Do you remember– party boat flounder fishing in April?

I wonder how many of my readers remember when it is was possible to fish for winter flounder from a Raritan Bay party boat?

After opening one of my yearly fishing notebooks, I can assure you that was possible in 1989 as on April 7 of that year I fished aboard the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands with Captains Ron Santee Sr. and Jr, on the clam beds off Staten Island — and caught 29 flounders!

There were no restrictions all on winter flounders in those days, but my notes broke down that catch into two tiny 8-inchers, two of about 10-12 inches – and 25 of the present 12-inch (and then minimal filleting size of 12 inches) which included four of 2 pounds and a 2 1/2-pounder.There were two chum pots down, and it was important to fish close to them as bloodworms, black mussels and skimmer clam all produced bites. According to my notes, I was high hook, but another angler caught 12 to 15 while “Ron Sr. must have caught 18-20 while fishing part time.”

Other party boats were also opening the season with winter flounders at that time before striped bass made such a comeback that that clamming for them became the April attraction.

It should ne noted that private boaters chumming heavily often had catches of over 100 flounders at that time. Even if flounders were able to overcome commercial pressure on their summer offshore grounds plus an abundance of seals inshore from Climate Change that was supposed to send them in the opposite direction, it would not be practical for a party boat to fish for flounders now with a two-fish per angler limit.

The Sunday forecast is for northeast winds at only 10-15 knots before going east in the afternoon with two-foot seas.

At Belmar, the Big Mohawk reported good Friday morning bottom fishing with lots of short tog plus some keepers and a few cod.