Goose,
I find I get more dogs when the tide slacks in deep water....
I was able to get my hands on a good amount of big local squid this spring...so I use that mostly, sometimes with a sand eel or somtimes a nice slice of Fluke belly. That is my bait. I have tried other bait but squid and fluke belly work the best for me. IMO fluke will eat anything fresh, a great bait is a live snapper but I can't get them easily and I am out of live herring now. I know they love quality squid and that is what I use...bellies lasts longer though.
My new rigs seem to be working well. Those chrome fluke balls are taking more then half of the fish. The stronger hooks help a ton...esp when you hook a big dogfish...they can twist the hell out of a cheap hook.
As far as my up size rigs, I use the larger VMC wide gaps (4/0 and 5/0(mostly)) with very large spinner blades with an entire small squid or large strip..some of my rigs have a stinger hook for a big bait.. or I also use the 4" rubba squid with a medium size strip bait. all on a 4' 50# floro leader.
Last trip my son had a glow-in-the-dark 4" rubber squid with a squid strip bait and was out fishing us 3:1. The trip prior the chome ball was the killer
You need to try those chrome balls with the green eyes that have the gamigatsu hooks, those really work well. I have them up to 8 oz. But mainly get by with 4-5 oz. on a 30# braid boat rod. (in really deep fast moving water you will need more weight)If you have a nice drift replace the sinker with these. My yongest son had a double header on on the ball and the other on the bait!! I couldn't get them both in the net, and lost the larger one and I am still getting grief about it!
Did you see that article in the fisherman a couple weeks back about targeting big fluke? I thought that was pretty good and is one of the reasons I am breaking from the pack now. I just think Vineyard sound spots are pounded too hard. There are a lot of fish in the sound but there are a lot of pressure on them.
comm rod and reelers, draggers, you and me....
I was actually thinking of booking a fluke charter and see what some of these pros do that consistanly exceed 10# fish.
Salty...you going out that way tomorrow? The weather sounds decent...I may be out that way if we strike out to the north of you. I had been thinking of working a spot out that way for a while now but I keep my boat on the oppisite side of the island now close to my home...(it might be Sat befor I get down that way) I will keep an eye out for you if I make it down that way. Bringin your fishin buddy?
...good luck...I hear what your looking for is there.
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