Late Summer Multi-Species Fishing: Fluke, Tautog & Croaker | NJ Saltwater Fishing

[@SaltySamFishing]

Thanks for watching everyone! I truly appreciate all of your support on these videos-means the world to me. How was your Labor Day weekend? Did you get out and catch anything? Let me know in the comments.

[@MartinVSmith6334]

A long time ago I met a guy from Atlantic County who referred to blackfish aka as tautog by the name 'slippery bass'. You're the first guy in all that span of decades to use that adjective! Memories came flooding back! Great video BTW, Thanks.

[@SaltySamFishing]

That’s awesome, I love that name 😂 they’re insanely slippery and always flopping around at the worst times! Thanks for the anecdote and thanks for watching, Martin!

[@thelinecook]

Great video Sam! Great to see you out getting some good fishing in on Labor Day weekend!

[@SaltySamFishing]

Thanks Steve, always appreciate the comment! Hope you had a great Labor Day weekend.

[@jasonschneider7079]

It was cool meeting you at the lighthouse. Grabbed some sand fleas the next day with my son and we were catching tog and sea bass left and right. Had so much fun that I went back the following morning. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@SaltySamFishing]

It was nice meeting you too, glad to hear you guys had success at the inlet! Tog are a blast to catch.

[@jordynloya]

Another great video! Glad you were able to get out there for some final fluke

[@SaltySamFishing]

Thank you! Yeah I’m gonna miss Fluking, hopefully next season is a better one!

[@JJRU_2026]

Love your species videos, keep up the good work!

[@SaltySamFishing]

Will do! Thanks for watching!

[@Ilikesomegames]

Hey I was that kid from Tuesday great to see the vids

[@SaltySamFishing]

What’s up man! Hope you enjoyed that nice croaker for a meal!

[@Ilikesomegames]

@@SaltySamFishing thanks dude I fried them up for breakfast next morning

[@letsgomets002]

Decent size one ....WHAT !!!

[@SaltySamFishing]

Pretty much every fish that’s not tiny but not a keeper I call decent size 😂 it’s a habit

[@greatfishinglife-jovenmana9291]

Very nice catch brotha nice video .

[@SaltySamFishing]

Thank you! 🤙

[@chenhaonan13]

😂 Saw myself in the video, my friend went and say Hi. Great videos !

[@SaltySamFishing]

Hey, thanks! Hope you guys got on some great fish that day!

[@chenhaonan13]

@@SaltySamFishing haha no keepers but still had fun fishing out there

[@Localsummer_33]

Never say “this one’s going in the bucket” before the fish has made it into said bucket 😂 great video

[@SaltySamFishing]

It’s a bad omen, I’m gonna stop doing that 😂

[@martinm2178]

Hey, SS. Get some braces elastics and put them around the gulp. Holds the gulp tight!

[@SaltySamFishing]

Sounds like a great idea, thank you Martin!

[@MotownMark1962]

Another great one!

[@SaltySamFishing]

Thanks as always 👍!

[@coreystephens3076]

They deff did something to the gulp they seem softer then some older ones I have from years ago

[@SaltySamFishing]

Right? I’m glad it’s not just me. I feel like each bait is only lasting 2-3 fish before having to change out!

[@garyhawkins7202]

A drop glue usually works for me to keep the plastics on the hook. Tight lines.

[@SaltySamFishing]

Thank you for the tip! I have to give that a try, I've been burning through them like crazy.

[@Xluis-ut1iv]

New subscriber, I like ur channel keep it up,

[@SaltySamFishing]

Much appreciated!

[@David35445]

I was banging out the stripers in the Bay of Fundy over that weekend. The night bite was hot. Only a couple of keepers but the schoolies kept my rod bent and a big smile on my face. Running high low rigs, 8/0 circles and cut alewife and mackerel for the bait. 4.5 ounces of lead was just enough to hold bottom.

[@SaltySamFishing]

That's awesome David, happy to hear you've been putting in work on the Striper! It's got me thinking of the fall season!

