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7/3 Fluke & Blues……

Long layoff after getting screwed with a crap work schedule last 2 weeks.

Had 1lb cocktails crashing bait for the entirety of the incoming tide from the minute we cleared the jetties. Keyed in on small baitfish ( see pic for ID, not sure if they are real small peanuts??) could not for the life of us get any to commit and they were literally bumping into the hull. Finally settled on 3/8 oz epoxy jigs in brown/silver and it was game on. Played around for hours keeping 3 for the dog.

Plan was to fluke down the beach but the small swell didnt sit well with one of the crew (I need a new crew member :). Back inside and started working shallow. Slow grind but found fish to 20” managed 5 keeps between us and more postage stamps than I can count. The bait dragger didn’t do shit with squid, spearing or killies. 1 oz white BT’s 3” gulp grubs in white was the ticket.

Keeper fluke stomachs completely empty unlike 2 weeks ago they were gorged on crabs. Blues packed with bait. Check pic and tell me what these were.

Water dirty rust brown in back clean and clear East. 74 surface temps all day.

SSE came up some around 3 and called it a day. Happy 4th you all. P

Re: 7/3 Fluke & Blues……

BTW…..MCM was $5.40 this morning

Re: 7/3 Fluke & Blues……

Looks like peanuts. Sounds like a decent day out there.

Re: 7/3 Fluke & Blues……

Peanuts or bay anchovy. Water rust brown in the back seems like the norm these days, sure it doesn't help fishing much.

Re: 7/3 Fluke & Blues……

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyS (Post 570212)

bay anchovy.

That was my initial thought. They just didn’t look like nutz when they were busting water.

Now to find the lure that mimicks them…….

Re: 7/3 Fluke & Blues……

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duffman (Post 570213)

Now to find the lure that mimicks them…….

I agree that they look like bay anchovies.

Check out the Joe Baggs Peanut Bunker Jig as they seem to have the same profile as the bait in the picture.

Re: 7/3 Fluke & Blues……

Peanuts. Back of the raritan bay is LOADED with them. Had them beaching themselves in massive schools. Blues and fluke were destroying them in 6' or less of water. The fluke were easy pickens with 5" gulps jighed off the bottom but the blues were a bit more selective oddly enough. Finally got them to commit on the deadly dick in 1/2 oz. They varied from 3 to 8lbs. Managed several fluke with only one slot keeper. This was yesterday