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Raritan Bay is a great place to fish! Just about any inshore species of fish that enter our waters can be taken in the bay. But from May through October, the fluke has to rank as the most popular game fish of them all. Not only does the Bay hold lots of fluke, but there is an endless number of places to fish for them. Whatever the weather conditions may be, barring an all out gale, a place can be found to get out of the wind or tide to catch them. Surrounded on three sides by land, Raritan Bay offers protection to the small boater from just about any wind direction. Where to fish can be as perplexing a decision that you can make. But chances are, wherever you do decide to fish, you will encounter these tasty summer gamefish. Early in the season, the water in and around Sandy Hook is a good place to start. Flynn’s Knoll, with its mussel-encrusted bottom, and small high spots is one of the first places the fluke take residence on. Most years, fluke can be found there around the first or second week of May. Another area that produces fish in early May is the water directly adjacent to the Bug Light, on the inside tip of Sandy Hook. Moving north, there are two shipping channels, Ambrose and Chapel Hill. Both hold fluke along the edges of the channel. Working the slope of the channel will put you where the fish are. It pays to experiment a bit. Some days the fish can be found either on the shallow water before the channel edge or right smack in the middle of the deep water. Make several drifts at different depths until you find where the fish are holding that particular day. At the northern end of both of these channels, you will come to West Bank Light. The waters just north of the shoal in front of the light can produce super action at times especially during July. The bottom structure in this area consists of sharp rises and drop-offs, with mussel beds mixed in for good measure. A look at a chart of the area shows the changes in depth, pay particular attention to the area around the 17 Buoy. Heading even further north, you will come to Hoffman and Swinburn Islands. There is 25-foot plateau that runs north and south directly in front of the islands. The area the 19A buoy marks the eastern most edge of the flat. Try working this area on an incoming tide, as the bite always seems to be a bit better on that side of the tide. The area on the Western side of the islands is a great place to try during a hard Northwest wind. There are several dredge holes in this area and the fish like to hand on it’s edges. There is a small channel that runs along the front of South Beach that is always worth a drift or two. As you move west and into the bay, the next place to try is Old Orchard Shoal. Old Orchard is a large unbroken piece of bottom that’s hold fish best during the months of August and early September. Fast paced action can be had here when the fish move into the area. The best fishing usually last about two weeks or so, and you will know when it’s happening by the large number of party and private boats working the area. The most consistent fluke producing area in the Bay has to be Raritan Reach Channel. The reach as locals refer to it, starts at Flynn’s Knoll and runs west to Perth Amboy. The entire length of the Reach will hold fluke throughout the season. There really isn’t one area that is better than an other but the only common denominator is that the fish like to hang along the edge of the Channel. Watch the party boats fish the area, they will keep the boat drifting along the edge, and that’s where the fish are usually found. There are exceptions, but the edges can be counted on for day in, day out action. As far as baits are concerned, Raritan Bay fluke eat the standard array of fluke baits. The addition of a chartreuse or white 3’ twister tail to your hook can increase your catch. Spearing and killie baits seem to out produce the standard combo baits. But it does not hurt to bring along some sandeels and squid. Squid is THE bait for fluke, and can be fished in combination with the killies and spearing. Another method of taking fluke in the bay is to bounce 1/2-ounce bucktails dressed with a squid strip of killie. A plain lead head jig can be as effective with the addition of a plastic twister tail of Fin-s fish. Casting jigs can get you through the slack water periods, and is a great way to add a few extra fish when the tide slows or when you’re faced with a wind against tide situation. Cast your jig uptide, let it settle, and bounce it back to the boat. If you haven’t tried this method, please do, besides being very effective, it’s also lots of fun on light spinning tackle. If you do not normally fish Raritan Bay, give it a try this year. If you trailer your boat, there are launching ramps located in Leonardo and Keyport. Take a look at a chart of the Bay, and along with the information in this article, you can quickly familiarize yourself with the bay to take advantage of the outstanding fluke fishing it has to offer.

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