Anglers are reporting a lot of small Fluke in the 12" to 15” range, somewhat disappointing to the folks who were throwing back 20-24” fish before the Fluke season opened on May 15. Are the Fluke gone? Or, did something change and the Fluke just do not want to feed. I am unsure, but am willing to speculate a little bit of both. The Great Bay water temperature warmed up at a very fast rate. When the water heats up, it decreases in its capacity to hold oxygen and this will cause the fish to go off the feed or leave the area. Since anglers haven't been too lucky finding more than the occasional Fluke on the ocean, specifically around the reef sights, I believe there are still plenty of fish in the bay. Activity for catching Fluke has been most productive on the incoming tide in the clam stakes on Mystic Island side of the Fish Factory. There are good numbers of Fluke here, but expect only one out of six to be a keeper and then they just make the legal limit by an inch or two.

The JCAA New Jersey Statewide Fluke tournament is this Saturday, June 5. The object of this tournament, besides having a little competitive fun, is to catch one really big Fluke and it's worth a $1000.00. Ten $1000.00 dollar prizes will be awarded across the state through 12 selected weigh-in ports. The tournament starts at dawn and the Fluke must be weighed in by 5:00pm. Last chance to register and pay your $85.00 is at your local weigh station before they close on Friday evening. The best part is you don't have to catch a Fluke to win stuff or get in on the great banquet at Resorts Casino. Many anglers who attended the function at the casino last year said that the food and door prizes were well worth the entrance fee. Now to the point...Pointers on how to catch big Fluke and where might they be hanging out. Use big bait? Sounds good. Try drifting a little live Eel or use Mullet as bait rather then a Spearing. Salted Mackerel bait jigged on Bucktails while fishing for Blues and Weaks did the trick three weeks ago, it'll work now too. Best guess is the big Fluke will come out of the Grassy Channel area. Good luck all tournament anglers. See ya by 5:00pm Saturday.

A couple of large Stripers were weighed in this week! Capt. James MacBruie of the “Double Down” weighed in our heaviest Striped Bass of 1999 at 34 lbs. 5 oz 43”. He caught this lunker in the area of Brigantine Inlet on a hunk of
fresh Bunker. The very next day, Paul Sikora weighed in his whopper at 34 lbs. 2 oz 45”.  This fish was caught in the Little Egg Inlet area on a live Eel.

Several anglers who check out the stomachs of the fish they catch to determine what they are feeding on have reported a lot of Grass Shrimp and Mantis Shrimp in their bellies.  We can recommended a lure to tempt the fish; try any imitation 2-3” shrimp lure, dipped in shedder, crab imperial or liquid frenzy attractants. The crab imperial  and liquid fish frenzy are thicker/syrupy and are good for coating lures. It's really worth a shot.