Fluke Fishing Tips

Tackle Recommendations

Rods, reels and bucktails

Deep, rocky fishing grounds snap hooks and sinkers, so bring extras. With varying wind and tides, have sinkers from 6 through 12 oz. and wide gap fluke hooks. Use teasers and bucktails. Have a light, sturdy rod with a light reel. Use spinning reels and a boat rod with 30 lb. test fishing line. The best line to Bucktail with is Braid. Braid line cuts through the water with little resistance to hold the bottom better. Use a mono shock leader for your rig and for your main line use 20 to 30 lb. test braid.

Bait

Live and aArtificial

Use squid for live bait. Cut your squid long and thin with a slice at the bottom to create a flutter tail. Spice up the squid with a sand eel or spearing. Also use mackerel belly, fluke belly, bluefish and skate. Fluke may get used to one scent of fish so keep them excited and always have big selections of live bait on board. For bigger fluke, use big smelts, sandeels, sardines and strip baits. Strip baits are bluefish, mackerel, tuna, false albie and mahi skins. The shine of these baits attracts the fluke.

When using an artificial lure, use a short trace of leader material and a barrel swivel. Use one foot of 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader material. It looks invisible in the water, which adds to the natural appearance of the lure. Tie it to a small barrel swivel to which the running line from the reel is tied. Gel-spun lines are best because normal fishing knots may be used.

Methods

Keep it bouncing

Fluke like lively baits and feed when the tides and bait are moving. The object of the "Jig Method" is to keep your bait moving so if a fleeting fluke sees it, he&039;ll want to eat it. To use this technique, drop your line to the bottom, when it hits, lift the rod up and let it sink down to the bottom again. Repeat rapidly. The "Slow pull method", is a slow motion form of the "Jig." Drop your line to the bottom, wait 10 to 15 seconds. Slowly lift the rod tip and wait for a bite. If you get a bite, do not let the line go slack. Always keep tension on a "jiggler."
The "sit and wait" method is to wait for a bite, and lift the rod tip when you get one.

Always net a fluke head first. Fluke will wiggle and swim their way out of nets if they go tail first. Always remember, feel your bucktail making contact with the bottom and keep it bouncing. Cast against the current, a.k.a. "the under the boat drift." Work the jig back to the boat and start over when its back in front of the boat.