I personally do not believe this, and know many South Jersey sharpies that know where to catch blackbacks (as they call them) in the backwater. Talk to Captain Al Crudele about this, or reach out to George Brennan at Brennan Marine and ask him where to go to catch winter flounder in South Jersey. They’re there, I tell you.

Others say that Delaware has few, if any, winter flounder. Once again, I disagree and know that this is not the truth.

With this said, one of the best places on the New Jersey coast to fish for winter flounder is Raritan Bay. With its large area, shallow waters and muddy bottoms, one would think that Raritan Bay was made for winter flounder. The bay has many areas that are productive, but there are some that are known as the best. Try some of the following hot spots if you’re looking for some red-hot coldwater flounder action.

Keyport Bay
Keyport Bay is one of the northern bays within Raritan Bay. As its name indicates, the bay is located in the Keyport area. When the winter water invades Raritan and Keyport Bays, Keyport Bay harbors numerous winter flounder as they spend their winter in the bay.

Chris at Crabby’s Bait & Tackle in Keyport says that Keyport Bay always produces winter flounder. One of the best areas in the bay is where the sailboats are moored during the summer. This muddy area is particularly productive for either kind of flatfish. In the summer, anglers always do well with fluke in Keyport Bay by the sailboats. This same spot is just as good, if not better, for their coldwater cousins.

The Mouth of Matawan Creek
Matawan Creek has received a lot of attention lately since a number of books about the shark attacks of 1917 were released. In addition to harboring a rare great white shark, the mouth of Matawan Creek is known to be productive for winter flounder.

According to Chris of Crabby’s Bait & Tackle, there are numerous oyster beds around the mouth of the creek that attract and retain flounder. Because the water surrounding the mouth of Matawan Creek is shallow, it will warm quicker than surrounding deeper waters. This warmer water temperature will make winter flounder more active and attract them to shallower water in the colder months.

The Keansburg and Belford Flats

Just as the shallower water found in the mouth of Matawan Creek attracts the wintering flounder population, the shallow water of the Keansburg and Belford Flats also is a good winter flounder grounds. These flats can be found in the bay in the towns of, you guessed it, Keansburg and Belford.

This water can be quite shallow in places, so be careful when navigating it. Be sure to bring nautical charts with you so you can see what structure and dropoffs there are in the area, and fish them accordingly.

When I talked to Dennis at the Keyport Marine Basin, he said that the Keansburg and Belford Flats were some of the best places to fish for winter flounder. With such shallow water, Dennis says that winter flounder can find those couple of degrees during the winter months that make them active. In addition, he said that most of the flats are quite muddy, allowing winter flounder to lie on their favorite surface.

The Season

New Jersey’s winter flounder season started on March 23 in 2008, and the opening date for 2009 has yet to be announced. We’ll provide this information in an update as soon as we receive an update.

There are other flounder hotspots — look for them in upcoming posts. When fishing these waters, remember that Raritan Bay is big open water and can get quite ugly quickly, so be sure to be safe, especially in the colder weather. Always don a life preserver and wear it in the colder months. You never know when you’ll need it. Be safe, but have fun fishing and catching lots of flatties.

All summer long, Paddy’s Hole produces good numbers of flatties, and weakfish, stripers and bluefish will also be found at the spot throughout the season. The striper action begins early, with those who fish clam producing the best results. Those anchoring and chunking clam bellies while fishing whole clam will be most effective when targeting early season linesiders.

One of the most popular fish to target at Paddy’s Hole, however, is flounder. Flatties can be found in the hole as soon as the season begins for them, and they will remain there until they migrate back into the ocean in the late summer.

“It’s a consistent spot,” according to captain Erich at Red Dog Bait & Tackle in Sea Isle City. Erich said that the spot holds lots of weakfish in the spring, and big blues will sit in the hole as well.

“It’s one of the best spots in the backwater for fluke,” according to Dave at Hodge Podge Bait & Tackle in Avalon. He said that the fish found in the hole can be big and plentiful, with minnows, mackerel or herring strips all working well.

When targeting flatties in Paddy’s Hole, Dave recommends fishing by marker 382. He said that drifting over the dropoffs will produce, particularly as the water depths drop down to 22 feet.

When fishing for weakfish, Dave recommends casting rubber and soft plastic for weakfish, casting along the sod banks. As summer progresses, those targeting stripers should also fish along the sod banks, with poppers working best.

As the summer wanes and the fall action begins, stripers will once again become the main fare at Paddy’s Hole. Fishing the points found at the hole with produce good numbers of bass, and big bass are not uncommon at the hole either.

