Three Fluke, Two Greenheads & a Massive Cow Nosed Ray by Ed Valitutto

Posted on June 15, 2023 by VHFC

When new member John Stuebing asked me to join him for a southern bay fluke trip, I immediately said yes. John keeps his boat – a 28 Parker with twin 300 hp Yamahas. – down in Sheltered Cove marina in Tuckerton. Due to the tide, we fished the deeper water where the Middle Grounds channel meets the ICW and southward to buoy #108. The drift was brisk and even with a windsock, we needed 2 oz to hold. We caught 3 keepers from 17 to barely 18 and 1 short.

When the tide changed and the bites stopped, John headed south to Great Bay where there was a fleet gathered. On the way, we saw the first two greenheads for 2023! Unfortunately, all the fleet was catching were a few shorts and we were no exception. Then it happened! In an instant, my jig took off in the opposite direction from our drift and would not stop. John fired up the twin 300s and gave chase to help me recover some line. Then we saw the reason for the screaming run as a large cow nosed ray jumped clear out of the water. I finally got it close enough to the boat for John to sink a gaff in it so I could get my jig back. This ray was the biggest either of us had ever seen and we were both glad the ordeal was over.

A word to the wise – the greenheads are out and so are the rays!

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