Good start to fluking

The beginning of the fluke season in NY/NJ Bight is often slow due to cold waters, though that wasn’t the case this year,

The Prowler 5 from Atlantic Highlands reported lots of action in very shallow waters with both keepers to 5 pounds and lots of shorts.

, The Sea Tiger II from that port also did well despite poorer weather Monday morning.

It was no fluke that John Bushell of Betty & Nick’s in Seaside Park hooked while casting a metal jig into Barnegat Inlet this morning as a long fight ended with a straitened-out hook. John figured the fish had to be a black drum or a really big striper.

Fisherman editor Jim Hutchinson Jr. had to bow to his father on opening day with a 5-pound fluke.

******

The forecast is for southwest winds at 5-10 knots plus patchy fog and possible showers.