[@David35445]

@@SaltySamFishing There is a big weather system coming up the coast, supposed to hit us tomorrow, did you get it today? Saturday is a wash out but I'm thinking Sunday could be good.

[@SaltySamFishing]

@@David35445 it was a little overcast today but I think tomorrow will bring the rain!

[@RelaxingRainWalker]

Went fishing the other day and caught 3 spices on shrimp. 6 spots 7 black seabass and 1 fluke. No keepers but a lot of fun. Fishing in Great Kills S.I. Thanks for the video

[@SaltySamFishing]

Glad to hear you had a solid day! Thanks for watching!

[@stephenmolitoris7417]

I have a 7 foot medium heavy rod I love for surf fishing. Small croakers all the way up to 24 inch blue. Had it almost 15 years now. Got it from Dicks on sale.

[@SaltySamFishing]

Love to hear it, those sale rods always are the ones that end up lasting a lifetime!

[@michaelfinger1044]

Any tips for how you're getting into those fluke on the surf? My record with surf fishing has been abysmal. I'd be happy to catch just about anything from the beach besides a skate or a dogfish.

[@SaltySamFishing]

Hey Michael, it's been truly a tough year for Fluke so I hear you on that! Honestly, this jerk shad on the jig set up has been my number one this season for catching Fluke. Definitely give it a shot. Otherwise it's just all about staying mobile and finding those deeper pockets of water. Things are always changing in the surf in terms of structure, but check out Google maps in advance and pin some spots where you see some darker water and holes to try and fish. Walk up and down the beach and try spots until you get into them. In this video I did a ton of walking that I cut out but it took me a good handful of spots before I got on the fish. Hope that provides some form of guidance, good luck out there-persistence is key!

[@gino55yo]

Hello, how much in grams for the head of lead? What about the decoy? I have light equipment that is to fish with the family soon. Thank you very much

[@SaltySamFishing]

I believe in grams the 1/4oz jig head would equal ~7.08. Light gear is always fun. Good luck out there, thanks for watching as always!

[@gino55yo]

Thank you for your valuable tips on how to succeed. Have a good weekend 💙🙋🎣👍👈

[@seahad4744]

Would it be worth it to live line the croaker?

[@SaltySamFishing]

Definitely! Makes good bait for sure.

[@Jon-hq9mt]

What tide do you usually go when beach fishing for fluke?

[@SaltySamFishing]

Most preferable tide for me is 2 hours before and after high tide! However, this season in particular, I've been having luck at dead low. Fish when you can!

[@_N4te_]

Do you tie to a swivel? Or tie directly to braid? If you tie directly what knot? Good video btw

[@SaltySamFishing]

Hey Nate, for lure or jig fishing I tie direct to braid using a Uni to Uni knot! With rigs I’ll typically use a swivel and use a Uni knot for the braid side and a clinch knot for the leader side.

[@_N4te_]

@@SaltySamFishingdo you use it for rigs bc it makes it easier to swap rigs out? And did the uni to uni ever fail on you?

[@SaltySamFishing]

@@_N4te_ yep easier to swap out and nope it rarely has ever failed on me

[@_N4te_]

@@SaltySamFishingbtw I never asked but any reason you switched from the 10 foot trophy 2 with the penn pursuit to the 9 foot with the battle?

[@SaltySamFishing]

@@_N4te_ I still have both! But which one I use depends all on conditions and what I'm going for.

[@saveriorescigno2570]

They are spot , not croaker

[@SaltySamFishing]

True, some people refer to them as "spot croaker" which I should have made the distinction between in this video. That was my oversight on that! They're both part of the drum/croaker (Sciaenidae) family and I did catch some of both species (Spot and Atlantic Croaker) so I was conflating the names in some cases.

[@Ralph-p7p]

Learn to release…SAFELY

[@SaltySamFishing]

Wondering which fish you are referring to? Let me know so I can improve for the future.