fluke fishing

Question
Hi RG, I'm looking to buy a rod, reel, line, rigs and lures for party boat fluke fishing in NJ and NY, I'd really appreciate any suggestions you could provide, thanks, Tommy.

Answer
Can't help you much with this, as it's been forty years or so since I fished the northeast.  However, I can give you some generalities.  Your best option is to go to a tackle shop--as opposed to, for example, WalMart--in the area, where they'll have the latest information on what lures are working.

You don't say whether you prefer conventional or spinning gear, but either way, you'll want a rod stiff enough to handle at least a one-ounce sinker and a hefty hunk of bait.  One of the best baits is a live killiefish (a type of salt water minnow prevalent in that area) on a 1/O hook, with a strip of squid as a trailer.

Like most predatory fish that live near or on the bottom, fluke will hit jigs and diamond jigs.

Sorry I can't help more, but, as I said, it's been a long time, and there have been many changes in gear since I fished for fluke.  Good luck.

RG