Montauk Pioneer - May 22, 2009 - The Word At Paulie's

"What's happenin'?" Paul shouted out through the "pea soup" on the opening morning of fluke season. Not only was the heavy fog a problem, but the new restrictions on New York compared to Rhode Island and New Jersey also give us the shaft due to the federal policy that divvies up the fluke quota by states, and allots NY the largest state in the mix, the smallest allotments.

Furthermore, a full three weeks of fluke fishing will be lost during the busiest time of the season with a split session, open May 15 through June 15 and July 3 through August 17, with a limit of two fish of 21."

It is interesting to note that these fluke restrictions put unneeded pressure on the bass.

Excessive as these limitations are, the anglers are chasing the voracious, sharp-toothed predators and there is no doubt that an up to 10 lb. fluke makes an ideal meal! "Fluke sandwiches are great," confirms Jersey Greg Flanagan. "Just fry 'em up, add lettuce and tomato, a little splash of balsamic vinegar and mustard sauce; my kids love 'em!"

The white, flaky meat of the "grown up flounder" is prized by many seafood lovers. "Bones, oh no, bones," some cry, to which my grandfather, Dr. Albert Sellenings always replied, "If you swallow a fish bone, just chew a piece of bread or two!" It works!

The first few weeks of fluke fishing can be awesome or pretty much uneventful. In any case, right now the fishermen are fishing from private boats, charter boats and party boats. As Marshal Helfand exclaimed, "It was the best opening day ever in my many years of fishing in Montauk!" Aboard the Lazy Bones, Helfand caught two keepers, Mike Young had 10, and Andy the Smerf limited out on fluke up to 6 lbs.

On his 41' custom Sportsfisherman, Blue Fin IV, Capt. Michael Potts' returning father, son and daughter caught lots of bass (five keepers between 15-18 lbs.) a few blues and eight 5 lb. fluke. Another group with Andy Babinski and two friends landed three keeper bass, some shorts, and eight fluke, the largest at 6.8 lbs.

The ADAHK limited out with 10 bass up to 25 lbs. and 13 blues. Joe Turner on the Ebb Tide won the pool with his 8 lb. fluke, Doris Debbit and Charlie Jempty had 5 lb. flukes and Pete Lesko reeled in a 5.4 lb. fluke.

On the Mistress II, Seymour Gordon and Luke and Mark Chard limited out on bass up to 25 lbs. while Herl's Girl limited out on bass up to 27 lbs. plus four fluke with fishermen J. Harrison, Jimmy Bargo and Jimmy Rulli.

On Saturday May 16 all Charter Boats limited out on fluke with the Lazy Bones having an exceptional day! Gary "The Toad" Stephens on his 25' Parker, Toadally Hooked, limited out in one hour! There's plenty of action in Montauk! Matty Vega caught 40 bass up to 17-18 lbs. on the south side and there were blues and bass at the Town beach. There's even a whale off the sandy beach across from Surfside feeding on bait!

"The British Invasion is coming!" yelled Susan on Saturday after talking to the English group who fish here every October. "They can't wait," she laughed, "they're flying in next week!"

"With a 49 lb. bass already under their belt, they're ready to give us Yanks a run for the money," said Jack Yee.

For the most exciting, informative and comprehensive fishing Web site you can't beat jackyee.com! If you join you will have your ad sent out on Yee's bi-weekly fishing report, as well. You may also sign up for just Yee's fishing reports and photographs. Please call Eugenia Bartell at 631-668-2388 or e-mail me at genia631@yahoo.com for more information. Starting Memorial Day Weekend Plum TV will televise Yee at the Sag Harbor windmill giving a weekly fishing report.

Stock up on your teasers and bucktails at Paulie's where you'll find the best of the best and remember that spearing and squid are the best bait for fluke.