When fishing the fall striper run at Paddy’s Hole, Dave recommends fishing eels. He said that they produce the best numbers of fish and the best size stripers as well.

Spring, summer and fall, Paddy’s Hole provides good action for the angler who fishes the backwater. Whether you’re targeting flounder, stripers, bluefish or weakfish, the hole offers all species at different times. Give Paddy’s Hole a try the next time you get out and fish the back!

Lake Hopatcong is one of these ports. Its miles of shoreline, many marinas and launch ramps and convenient access make it a top spot for New Jersey’s cruising enthusiasts. For one looking to trailer their boat to a new destination that is close by, Lake Hopatcong has a number of attractions that appeal to the boating enthusiasts.

ABOUT THE LAKE

Lake Hopatcong, affectionately referred to as “the lake” by locals, is approximately 9 miles long and borders both Morris and Sussex Counties. Its only rival in size in New Jersey is Greenwood Lake, an impoundment that is situated on the New Jersey and New York borders. It is a long, narrow lake, only 2 miles wide at most.

When the lake was created, engineers placed a dam at the confluence of a number of small streams and rivers that formed the Musconetcong River. It sits between the hills and mountains found in the Highlands of Northern New Jersey.

Lake Hopatcong’s depths vary from quite shallow (3 to 4 feet) to over 50 feet; one may encounter deep, open water in the part of the lake known as the “main lake,” then travel only a mile and be in a small, narrow channel where lily pads adorn the shore. With so many varied depths and environments, the lake offers plenty for a variety of different types of boaters.

WHAT TO DO

What to do? What not to do! Lake Hopatcong is a place where many different types of boaters converge and enjoy days upon days of boating bliss. Sailboats ranging from sunfish to full-fledged sailing machines cruise around the main lake as they grab gusts of wind. Speedboats buzz the main lake area as they take their afternoon flights. Water skiers practice their slalom skills, while some may be towed for a for a leisurely tube ride.

But wait – there’s more. Personal watercraft operators explore all parts of the lake, either alone or in groups. Swimmers anchor up on one of the lake’s many sand bars and spend the day frolicking with a fleet full of family vessels. Anglers cast to every inch of the main lake and its tributaries in search of the impoundment’s many species…the list goes on and on.

One of the top practices on the lake is water skiing. Lake Hopatcong’s many secluded coves and sections offer water skiers a haven for learning, practicing and perfecting their art. On a typical day, the lake is alive with water skiers carving their turns in many places.

If you’re looking to water ski on the lake, be sure to check the local regulations as they vary based on time of year and time of day. During some parts of the year, water skiing is restricted to only mornings and evenings as doing so with lots of lake boat traffic could be downright dangerous. Any marina that you launch or dock at should have the latest, up-to-the-minute information.

Those that are looking to catch some rays and relax in the water have many places to go at Lake Hopatcong. The edge of Raccoon Island and the River Styx sections both feature full sand bars where boats will anchor and raft up and spend the day swimming. On-the-boat picnics are not uncommon as a family will spend the afternoon in one of these areas.

For those that prefer to picnic on land, there are many marinas that feature picnic areas as well. Many will come to the lake and spend the day at the marina picnicking, but then will head out and take friends and family for hour-long cruises. Some of these marinas even offer swimming areas on the premises, so children and adults alike have plenty to do for the day.

Looking to cruise to one of the local restaurants and have a leisurely dinner? The lake offers dockside dining as well. O’Sullivan’s Restaurant, Pavinchi Restaurant, the Windlass, the Jefferson House and other on-water restaurants provide plenty of docking for those dining on the water.

THEN THERE’S THE FISH

Besides all of these great things for pleasure boaters, those that want to do some freshwater angling have one of the top impoundments in Lake Hopatcong. Bucketmouth largemouth bass can be caught in many parts of the lake, as its structure is a black bass haven. Hybrid striped bass and walleye are also in the lake and are caught by fishing enthusiasts.

There are plenty more species of fish in Lake Hopatcong as well. Channel catfish, crappie, perch and other panfish, trout and more can be caught from the shores or by boat in the lake. The lake’s many species make it a top destination for anglers searching for fine fishing opportunities.

A BOATING BONANZA

Lake Hopatcong is so convenient and such a great location for boaters that many do travel to the lake. Whenever possible, it is best to go to the lake during the week, mornings or evenings; mornings and evenings on the water can be glorious and pleasant, even during the heat of summer or when traffic is at its worst during the day.

