NJ Saltwater Fisherman Forums
NJ Saltwater Fishing Reports and Information => Tips, Tricks and Things to Consider => Topic started by: shucker on April 10, 2007, 04:30:52 PM
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Maybe some fluke fishing tips to go along with the bass tips.I'll share mine if you share yours
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I chum with guts from chickens,cows, and lamb from the local Meat store (buddy owns it). I drift 2 poles(both hooks with the little hair skirt on them), and i use 1 DEAD SHINER, and a strip of squid, the white strips that come in the containers, not the frozen full pieces. And i do very weel with that late summer. Good luck.
Fish On
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My tips and suggestion are... First off, I don't chum for fluke while drifting. I only chum when I anchor to draw the fish to the boat. I can't chum and draw the fish to the boat if the boat is moving.
I bring everything from killies, squid, gulp, sand eels, peanut bunker.
The most productive thing I do is, I use a 3 oz. spro striped with a 4" long, slim piece of squid and a killie or any other of the aboved mentioned. The killie keeps the squid moving. I put a second hook off the spro jig about 3' long and tip that with a gulp mullet, or gulp sand eel (new this season).
My last tip is, I only use on rod. The fluke need to be hooked, especially if your using large bait for large fish. Most of the time the dead stick rod gets nothing but lost bait.
When you fluke you have to feel every bounce and every tap, dead sticking doesn't work. What I do with the dead stick is live line a bunker with no weight just incase a large striper comes along. You have to give the striper a chance to turn the bunker around as it grabs it from the side then takes it head first, so the delay of reaction with the deadstick will work for stripers using live bait. The largest fluke I got last year was with a spro tipped with a large mullet while bouncing it along the bottom.
I hope this helps.
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Luna Sea makes a good point. I know him from another site and he has produced some decent catches.
Capt. Anthony
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I always dead stick one rod with a whole small squid by itself with a double hook rig that is adjustable for length. I forget the name. I buy the squid frozen at Shoprite. This rod will bring big fluke or a big seabass occasionally. I just started my own 55 gallon Killie bait tank in the basement. I am fattening up about a dozen(soon to be more) for the year. I always use Killie/squid combo. I always drift the channels. No chum.
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The best and first thing you should do is find the fish. Mark each and every drift you take with your GPS. When you catch a few fish, narrow down the length of your drifts to the particular spot that you hooked up and continue going over the same area that produced.
Late August last year I had the honor to have Captain Vic, at the time from Andrea's Toy Charters and Al Ristori with me. We had every bait possible that day. We had to hook up with over 50 fluke that day, but the keeper ratio was horrible. We double hooked rods with various baits and believe it or not, the Gulp Mullet caught more fish then even the live Peanut Bunker... Go figure.. Berkley may have gotten it right this time....
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I've been using big baits and fish deep water or around wrecks and rockpiles.Ambrose channel holds very nice fish in june and july,the tc bouy is also great on a outgoing tide.I will also concentrate on the sandy hook reef,shrewsbury rocks and the rattlesnake you lose allot of rigs but the fish are quality and you can spice up the catch with a few sea bass also.My common rig is a standard fishfinder rig with a 4/0-5/0 gammi octopus.I like to get my squid from a asian supermarket they usaully have extra large squid already cleaned strips are cut into 6-10 inch strips then soaked in shedder oil I combine this with a big spearing that come prepacked 10-12 pieces per bag.I have tried dying the strips in food coloring also with mixed results.A new set up I've been using is a spro jig then 16-18inches above that tie a dropper loop use 5/0 baitholder hook and a gulp shrimp it has been deadly.
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Hey Guy's, I like to get My squid at the Asian market, the squid their are fresh,large and seem to hold togather and last longer then the stuff you get at the bait shops. and not to mention a lot cheaper, I am sure Capt Bob will attest to the same ;). and like Luna Sea said " use the chartplotter and mark your drifts "
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Ohh come on guys.. you work way to hard at this.. I just follow the party boats...
Yeah right... lol...
I have 20-25 spots that have always treated me well. Like Ed mentioned, I try to fish a new spot every now and again to see if it is holding fish or not. Sometimes it does work out.. If you remember what I wrote in my flounder atricle
3. Don't be afraid to go off away from the fleet. After a congregation of boats or anglers sit on one spot, the stock will eventually diminish. Find a spot where nobody is fishing or hasn't fished. There may be fish there and no one even knows about it.
This is so true..
As far as bait goes, I have not yet used any of the gulp artificials yet. I will give it a shot this year though. I get my squid from Spring Lake Freezer who carries good health stock but it comes in quantity. Sand eels, peanut bunker, snapper, sea robin belly and the occasional fluke belly (shhhh) are some of the baits you will find in my bait box. Looking foward to the gulp sand eels though. We will see what happens.
