Heading north from the inlet, the fluke angler can work the marshes and deep cut of Risley Channel and its several feeder creeks. The stretch from Beach Thorofare through the Longport Bridge and along the channel by the red 6, 4 and 2 buoys is a favorite flounder area.

Looking to the south, Rainbow Channel sweeps into the bay with its constantly changing bottom structure of hills, lumps, sloughs, rips and shoals. The western main channel is closer to the mainland and is much deeper. It runs past Elbow Thorofare, a small cut and great spot for small boats to squeeze into.

Once you're past the causeway bridges, look for good fluke action in the deep basin between the Garden State Parkway (GSP) Bridge and the Rainbow Islands at the causeway bridges. To the west of the GSP, the junction of the Tuckahoe and Great Egg Harbor rivers is another proven location.

TOWNSENDS & HEREFORD INLETS
The twin inlets of Townsends and Hereford are separated by a mere seven miles of beach. Like much of south Jersey's back-bay coast, they open up into a maze of marshes that dazzle the eye with their natural beauty and excite the angler with excellent fishing action.

Just inside Townsends, the inlet splits into Ludlam Thorofare, running north, and Ingram Thorofare to the south. At Hereford Inlet, Grassy Channel cuts right through the middle of the marshes, then ducks south while Great Channel heads north behind Stone Harbor.

Fed by vast acres of marshes, all four cuts brim with baitfish, crabs and shrimp, which in turn attract and hold flounder all summer long.

New Jersey is blessed with amazing back-bay fishing opportunities. Though the beachfronts are well developed with motels, restaurants and kiddy rides, the back bays are generally undeveloped -- especially from central through South Jersey, where thousands of acres of marshland offer abundant opportunities for summer flounder. The fish are relatively easy to catch and there are trophy-sized flounder to add to the excitement of the day's catch.

Best of all, you don't need a big expensive boat to catch them. It's truly a summer flounder fisherman's paradise.

Find more about Mid-Atlantic fishing and hunting at MidAtlanticGameandFish.com