Ct. fluke record confirmed by state

On June 8, Bill Proulx of Ashford, CT, set the new state record for summer flounder, more commonly known as fluke. The 15.3-pound, 32.6-inch fish surpassed the previous state record set in 2019—a 14-pound, 13-ounce fluke measuring 31.5 inches—by mere ounces and inches.”

Double-digit fluke, referred to as “doormats” by envious bottom fishermen, are considered trophy fish. With a girth of 26.4 inches, this doormat wasn’t all that flat. Its girth measured only 6 inches less than the entire length of the fish, which was caught in Niantic Bay.”

Windy weather is often a big problem for late summer fluke fishermen, and seas have been building — with a small craft advisory in effect through Saturday afternoon in NY/NJ Bight.

The forecast only calls for northeast at 10-15 knots in the morning before increasing to south 15-20 plus gusts to 25 in the afternoon. Most of the fluke are being at present in deep waters that require heavy sinkers and rods with enough backbone to handle them.

Capt. Rob Santee Jr. did well before it got too rough Thursday as Scott Scuderi boated a 27-inch, 8 3/16-pound fluke on the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. Ron also reported a couple of 5-pounders and some threes as some limits were taken. His boat is chartered on Sunday.