Capt. Anthony
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Oh Yea,
Thanks Capt.Anthony.....I did not mention that when I try to find a new spot, the rule is no other boats close by........Avoid the fleet,find your own fish. LOL
Ed
And if you do decided to fish with the fleet, make sure you drift in front of the party boat and not behind it as the party boat will act like a large rake in front of you and you will catch nothing.... I know this is a no brainer, but sometimes people have to be reminded of this..
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Picked this tip up last summer from a well known charter captain who fishs out of Shark River and is a consistent top finisher in fluke tournaments.
He uses 6" mahi strips for bait. They can purchased 5 to a package from the Reel Seat in Brielle.
Seeing is believing as I took my biggest fluke to date fishing with him last August with a #9.5 almost door mat using a mahi strip tipped bucktail. We also caught another #9.5 that day to go along with an #8.2 and a #7.5. Unfortunately the person who invited me on the charter decided not to enter the Belmar Elks fluke tournament that day :'(.
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Hey Skolman!! Great Tip..
Nice to hear from you on the board.
Welcome
Hotrod
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One of my favorite fluke rigs-especially for Raritan Bay-is a rig I've been tying for several years now.
Start with a 36" piece of mono. Snell a 3/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hook to one end. 14's above this hook make a 2" dropper loop. To the dropper loop attach a small #56 black duo-loc snap. To the snap I'll attach a clouser minnow tied with either a 1/0 or 2/0 hook ( my favorite color is chartreuse/white). The snap allows me to do several things; 1-It allows me to change teasers/clousers with ease without having to retye. 2- Makes it ease to get out of the net. To date I have never had a snap fail or open on me and I've taken fluke up to #7.5 on the clouser.
I'll bait the bottom hook with a strip & medium spearing and the clouser with a small spearing. 75% of the fluke taken on this rig is on the clouser.
Rig is best fished using braid and using a very gentle jigging motion. Any small little tick, I'll give a 3 second drop back before engaging the reel and if any extra weight is felt a hook set is given.
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never chummed for flounder.have to give it a try
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I have tried many different methods but the one I have the most success with is - a chrome ball in different weights; to the chrome ball I tie a stiff 8" piece of leader with a feather over a large hook. On the hook I put a 8 to 12 inch piece of squid.
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My tips and suggestion are... First off, I don't chum for fluke while drifting. I only chum when I anchor to draw the fish to the boat. I can't chum and draw the fish to the boat if the boat is moving.
I bring everything from killies, squid, gulp, sand eels, peanut bunker.
The most productive thing I do is, I use a 3 oz. spro striped with a 4" long, slim piece of squid and a killie or any other of the aboved mentioned. The killie keeps the squid moving. I put a second hook off the spro jig about 3' long and tip that with a gulp mullet, or gulp sand eel (new this season).
My last tip is, I only use on rod. The fluke need to be hooked, especially if your using large bait for large fish. Most of the time the dead stick rod gets nothing but lost bait.
When you fluke you have to feel every bounce and every tap, dead sticking doesn't work. What I do with the dead stick is live line a bunker with no weight just incase a large striper comes along. You have to give the striper a chance to turn the bunker around as it grabs it from the side then takes it head first, so the delay of reaction with the deadstick will work for stripers using live bait. The largest fluke I got last year was with a spro tipped with a large mullet while bouncing it along the bottom.
I hope this helps.
I almost use this same rig except I use a hi/lo rig with a about a 2-3 ft leader that I tie just a plain hook about 8" to a foot above the weight and use a gulp pogy. Then I tie a dropper about a foot above that with a teaser and strip bait..
I have never used a chrome ball or spro jig as my weight.. I will have to try it..
OH man May 26th can not get here fast enough..Im like a kid at Christmas counting down the days... ;D
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Skollman has the right idea Mahi bellies on Spro jigs.Stop in & see Dave @ The Reel Seat & he'll be able to set you up with all you need. TT^
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Just 2 thoughts to consider:
1:Make sure you have enough weight to stay in cotact with the bottom,
2:Try using Smelts (look like spearing on steroids)on a stinger type rig. Can be bought in most B&T's.
Capt. John K.
TAT-TAT TOO III
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lot of good tips here have to try some t^dont forget the best pl to fish , buy the nuddy beach at the hook 8) 8) 8)
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Like Capt Matt I buy my Fluke bait at the local Asian market, the squid is fresh and cleaned and I pre-make up 4-6" strips forking the tail, they sell Smelts which look like jumbo spearing 5-6" long and of course large kellies........
