2023 Fluke Season was Decent

[Buck154]

   I kept track of the number of keepers caught on my boat, my uncle and by me this year. I ended with 116 keepers, my Uncle Neil got 90 keepers and had a total of 245 keepers on my boat for the season. Started off real good but the end of season was tough cause of the weather. Never got anything real big. Biggest around 6.5 lbs. and I released all fluke 5 lbs and up that I caught (7).

    Most of them are caught with 5,6 and 8 lb braid and 4-5’ UL rods. Love fishing with the light stuff when possible.
 
Hopefully 2024 will be as good or better

Edited October 8, 2023 by Buck154

[Buck154]

Was happy my dad came up from Florida for a few days. One day got my dad and 2 uncles out together. First time all fished together in a really long time. Another day it was my dad, uncle Neil and I and we caught 25 keepers. Was great feel the best day of the season was that day. I had one fluke spit up a big shedder crab. 

[Bonefreak]

Nice season Johnny and nice records keeping!!

[Buck154]

I did catch a tagged fluke 2nd one ever. 

[Buck154]

Cool coloration on this short. My Uncle Neil is 80 years old with cancer but lives to go fishing (best medicine). He love and is the only thing he can do so I take him every trip. He can fish and catch with the best of them still. 

[hammer4reel]

Nice work , your fishing partner def is enjoying that time .

 

I’m hoping they do away with the slot next season .

was hearing it was going to be 3 over 17 1/2” 

but the last few weeks they claim we highly overfished when adding release mortality .

bullshit we even get that charged against us , as it’s their regs making us throw back LOTS of fish over 20” to look for 17” fish .

‘The last two years has hit the same age classes of fish hard .

 

[Buck154]

2 minutes ago, hammer4reel said:

Nice work , your fishing partner def is enjoying that time .

 

I’m hoping they do away with the slot next season .

was hearing it was going to be 3 over 17 1/2” 

but the last few weeks they claim we highly overfished when adding release mortality .

bullshit we even get that charged against us , as it’s their regs making us throw back LOTS of fish over 20” to look for 17” fish .

‘The last two years has hit the same age classes of fish hard .

 

I caught a lot of fish that were caught before so the mortality is bull. Yeah I can see some if they swallow it and someone try's getting out and keeping them out of the water to long. 

[hammer4reel]

10 minutes ago, Buck154 said:

I caught a lot of fish that were caught before so the mortality is bull. Yeah I can see some if they swallow it and someone try's getting out and keeping them out of the water to long. 

Totally agree , they claim 40% mortality which is BS

only way that they don’t go back healthy is small hooks gut hooking fish or ones caught in gills .

fish hooked on big hooks def have a much better survival rate .

 

[bucky]

You had nice season  only made it out a few times due to lack of interest and when I did go the conditions were horrible. But thankfully its striper time, fired the boat up this morning, hoping to get out there this week

[Buck154]

17 minutes ago, hammer4reel said:

Totally agree , they claim 40% mortality which is BS

only way that they don’t go back healthy is small hooks gut hooking fish or ones caught in gills .

fish hooked on big hooks def have a much better survival rate .

 

We always said you can't use to big of a hook for fluke

[MGHunter66]

Awesome recap Johnny, every time you sent a pic Uncle Neil was somewhere in it and it honestly made me smile every time

[OMC]

John great season as usual. You and Uncle Neil definitely put in your time. 80 yrs old and there were days we got bounced around pretty damn good. He is a tough guy going through chemo and out on the boat ! 

[JHbowhunter]

Nice John.  I did get out as much as hoped and other than two times I mostly sucked at it. I feel I regressed big time in my skill level this season. Hell did not even land one keeper on the annual BM trip. Basically - I  am the NY Giants of fluke fishing.  They made the playoffs last season with a high upside and now  suck as bad as suck could be 

Edited October 9, 2023 by JHbowhunter

[hammer4reel]

1 hour ago, JHbowhunter said:

Nice John.  I did get out as much as hoped and other than two times I mostly sucked at it. I feel I regressed big time in my skill level this season. Hell did not even land one keeper on the annual BM trip. Basically - I AMN the NY Giants if fluke fishing.  They made the playoffs last season with a high upside and now  suck as bad as suck could be 

Double your jig inventory over the winter . And you can come practice loosing them with me lol.

then you will know the right ruff stuff to fish .

 

.

[Sotaroas]

Nice haul of flatties definitely a good season congrats !