The captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are reporting the best summer flounder action of the summer. With the season coming to a close on September 4, they plan to fish every chance they can.
Captain Adam Nowalsky of the "Karen Ann II" reports the best week of fluke fishing on the ocean mainly between Atlantic City and Long Beach Island until the effects of Hurricane Bill began to be felt. He had a group out from the Hamilton Post Office that caught nearly 100 fluke with 20 keepers to 27-inches. Another day he had the Bill Bruner party from Shamong out for a limit catch of fluke with multiple fish between 23-25 inches.
Captain Lindsay Fuller on the "June Bug" had a great family fishing day with Joe and his two boys along with his Uncle Sal and his niece. They began with as many Taylor bluefish as they wanted just north of the inlet on Bud's Birds and small Clark Spoons. They then tried to find some croakers but had no luck. They went to the Atomic Lump for fast action on small fluke, but only one keeper. All of the Fluke were caught on Wide Gap hooks, mostly 2/0. These hooks are similar to circle hooks and usually hook Fluke behind the bone in the top of their jaws. We only had a single Fluke all day that was bleeding at all.
Once they decided to head in, the calm seas of the early morning had turned to noticeable swells from the onset of Hurricane Bill.
Captain John Koegler reports he had two good ocean sea bass trips on the "Pop's Pride." He says he is catching more keeper sea bass and fluke than at any time this summer. The sea bass have finished their annual spawning period and bigger fish are now biting. He also had a bay trip with a ratio of one keeper for every three caught which is a definite improvement. He is also finding quite a few small blues around 1-2 pounds.
Additional information on the BHCFA can be found at the association's website at www.fishbeachhaven.com