There is a rig I tie which had a dropper on the bottom for the sinker then three droppers coming off the main lin starting 6-8" above the sinker spaced 6" apart....thread a hook in and bait all with Kellies, looks like a mini school and has worked real well.
As has been said use the chart plotter to mark the drift and hit the MOB when you get the bite.....
I am also not a dead stick fan, while we catch fish on the dead stick, far more are lost, and when you have the doormat mouthing your bait, you want to feel it to react...... ;D
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lot of good tips here have to try some t^dont forget the best pl to fish , buy the nuddy beach at the hook 8) 8) 8)
this is a negative..
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On a Flounder trip in the bay I also take an assortment of bait. Killie's, Squid, Plastics, Mackerel etc. You don't know what will produce on any given day.
I usually will put out a couple different rigs. I'll use a double jig rig similar to Luna sea's rig. A single hook flounder rig a top and bottom rig or a shad dart with a Killie on it or a 3/4oz bucktail with a strip of Mackerel or a strip of squid w/Killie. I'll put these baits on the other rigs also. Each of my people in the group gets a different set up. If one or two seem to be working better I'll switch the rest over.
I most definitely agree with Luna sea about not putting out dead sticks. Although you may catch a fish here or there it usually ends up being a waste of bait. You miss more than you will catch. You need to feel the fluke. Many times they just grab the end of your bait and will hold it till they decide what they want to do. In this instance I tell my customers to back a couple feet of line down to the fish to give them a better chance to eat. Don't be so anxious to set the hook on Flounder. PATIENTS is the ticket. Once you feel good pressure on the line and a head shake you can pull back with the rod and set the hook. If you are dead sticking you would have missed that fish. The bait would keep going with the drift and the fish let go. You need to feel everything when Fluke fishing and be ready to back line down to the fish so it can eat.
As far as where to fish. I fish structure, edges of drop offs and in sloughs. If I don't find them there I'll give the flats a try.
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Great Tips, from everyone!!
Thanks Guys TT^
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With fishing mainly the ocean for fluke my biggest speil is, if you can find the structure-you should find the fish.
I am constantly checking my charts and looking for new charts that I don't have. I look for any type of bottom change, be it a lump, a hole, drop off, rocks, clam/mussel bed or wreck.
I will hit these areas hard, as that is where the bait SHOULD be, and the bait is what will attract the fluke to any given area.
If I find fish and we get several on at the same time I mark the spot on my GPS and also put a marker bouy over the side if we are fishing alone (which is most of the time). If there are other boats around I will just mark the spot on my GPS. Not because I don't want the other boats to see where I am catching, but because I don't want my marker to interfere with other boats drifts. The marker bouy acts as a visual mark that will take you back to the absolute spot you had fish and not just close to it as with the MOB mark on the GPS.
I will continue my drift until we are no longer catching. Then I will move back, going past the marker. I pay particular attention to where we are hooking up fish and shorten my drift accordingly. I will continue making drifts until we no longer catch, then we will move off to find another spot.
Here is a pic of a catch we had two years ago using this method. (We had to find the five largest for a tourney, that's why they are on the deck like this) These fish come off of one spot. We did not move from it all day. There were five people on the boat, we kept our limit and returned another eleven fish that were keepers. It was a slow drift and most fish were caught jigging with a Spro w/strip bait.
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Irisheyes Thats a nice mess of fish.. t^
Oh man just a few more days..
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that looks like a great trip. I wonder if the clam beds where we striper fish will produce the fluke as well.
My method is the same, my honey hole is near the Schrewsbury Rocks, not on them, but just along side of it. My best day last year, just me and one other person.
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Another thing I do when I have people on board who want to use killies: I don't use a killie bucket, lost em 'trolling' to next spot (read-forgot to bring them in).
I now use a 6-pack size cooler. I had a friend put together a wood crate-like insert that fits inside the cooler. I put ice in the bottom of the cooler and the killies in the crate-like insert. You can also put a wet rag or water soaked newspaper over the ice and the killies on the wet rag/newspaper. You don't want the killies directly on the ice and you want to drain the water from melted ice.
This system will keep the killies in a suspended state (pretty much immobile). When you put one on the hook it'll liven up and return to it's normal state.
They will last all day on ice like that. Much easier to get your killie and you don't need to worry about 'trolling' your bait.
