It's all over for fluke this year, but anglers will be making comments about the season for some time to come.
Bob Matthews sent along the following e-mail from Fisherman's Den in Belmar Marina:
Well what's your take on the 2016 Fluke season?? My opinion it was a good one for most charter boats/party boats. Most small boaters had a little harder time putting a limit together. The river fishermen also struggled with the size limit to put a large number of keepers in the boat. I would rate this season on a scale of 1 to 10 a 7 at best. That's only my observation not personal participation. Now the last week of the season was good with many nice fish coming in. Patty Mulligan, Farmingdale a 9 lb 8 oz ;Skip Reese 8 lb 4 oz. and Gilbert Episteen 7 lb 14 oz. All were taken on the Ocean Explorer. The Big Mohawk had a good day for a final fluke trip with some limits of fish to 7 lb. We now move on to a new season -- porgies, blackfish and ling until sea bass opens in late Oct. "
The Ocean Explorer switches to bottom fishing on Monday. The Golden Eagle from Belmar will be tuna fishing on Monday, but they ran north to jig some small blues n Sunday.
The Elaine B. II from Bahrs in Highlands switches to daily porgies and blackfish on Friday at 7 p.m.
Capt. Ron Santee reported a fifth straight day of hot porgy fishing on his Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands. They were mostly mediums ranging up to 2 pounds.
The Angler from that port found an impressive 26-inch, 6 1/2-pound fluke this week for Howard Ding from Shanghai, China.
Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park reports small blues are a good bet in the surf. An additional Saturday striper report was of a 31-inch, 11.55-pounder on bunker by Justin Helchley.