounder fishing is done in less than 15 of water, i can usually get away with it. Fishing for flounder isnt rocket science, but its better to go into it knowing a few tricks and techniques if it can give you an edge out on the water. But its one of the easiest to catch from shore or while wade fishing. Want to know how the pros go after flounder aka fluke. Chapter 3 presentation, rods, and reels heres an underwater look at fluke choosing a jigging rig with gulp over real bait dragged through the water.
The flounder we catch in these rivers varies from less than keeper size 12 inches up to 2 pounds. Cast small live baits or jigs along the jetties, or just outside the channel. Jul 16, 2019 catches of winter flounder weighing 3 pounds or more often reward anglers fishing with jason colby, a licensed guide for 35 years. When the winter flounder are around, it behooves the wise angler to go fishing for these tasty fish. A great lure for drift fishing or slow trolling over sand shoals and in sandy or mud bottomed bays and harbors for summer flounder fluke. Tackle, tactics, and techniques of the masters are exposed in.
Once the mainstay of spring fishing along our midatlantic coast, winter flounders are still a harbinger of each years new saltwater fishing season. He says the best months for winter flounder are may, june and july, and august to september for summer flounder, aka fluke. Almost any rod and reel combo in your arsenal will work as long as you dont go too heavy. On the waters chris megan shows how to fish for winter flounder in boston harbor. Dec 14, 2017 midfall flounder fishing along nj 2017. Jan 14, 2009 the association between big winter flounder and the estuaries of devon and cornwall is a strong one, built up over the years on reports of fish averaging 3lbs and, on occasions, topping 5lbs. With all the fishing pressure now on barely legal flounders, the chances of catching a keeper flounder are bleak. Unlike most local fish, winter flounder enter shallow bays and. Flounder fishing is easily done from a boat, since you can let it slowly drift and entice the fish with your moving bait. In the spring and fall it can be cool in the mornings and hot in the afternoon. Most of the offshore flounder are caught by fishermen bottomfishing for groupers. Flounder fishing tactics and techniques keith kaufman on.