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Just a passing thought on using your fish finder/depth finder: Looking for holes & lumps. A lot of people assume that a lump has to be a big thing. That is not always the case, A lump can be as small as 2' high and hold fish. Not all lumps have to look like Mount Everest, quite the contrary. Just don't overlook the smaller rises in depth as not being productive. Have caught many Fluke on these little lumps. ;D t^
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Just a passing thought on using your fish finder/depth finder: Looking for holes & lumps. A lot of people assume that a lump has to be a big thing. That is not always the case, A lump can be as small as 2' high and hold fish. Not all lumps have to look like Mount Everest, quite the contrary. Just don't overlook the smaller rises in depth as not being productive. Have caught many Fluke on these little lumps. ;D t^
Escellent point Capt. Anything that changes the bottom is structure. It does not have to be an extreme change.
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IrishAyes,
Can you post a pic of the Six Pack cooler "crate"? I'd like to craft something similar.
I remember reading about a similar gadget in the Fisherman but can't find the article ... I do the same thing with wet newspaper but after a few hours its hard to keep the killies away from the water ... they eventually get soaked and die.
Thanks!
--Nick
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I will be down to the boat tomorrow or Saturday. I will take a pic and post it ASAP.
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IS THE COOLER ABOUT THE SIZE OF A LITTLE PLAYMATE COOLER OR LARGER?
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It is the little playmate cooler or one similar. I just couldn't think of the name when I posted. ;D
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Are there holes in the bottom or sides of the crate-like insert?
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The 6 pack cooler works great. I had a plexiglass cut out for my 1st one to keep my minnows alive. It was a pain in the butt. I now just use a rag over a little ice with the minnows left in the plastic bag.
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Stupid question but can the minnows lay on top of each other and still stay alive in the cooler?
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yes
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I've been able to keep kllies alive using the aforementioned small cooler with ice covered with wood/plexiglass for close to 3 days.
Just keep the killies out of the melted ice water.
I've used this system in the past to transport killies out to the canyons as they make great mahi chum/live bait.
FYI, sea bass also love to munch on killies. ;D
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I like to dip my bait of choice in 100% Columbian coffee I buy from Juan Valdez...
HAha, actually, I'd say a common thing that people do that may hurt their catch more than help it is the squid/killie combo. There are days this works well, but overall I've had much more luck using just killies, either one really big one or 2 medium sized ones, on your hook of choice. The reasoning that makes the most sense to me for this is that the squid strip/strip bait is meant to imitate a sand eel or similar baitfish, so you're more or less wasting your killie, as it doesn't do much to help. In my experience a frozen spearing or smelt with the squid is a better combo, as it much more closely resembles a sand eel. Any combination of current/drift/short jigging motion should give it a decent wiggle and flutter that will catch you something.
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dumb question but what is a Spro ?
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Brand name of a jig. I find the most productive colors are white and glow. Tip it with a strip bait or gulp, they work great for fluking.
And...it is only a dumb question if it is not asked. How else would you know? t^
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I was rereading some posts and realized that I put the pic of the killie crate insert in the wrong topic. For those who did not see it in the other topic, here it is.
It was made by my buddy Bob.
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How many killies does that handle?
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I never really gave that any thought nor did I pay any attention to it. I trap my own and just toss as many as I think we will use for the trip plus some extras. I normally fish with six people on the boat and we have not ran out when we had them aboard.
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I hear often of teasers. What does a teaser rig look like? and are they better? ??? ??? I usually buy the fluke rigs sold every where and throw killie/squid on it. I want to try the jig 3-4oz spro with a cut strip or gulp (something) on it. Not sure if thats how you guys use the jigs.
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I hear often of teasers. What does a teaser rig look like? and are they better? ??? ??? I usually buy the fluke rigs sold every where and throw killie/squid on it. I want to try the jig 3-4oz spro with a cut strip or gulp (something) on it. Not sure if thats how you guys use the jigs.
all you do is put a spro off one of the sides of the swivel, approx 2 feet of leader. Then tie a plain blank hook on the other side of the swivel. Make that leader only 1 foot. On that hook but a gulp bait. On the spro but a large strip bait.
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Hi Guys,
Luna's rig above works great.
I use it sometimes and it works, especially in the areas that are being fished right now ... shallow water in a sandy or muddy bottom.
Thanks,
Capt. Ed
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I hear often of teasers. What does a teaser rig look like? and are they better? ??? ??? I usually buy the fluke rigs sold every where and throw killie/squid on it. I want to try the jig 3-4oz spro with a cut strip or gulp (something) on it. Not sure if thats how you guys use the jigs.
all you do is put a spro off one of the sides of the swivel, approx 2 feet of leader. Then tie a since blank hook on the other side of the swivel. Make that leader only 1 foot. On that hook but a gulp bait. On the spro but a large strip bait.
A 3 way swivel Luna?? you dont happen to have a picture do you??
