Fluking from shore? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Zeal · 07-09-2016, 10:03 PM

Couldn't get a chance to nail stripers but with the weather heating up I do plan on fluking until the Fall run. Anyone know what the water temperature typically has to hit for fluke to be close to shore on ocean beaches? I've heard of people shooting for August and beginning of September and doing well but July seems to be a wildcard month concerning both Bass and Fluke for me.

I've never fished for Fluke from shore, only by boat. I only know that the water has to be warm and calm for them to be that close...

Dick Durand · 07-10-2016, 06:51 AM

Not exactly sure of the water temp, but people I know fishing for fluke from shore seek areas with bait and tidal current.

basswipe · 07-10-2016, 08:01 AM

I've never actually targeted fluke from shore but I have caught quite a few on plugs particularly yellow over white Bombers.And it was only in this one particular area.

I remember it always being quite warm when I would catch them.I just don't recall the exact time but Aug/Sept seems about right.

wader-dad · 07-10-2016, 09:47 AM

John Skinner has a you tube video - catching fluke from shore. Y9u should watch that- I think he even shows catching a 5 pound fluke from shore.

Zeal · 07-11-2016, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wader-dad

John Skinner has a you tube video - catching fluke from shore. Y9u should watch that- I think he even shows catching a 5 pound fluke from shore.

I actually own his 2 books that talk very briefly about it and have seen the video but unfortunately he doesn't go that far into detail since he has a kayak and a boat from which he mainly flukes from. Only August and early September were mentioned but that was about it.

Water temps or ocean conditions weren't really touched upon unlike Stripers so that's why I ask you fine gents.

hq2 · 07-13-2016, 05:58 PM

To Got Stripers:

I always use a net when flounder or fluke fishing. Had a 4 lb. fluke on in BB on an 18 foot boat recently, got him to the boat, and he got off....so I scooped him up with the net and got him in anyway.

For kayak fishing, a big enough trout net will work fine for most flounder or fluke, and won't get in your way. Used one a couple of weeks ago to scoop up a nice yellow tail flounder in my yak. You can get one at WalMart for around $6-7.

niko · 07-10-2016, 11:21 AM

I used to do pretty well fishing for them on the backside. Bass at night and fluke by day
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

MakoMike · 07-11-2016, 08:06 AM

Most of the fluke in our area are gone by the third week in August.

Got Stripers · 07-11-2016, 01:19 PM

These came yesterday in 15 feet of water way up inside Buzz. Bay and I dropped a nice one at the boat, they are tricky to land in a kayak, but I really don't want to deal with a net. Can say if you could get some from shore, but I suspect you might if the right spot gets you close to some fluky spots. A friend dropped off 4 lobsters two days ago, my better half made up some killer clam chowder, it's been some good eating the last couple days. Spot is a sweat fluke spot, about 40 yards from a 30 foot channel, small rocky ledge that tops off around 6 feet, with 15 feet all around it. My usual approach, 3/8oz kalan jig, 4" white split tail with some scent sprayed on every so often, cast to the ledge and slowly worked the jig back to me.

Zeal · 08-08-2016, 02:06 PM

Don't want to resurrect this thread but I did learn some things that might help other anglers:

The calmer the water, the better. If the water has moderate to strong rips, or the waves are over 3 feet, or if people are splashing all around, Fluke won't be there and are in deeper water.

With my polarized sunglasses, I saw 2 fluke chasing after my bucktail and teaser but in came a 3 foot wave and they immediately gave up and went to deeper water.

3/4 oz. SPRO bucktails are too big! The hooks are bigger and the profile is very large, the 1/2 oz SPRO work great though.

3/4 oz. Andrus ripsplitter have very large profiles too, the S and S bucktails seem to be better at having a smaller profile with the higher weight but if you are using Gulp Minnows, the minnow won't fit because of the damn rattle.

I don't go crazy with colors, but Shades of Green and White or Chartreuse and White are killer for Fluke. They really love going after mantis shrimp, sand eels, and spearing...

Honestly, you don't have to cast that far either since they sit at the beach lip or under the breakers. If they are there, you will get hit within a few casts.

Anyone else have anything to add give a shout!

basswipe · 08-08-2016, 02:37 PM

Caught an undersized fluke and what had to have been a solid 2lb searobin last evening.Yellow/white Bomber A-Salt again.That's all I caught but its better than a goose egg.

I really should make it a point to actually target fluke especially since the area I'm fishing holds them.I've not had much experience with jigs but I'm going to put a little more effort into using them.

Zeal · 08-09-2016, 07:46 PM

Beware of the Sea Robins! They were a plague today. I literally caught over 30 of them with only 5 Fluke. They were absolutely voracious and I couldn't seem to move far enough away from them. First time I ever witnessed them jumping out of the water without a predator around. But the fish LOVE that Gulp Shrimp. Only one Fluke hit the bucktail, the rest and even the Sea robins went for that shrimp (although double headers were happening like crazy)...