Fluke Techniques

[rwilhelm]

I have not been fluke fishing in a couple years, I was thinking of giving it a shot this year. I have had some sucess using a spin n glow with a squid strip and reeling in slow. What kind rigs, bait and techniques work for you? Also it would be from shore so that might make a difference.

[Skip N]

I caught a nice one this weekend while fly fishing! Not quite what i was looking to catch though!

[macojoe]

Get a boat and we will talk!!

[bloocrab]

Fluke belly strips work JUST as good as squid...and last a LOT longer. I've also had some success with Skate belly/or wings...white skin only. Bounce it along the bottom stopping from time to time...and don't give up on the cast, work it until it's out of the water. I've had fluke come right up to the surface chasing after it. Live bait is ok too ... ...a babyherring/mummy/snapper/tinker/large silverside...and don't be surprised if you hook something other than a fluke

I'm sure one of our sponsors must carry these...small rubber squids, maybe 4" in length counting the skirt. If you put a pinhole through the tip/head you can slide a leader into and through the body, then slip the leader through an egg-sinker (size depends on current and depth). With the egg-sinkers I use, they get lodged in the squid's head area. I then tie the hook so that it dangles inbetween the tenticles. If the egg-sinker is not cooperationg (meaning if it's sliding up and down the leader, I'll add a swivel until it works the way I want it to. Then all you do is add the "strip" (squid, fluke-belly, pork-rind, skate-belly). I doodled a picture if anyone's interested...it's well worth it.

Good Luck ~

[bloocrab]

...almost forgot, you can always add a "spin-N-glow" to this setup...I don't like cluttering up a presentation too much but I've seen fluke caught on some funky looking setups....with LOTS of extras....best thing is to find out what works for you and what YOUR comfortable with. Some people can work rigs better than others...some rigs work for some but not for others. Find yours

[rwilhelm]

Thanks Bloo - yeah those Thom Cat Rigs I have heard are pretty good might have to pick one up. It is too bad the best shore spot in my opinion is no longer accesible(URI Bay Campus).

[bloocrab]

Shore-Fluking ain't easy.....you need current, bait and tide to help you out -


Funny story some years back~

Just a coincidence I'm sure -

I had been fluking successfully from shore and bringing in some fillets for some co-workers. One day we're talking about fishing and they start to show interest in trying for fluke. Knowing that the spot that I had been focusing on could not take the added pressure along with the fact that these guys wanted to bring a cooler ...it wouldn't be a good idea to take them there. We decided on a charter. The 4 of us chartered ***** out of Snug harbor. I'm sure he knew his stuff..but we had a terrible day. There were NO legal fluke landed that day, he drove the boat so that we constantly had the fumes in our face, he was riding the rollers incorrectly (not that I know how to be a boater ) but the whole experience sucked. They lost total interest in fluking. About 2 days later, I hit my spot again........they didn't want to believe me, so I played along and told them they were right, I knew someone who dragged the bottom and that's how I was getting all this fluke.

There still are some decent spots for fluke, check out the areas you fish in Map-Tech...look for the right terrain...and you'll do ok.

Good Luck ~

[BobT]

Anybody ever tried Porko's? It looks like the white in 6" or longer would be a killer and last much longer.
Thanks

[Mr. Sandman]

I like fresh local squid but I have to say the fluke belly stays on better. I go thru my bait fast so if does not bother me to change often...I like it fresh.

Try a basic fluke 3 way rig but instead of a sinker use a silver bullet with a strip bait.

Also try a SW fly as a teaser. You would be amazed what hits this!

Fluke tend to like gaudy flashy rigs at times too. Somtime large blade spinners seem to be what they want...other times just your most basic of rigs with a simple bucktail hair on a hook.

Fluke can be aggressive feeders too. I have caught them while trolling for bonito...they hit a minnow type lure.

Don't rule out bouncing a bucktail off the bottom. (use braid line for this!!) Many of the giants are taken with a bucktail.

All in all IMO fluke are a great fish. I love fishing for them (very stress free), its fun for kids and you can catch a really grand fish that tastes better then most of the fish in the sea IMO.

There is no magic to this. Everyone has there own tricks up their sleeve. They like drop offs and holes so seek them out and drift your bait *along the bottom* and you should catch some sweet fish. (also seabass and giant scup)