State police power Boston Whalers on the lake and enforce all regulations, from no wake zones to driving while intoxicated. Be sure to follow all laws.

Ready to trailer your boat to a new destination? Can you believe that all these opportunities exist in the mountains of North Jersey? They do in Lake Hopatcong!

PLAN YOUR TRIP ACCORDINGLY!

Lake Hopatcong’s prime season begins in May and runs through Labor Day; depending on the year, engineers will drop the level of the lake down a couple of feet so marinas can make dock repairs. They will leave the lake at these levels until the spring, and the time they refill the lake also varies depending on the year.
If you wish to use any marina facilities and take advantage of the lake when it is full, be sure to plan ahead. Either take your trip during the prime season or call ahead.
When the lake is low, using many marina’s facilities is all but impossible – docks are not constructed like saltwater docks as they usually have a fixed level dock. In addition, some launch ramps are unusable when Lake Hopatcong is at its low levels.

The original ASMFC notification letter follows but is not valid (just for fun, we’ll include it here):

Tautog Status and Management
Tautog Biology
ASMFC Notification Letter

New Jersey Notification Letter

Federal Register Notice
NOAA Fisheries Service found that the State of New Jersey has failed
to implement measures necessary to fulfill its responsibilities under
the tautog interstate fishery management plan and which are crucial

New Jersey’s commercial and recreational fishery for tautog on April
1.

Tautog is a popular recreational species whose stock is overfished.
Landings data indicate that New Jersey’s harvest is significant
compared with that of other states, and that its recreational landings
more than tripled in 2006. Accordingly, its failure to implement
management measures will undermine the interstate conservation plan
for the species.

Under the rebuilding plan, each of the Northeastern states are
required to reduce tautog fishing effort by about 26 percent over 2003
to 2005 average levels. On February 7, the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission determined that New Jersey had not taken such
measures as required by the fishery management plan.

Under the Atlantic Coastal Act, NOAA’s Fisheries Service was obliged
to conduct a review and make a decision within 30 days as to whether
it concurred with the Commission’s findings, and whether the mandated
measures are necessary for the conservation of the tautog resource

April 1 was selected for the closure date because it provides
significant conservation benefits while allowing enough time to ensure
that anglers, commercial fishermen and dealers are aware of the
effective closure date.

The most recent landings data from 2006 find New Jersey recreational
anglers landed about 700,000 pounds of tautog, and commercial
fishermen about 70,000 pounds. In 2006, Northeast fishermen landed
about 4.3 million pounds of tautog, most of which was taken by
recreational anglers.

Tautog is managed within the framework of the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission. The Commission, comprising representatives from
the Atlantic coastal states, develops fishery conservation and
management strategies for certain coastal species and coordinates
state efforts to achieve those objectives.

The Sportsmen’s Guides offer two publications, ‘New Jersey Lake Survey Fishing Maps Guide’ and ‘Discovering and Exploring New Jerseyís Fishing Streams and the Delaware River.’

The 164-page stream guide contains more than 100 maps and 46 how-to stream fishing articles with 60 maps of specific stream locations. It also contains more than 40 maps of different Delaware River spots, including 14 how-to articles and pieces on shad fishing.

The stream guide covers over 77 pages of trout fishing articles on the stateís top rivers including the Big Flatbrook, Pequest, the South Branch of the Raritan Riverís Ken Lockwood Gorge, Toms and Manasquan Rivers. The publication also covers the Raritan, Walkill, Wanaque, Ramapo and Paulinskill Rivers. Smaller streams such as Van Campens Brook, Dark Moon/Bear Creek, Tuttles Corner Brook, Lubbers Run, and others are also discussed.

South Jersey anglers can use the articles on bass, stripers and pickerel on the Maurice, Menantico, Tuckahoe and South Rivers. There are also articles on smallmouth and largemouth bass, tidal river stripers and Delaware River muskie and walleye. These articles pinpoint hotspots on the tidal part of the river.

Lake anglers can use the 140-page ‘New Jersey Lake Survey Fishing Maps Guide’ which contains more than 100 illustrations of lake maps. These maps which show depths, aquatic vegetation, shoreline cover and types of substrate. The guides also provide information on types of fish present and recommended locations for each impoundment. There are also 119 lake-specific fishing ‘Quick Tips’ and ‘Bassín Notes’ provided by well-known state fishermen.

The guides are available at many bait and tackle shops, sporting good stores, by calling 856.783.1271 or through the Sportsmenís Guides website (www.njsportsmensguides.com).