Finish Fluke Season Strong
During the last part of summer, fluke begin to exit our coastal bays and inlets to spawn offshore. September becomes a great month to look for ocean fluke along deeper reef sites and wrecks, but don’t count out the main channels near the inlets. In years past, I have easily caught my limit within four hours by fishing live peanut bunker, mullet, or small spot. Note: Doormat fluke do not pass up live mullet.
A simple baitholder or circle-hook rig, along with a sliding-sinker setup, works in most cases. If there is structure nearby, such as rocks or jetties, key in on these locations. Land-based fishermen and kayakers are in the game for these fish, but the best action occurs when the tidal currents slow down to a snail’s pace, so check the charts.
On the ocean, fishermen should work the wrecks in the 70- to 90-foot range. If you find decent numbers, you will be able to stay with the fish week after week as they move their way out to the continental shelf for the spawn. Large bucktails from 3 to 6 ounces tipped with Gulp baits up to 8 inches or strip baits (squid, bluefish, sea robin) to 10 inches work wonders on these fish.
Head boats, charters, and recreational boats will be all over the reef sites, so it’s a better idea to look for smaller, off-the-beaten-track pieces. Many times, I worked ultra-small spots, such as a few dozen cinderblocks or rocks, and found plenty of big flatties, but you have to know where to go. The worst enemy of the September fluke fisherman is anything with a “tropical weather origin.” Once we get any type of tropical system, the bite can go from great to zero overnight, and more times than not, the bite doesn’t recover since the fish move offshore very quickly following a tropical storm.
Offshore Pelagics—Now is the Time
September and October are phenomenal times to target yellowfin and mahi along offshore canyon edges. Mahi are almost a guarantee, though the trick is finding pots or debris that weren’t fished by other boats that same day—as the remaining mahi on these pieces tend to be picky. Casting small jigs or pitching cut anchovies or sardines are excellent ways to tempt them from floating structure. Minnows or peanut bunker should be held as a last resort since mahi go bonkers over them.
Yellowfin tuna can be landed during the afternoon or early morning troll, but the night bite gets more attention. Most anglers and head boats will chunk butterfish or sardines under the spreader lights to bring a variety of species into the chunk slick. Don’t be surprised to see big mahi, sharks, squid, and even swordfish checking out the slick and lights. Anglers deep-dropping squid or ribbonfish can usually hook nice-sized swordfish in the fall. Location matters, so it’s best to get a bead on the bite in August because there’s a lot of real estate out there. The Toms and Lindenkohl canyons are excellent for tuna, especially during September and October.
Bayside Chances for Fall Anglers
Early September brings ample chances at good-sized blowfish along 6- to 7-foot depths. If the water is warm (or warmer than usual), blowfish and even some kingfish will stick around the 6-foot depths to look for small invertebrates and marine worms. Chumming with clam logs continues to be the method for bringing in hordes of blowtoads, but chum heavily, as you have to get them smelling your slick. Small pieces of clam or squid are perfect baits for blowfish, and always cast a rod or two further out in the slick for scavenging kingfish. Weakfish, flounder, and juvenile sea bass will also work their way up a clam chum slick, so don’t be shocked if you catch some.
When water temperatures begin to drop in October, bringing chilly nighttime lows, striped bass come back in play around sedge marshes, flats, and bridges. In fact, bridges and lighted docks are great places to pitch soft-plastic baits for foraging stripers patrolling the shadow lines. Most of these bass will be schoolies, but they are still excellent gamefish for bending a light-tackle or fly rod. Fly fishermen should work Half-and-Halfs and Clouser Deep Minnows with intermediate to sinking line.
Don’t Forget About Crabs
September can be the month for finding large blue claws, and some of them will be loaded with meat. Traditional crab traps, hand-lines, or permitted crab hotels are certain to land a few. Bunker is the choice bait, and some savvy anglers will soak bunker baits in extremely stinky crab concoctions, hoping to bring in the most. Steaming crabs alive is the best way to cook them. Just add Old Bay, boiling water, a can of beer, and it’s game-on for picking.
Captain Brett Taylor is the owner/operator of Reel Reaction Sportfishing Charters out of Waretown, NJ, and is a monthly columnist and weekly fishing report author at On The Water Magazine.
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