Re: Where the heck are the Fluke?
Fluke are a species that has a wide range along the western atlantic.. some straglers as far north as the canadian maritimes, which i will never understand because there are very few to none in New Hampshire and Maine...
There are LOTS of them from maryland down to florida and they fish for them all year in the coastal florida rivers, along with southern anf gulf flounder which are similar but smaller. They LIKE warm water, and personally i have my doubts they are heading further north to find colder water.. it just makes no sense to me..
At 72 degrees in late summer the water in NJ is often stiff with them and they bite readily, but in the same areas in early summer/late spring at say 62 degrees, tey will be picky, slow to bite and seemingly MIA... So they want to go into a colder environment so they will be less active???.. Doesn't add up..
keep this in mind as well- Throughout ALL of nature, food availability trumps all other considerations in survival, and most fish WILL go out of preferred temp to go where their food is.. If we find in time that the bulk of whatever Fluke feed on most has shifted north, than I am on the bandwagon... However, I would bet right now there is plenty of them to eat right in the NY Bight.. I have heard there were huge masses of sandeels this year out on the sea bass grounds.. If Fluke are keying on them and staying more offshore??.. who knows??.. It might just be a late short season of good fluking.. Or not.. I just don't think they all packed their bags and moved to Montauk because the water there is a few degrees cooler.... bob
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