Monday, September 1, is the last day for fluke fishing under the current regulations. If you are planning on heading out in search of keepers, target the ocean waters from Montauk to Ambrose Channel along the South Shore. Many of the best scores have come around inshore wrecks, and the artificial reefs east of Shinnecock, and off Moriches, Fire Island, Jones and Debbs Inlets.
Action to the east, from Montauk to Moriches, has been best of late in 50- to 70-foot depths. Whole squid have accounted for an occassional doormat, but fish strips, squid and spearing combos, and small, live snappers have put plenty of 20- to 24-inch summer flatties in the fish box. In most areas, outgoing water has had an edge on incoming over the past few days.
I got out late last week on the Miss Montauk (www.missmontauk.com) and had a pretty good day. Although a lack of wind and, later, wind against tide conditions kept the action to a steady pick, I saw about 25 keepers come over the rail for roughly 30 anglers with a pool fish of 6 pounds. Captain Jaime Quaresimo kept the search active all day long - no skimping on the gas - and his crew was waiting with a net right alongside any angler with a decent fish at the end of the line.
By day's end, I had tossed back seven fluke ranging from 17 to 20 inches, and put a 4- and 5-pounder in the cooler. Not a bad day at all when you consider that's at least four meals for the Schlichter household. Several anglers also connected with nice sea bass. Spearing and squid was the hot ticket.
How do you measure a trip like this, when most anglers took home one fish, but many fat shorts had to go back over the rail? A rail mate put it well. With one keeper in his bucket at the end of the day, he turned to me and said with a smile: "I'll be back out on this boat for fluke season next year - that skipper and his crew worked their butts off."
I shook my head in agreement. I'll be on the Miss Montauk again next year, too. Hard-working crews are a big draw in my book.