Trying for keeper flounder, came close at Amoco Oil Rig Options

[ryfisher]

I went out this morning with my dad (3 point shooter) and a friend to the Amoco Oil Rig to try for some flounder. The weather was nice and we caught around 12 flounder, 10 croaker, 2 toadfish, and 1 bluefish. Oh, I almost forgot about the 40 pound ray that we fought for about 15 minutes before cutting the line-what a fight! We were really trying for flounder but the other fish are also fun to catch. Anyhow, the frustrating thing is that none of the flounder were big enough to keep. We had 4 or 5 in the 16-17 inch range and one 18 1/4 inches. Man that's frustrating. For bait we were using minnows with a strip of squid to make a flounder sandwich.

I have a few questions about the 19 inch limit for flounder. The first one is whether or not people are actually going by the limit or are they keeping flounder in the 16-18 inch range? I personally would never do that but I was just wondering if you guys know people who do. My second question is why is the size limit so ridiculous? I've gone out many times this year and caught many flounder, but no keepers. Is this going to change next year, I hope?

[BillyBoy]

I have a few questions about the 19 inch limit for flounder. The first one is whether or not people are actually going by the limit or are they keeping flounder in the 16-18 inch range? I personally would never do that but I was just wondering if you guys know people who do. My second question is why is the size limit so ridiculous? I've gone out many times this year and caught many flounder, but no keepers. Is this going to change next year, I hope?

I've seen some shore fishermen keeping short flounder and I have been sorely tempted this year, but have stuck to being legal. 170+ flounder so far this year with 6 keepers. The reason the limits are so ridiculous is that the idiots who figure these things out are pulling numbers out of their, uhm, nether regions. They don't have a clue as to what the flounder population is.

[YoungGun11]

First question is where is the Amoco Oil Rig I've heard a couple people talk about it now, but have no idea where they are fishing.

Secondly I've seen a few fish I know weren't keepers come over the side of other boats and not go back this year. Its tough to play by the rules when other people aren't but that's what makes some people different from others. Only advice I can give you on keeper flounder is, bigger bait bigger fish, that also often means less or no fish at all unfortuneatley. A couple times this year I sat at the CBBT watching other people bringing small flounder over the rail pretty consistently and we won't even catch one but when I do hook one I'd say 7 times out of 10 its a keeper. Anyway hang in there, the fishing will get better as the water warms up and the flatties start congreating in the deeper cooler water

[ryfisher]

The Amoco Oil Rig is near the York Spit area, it looks like a pier or a bridge but it is really a long piling. Its fairly close to Back Reef. I am completely blanking on the name of the bridge that it is near. Thanks for the advice everyone. And man, you must have excellent luck pulling up a keeper 7 out of 10 times. You need to go buy some lottery tickets with that kind of luck.

[1st Mate]

Flounder fishing can be a pain at times especially when the limits are high, but we just have to bite are lip because there is just nothing we can do about it. We all are suffering from it and have to go with the flow! I myself have been tempted in throwing a 18''+ flounder in the box, but refused because my luck I know something would happen and carma would catch up with me!
I have seen people on shore throw potatoe chip flounder in there coolers. I tell them about the limits, some of them just shrug there shoulders and dont seem to care and are more concered about eating that 14''-15'' flounder. That to me is a big dissapointment!
Hopefully within the next couple of years the limits will change and it wont be such a problem. Until then keep trying for them, be patient and your time will come to get that nice keeper.


-Chris

[RobRcer]

Flounder fishing can be a pain at times especially when the limits are high, but we just have to bite are lip because there is just nothing we can do about it. We all are suffering from it and have to go with the flow! I myself have been tempted in throwing a 18''+ flounder in the box, but refused because my luck I know something would happen and carma would catch up with me!
I have seen people on shore throw potatoe chip flounder in there coolers. I tell them about the limits, some of them just shrug there shoulders and dont seem to care and are more concered about eating that 14''-15'' flounder. That to me is a big dissapointment!
Hopefully within the next couple of years the limits will change and it wont be such a problem. Until then keep trying for them, be patient and your time will come to get that nice keeper.


-Chris

I allways obey the laws, dont want to deal with the consequences of being caught. If ye cant do the time, dont do the crime. Ive been told by several ignorant people that the rules and limits arent for locals, just non-residents.

[limiter]

Catching a keeper seven out of ten times has nothing to do with luck. Its all a matter of bait size. If you use a bait that is too large for a non keeper to eat, then you are most likely to get bites only from the larger fish. The number of bites you get will drop. Sunday morning we had 4 bites with three keepers. All over 20". The bait we didn't use, we filleted and ate that night, along with the flounder!!

[YoungGun11]

The Amoco Oil Rig is near the York Spit area, it looks like a pier or a bridge but it is really a long piling. Its fairly close to Back Reef. I am completely blanking on the name of the bridge that it is near. Thanks for the advice everyone. And man, you must have excellent luck pulling up a keeper 7 out of 10 times. You need to go buy some lottery tickets with that kind of luck.

Well I might catch a high percentage of keeprs but I've never caught more than 5-6 flounder in a trip. Last saturday fished 5 hours at back river reef only caught 4 flounder 3 were keepers. If you make your bait big enough the small fish either can't or won't bite it or you likley just won't hook them b/c they can't get the bait all the way in their mouth. I like to use 6"+ spot when flounder fishing never caught anything under 20" on those. But like I said I've had plenty of days when people around me are catching lots of smaller flounder and I'm just sitting there. . . but for me I'd rather not wade through all the throw backs if I don't have too. Just a preference.

Thanks for the info on the Oil Rig I think I know about where that's at, never fished in the York from a boat, usually either the James, BRR or the CBBT and Beyond.

[fshn4x4]

The Amoco Oil Rig is near the York Spit area, it looks like a pier or a bridge but it is really a long piling. Its fairly close to Back Reef. I am completely blanking on the name of the bridge that it is near. Thanks for the advice everyone. And man, you must have excellent luck pulling up a keeper 7 out of 10 times. You need to go buy some lottery tickets with that kind of luck.

I think you are refering to the Coleman bridge. and is it near the place that looks like a power plant?

[ryfisher]

Yes, exactly. The Coleman Bridge is what I was thinking about and the Amoco Oil Rig is near the thing that looks like a power plant. Also, thanks to Young Gun for the tip. It sounds like with a big bait you are almost guaranteed big flounder and won't need to mess with all of the little ones. I've heard from many people that spot make great baits.