The fluke tournament had a great weather this year!  A big change compared to previous years. Along with a decent turn out of registered anglers. The fishing was ok on Friday but was much better Saturday. Firday I went fishing with Lunchbox & Yakman at Sandy Hook Horseshoe Cove. Managed a few croakers. Fishing just wasn’t good and the north wind was just brutal. Besides the wind it was a nice day!. Saturday had to stay close so fished with Lunchbox at the MRI. Yakman fished further up the river with no luck. Lunchbox and I had a lot of short fluke. I lost 2 one was in the 20″ range and a massive one that snapped my leader was easily in the 24″ area. It was an incredibly rough day fishing there due to immense boat traffic. I must say it was the first time my back was wet due to taking boat wakes over the side of the Cuda.

Back getting ready for the awards at the HQ at 2:00 weigh-ins were open. This year we actually had a tie with two entries at 26″ being legally entered. The third place fish came in at 24″.

First place Chris Baggott with a 26″ fluke Awarded a Jackson Kayak Coosa Kayak 100 dollars cash & a 50 dollar Jersey Paddler Gift card.

Second Place Judy Segar with a 26″ fluke (by time) Awarded a C-Tug Kayak cart and 100 dollars cash.

Third Prize Brian Pickard with a 24″ fluke Awarded a Scotty flag & light and 50 dollars cash.

The Calcutta was also won by Chris Baggott with 3 separate fluke not entered in the tournament totaling 61.75″

 Fishing Journal:

Left the house at 5 am to drive an hour to the Manasquan River Inlet to target Fluke (Summer Founder).

This inlet divides the beach towns of Manasquan and Pt. Pleasant Beach also Monmouth and Ocean Counties. It is a haven for many species of fish. This inlet produces spawning grounds perfect for these fish. The ripping tide makes it challenging for kayak anglers to fish here. The extremely fast drift and the added boat traffic creates a very dangerous area of fishing there.  I cant stress kayak anglers whom fish here should be experienced  paddlers. Therefore a PFD should always be worn.

1. Dangers include the Low Train bridge. In the main channel you cannot squeeze under it. You will flip and loose gear and need to be rescued. Use caution when fishing here.The only way through is pass through the draw bridge. The draw bridge channel pass through is very narrow. Stay to the right and watch for boat traffic. If you are paddling with the tide watch for boats behind you as they loose control with a following tide when not in gear.

2. Tide flow in the inlet where it narrows between the jetty’s can be un-manageable. It is possible to be sucked out to the ocean on an outgoing tide.

3. Boat traffic can be constant. Especially on holidays and weekends boat traffic is constant and many of the boaters are under the influence running wide open. Be extra cautious on weekends and holidays. I will not even fish here on these days.

So new species for me on this fishing trip! Although referred to as a trash fish the searobin is actually a great eating fish. Landed atleast 10 of them. I have caught them in the past from a boat. Never from the kayak. So added another species to the kayak catch list. The photo to the left which i have submitted to the Googans Trash Fish Trifecta tournament a 16.75″ Searobin. Actually a beautiful fish this rockets me up to 3rd in the running.

It was a Yak Life Day!! Met up with Scrapes and Capt. Jim after a rough time getting rigged up. The valve stem on my C-Tug tires broke luckily at the water. So no dragging of the yak was necessary.  I need to purchase the hard wheels asap. These guys are great fishing company. Capt. Jim was making age references to Scrapes all day over the radio. Funny stuff!  Turned out to be a really good fishing day! A lot of short fluke and some real nice ones over 20″. I ended up with a 19.5″ at the end of the day. Last day of vacation well spent! Cant wait for the next vacation which will be the Point Pleasant Beach Elks Fluke Tournament!!

The Point Pleasant Beach Elks Fluke Tournament is coming up fast. The kayak division is 2 days of fishing. Please register at http://www.newjerseykayakfishing.com. All cash prizes this year!