Location: Raritan Bay
Tide: Low 8:15am
Water Temp: 72.7°
Wind: NW 16 kts
Moon Phase: 54% Full

Conditions - Another day with a stiff NW wind up against a flood tide. We had VERY good fishing during last night’s charter. Probably the best fluking of the season. We found some fish during the day, and when we set back up in the afternoon it was on! Pure fluke gold! . . . During yesterday’s morning trip the fluke preferred Jigs and Gulp, however, when we headed back out in the afternoon it was ALL about natural bait. Just goes to show you that things are ever changing in the fluke game. There was a tide change while we were at the dock, and when we came back out they wanted plain spearing and that was it. . .  The conditions today will not be the same. We had the the wind and tide together last night. Today the are opposite of each other. We will get set up and see how it goes.

First Drift – We had three on immediately and a pick to follow. Jeff Lukowich, who is here for the first time this season, started off with a bang by putting 2 keepers in his cooler on the first drift. Jeff also lost a would be third keeper on the way up. Rumors of sabotage began to swirl once his line broke. Could it be a jealous member of his group? Hmmmmm….

Second Drift – Just a slow pick on this one. Joe Mattis put two fish in his box right off the bat, and there were a few more fish caught early, but the bottom kind of fell out. . . We are hardly covering any ground. We do move out with the wind, but it is slowly. Going to make a slight move to the east and see if we can find them.

Jeff putting his third keeper in the boat.

Third Drift – We were asking for a west wind for a few weeks, and we got it here today. Easily blowing 20+ right now. . . The fishing on this one was not good. Only managed a few shorts. Going to make a little shift to the north.

Fourth Drift – We are fishing some flats to our north and had a pick of fish. Jeff Lukowich is high hook with 4 keepers, and there are 2 people with 3 keepers. Natural bait is winning the battle of the bait today. Spearing, Smelt, and tinker mackerel are all doing the trick.

Fifth Drift – Slow pick of fish. We go through an area and get a shot of fish, then nothing for a while.

Fishing was at it’s best before the change of tide. Once we got the flood water the fishing slowed up. We did pick all day, but the first two drifts were the best. Jeff Lukowich and Ray Dowzycki were high hook with 4 keepers, and there were 3  others with 3 fish. Dot Jancola won the pool with a 4 1/2 pound fluke.

Check back tomorrow for more live updates.