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same rig I was fishing sat. but w/ a bucktail instead of wieght
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Hmm I thought you had a fish finder rig on??
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I hear often of teasers. What does a teaser rig look like? and are they better? ??? ??? I usually buy the fluke rigs sold every where and throw killie/squid on it. I want to try the jig 3-4oz spro with a cut strip or gulp (something) on it. Not sure if thats how you guys use the jigs.
First off, I stopped buying store fluke rigs many years ago & started tying my own. I found that the hooks on the store bought rigs were extremley dull (although if you buy store rigs at The Outdoorsman in Fairview they use Gamakatsu hooks--I like/use alot of thier strore rigs--but I digress). Also, I'm not a big fan of all the extra jewelery most store rigs have (spinners, spin-n-glos, alot of beads etc.).
The basic fluke rig that I tie for inshore/bay and river fluking is very simple. I'll use a 36" piece of straight (not coiled) #20 mono. At one end tie a Spro barrel swivel and that the other snell a 3/0 Gamkatsu octopus hook (4/0 & #30 leader) if I'm fishing deep channels or some deep ocean spots).
To add a teaser to the above rig is very simple. Tie in a 2" dropper loop about 14"s above the snelled hook. I'll then take a small duo-lock snap, open both ends of it & secure the smaller end on to the dropper loop, to the larger end of the snap I'll place what ever teaser I plan on using & close the snap. The snap allows you to A:easily change teasers and B: makes it easier to get the teaser out of the net if it becomes entangled in it.
For bouncing a Spro bucktail I'll use the same piece of #20 leader (#30 if I'm fishing a reef, wreck or other rough bottom), use a Homer-Rhode loop knot to attach the Spro. Sometimes I'll tie in a dropper for a teaser on this rig & other times wont.
There are many styles of teasers that I'll use; clouser minnows, soft plastic, shrimp imitators, 1/4 ounce bucktails, feathered hooks, 2/0 baitholder hook with sometype of GULP product and at times just a lively kilie on a small hook.
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Hi Flukedood,
I am only speaking for myself on this.
I use fishfinder rigs 90% of the time. I like them for fluking and Sea Bass in the areas I fish (very sticky and deep and we lose a lot of terminal tackle).
I used a three way swivel with a 6 Oz. SPRO or 8 oz. chrome ball off a one ft. leader on one of the three ways; a 30" snelled 4/0 Kahle hook on a 30" 20 lb. fluro leader on another three way; and of course the main line tied off to the third three way for the JCAA tournament the other day.
Why?
1. I fished mostly in shallow water with a sandy bottom. No chance to really get snagged and lose gear.
2. Two hooks are better than one in a tournament if you are fishing the right area.
That is my $.02.
It is a great question though ... when will certain rigs "out perform" others?
I would hate to keep losing SPROs if I used them in deep, "sticky" bottoms ...
BTW, the term "sticky" for me means lots of structure (i.e. rocks, wrecks, etc.) and a high potential to get hung up. We have it almost down to a science to only lose the hook these days - lead weight is expensive compared to the hook.
I will let Catfish answer for himself.
Thanks,
Capt. Ed
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To add a teaser to the above rig is very simple. Tie in a 2" dropper loop about 14"s above the snelled hook. I'll then take a small duo-lock snap, open both ends of it & secure the smaller end on to the dropper loop, to the larger end of the snap I'll place what ever teaser I plan on using & close the snap. The snap allows you to A:easily change teasers and B: makes it easier to get the teaser out of the net if it becomes entangled in it.
I use this same rig except I dont use the snap.. I just thread the loop the the eye and around.. I was thinking of adding a snap but thought maybe the metal may affect the bite.. I guess it doesnt..
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Hmm I thought you had a fish finder rig on??
on the front rod I didnt
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I will use a ball jig, like the above post when I am fishing deep water where I need a heavier jig. The spro's as of now come up to a 4oz. Sometimes you may need more weight.
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To add a teaser to the above rig is very simple. Tie in a 2" dropper loop about 14"s above the snelled hook. I'll then take a small duo-lock snap, open both ends of it & secure the smaller end on to the dropper loop, to the larger end of the snap I'll place what ever teaser I plan on using & close the snap. The snap allows you to A:easily change teasers and B: makes it easier to get the teaser out of the net if it becomes entangled in it.
I use this same rig except I dont use the snap.. I just thread the loop the the eye and around.. I was thinking of adding a snap but thought maybe the metal may affect the bite.. I guess it doesnt..
Capt. Ed. What do you consider shallow water fishing for Fluke. My thoughts are 30' or less. If I fish deeper water, then I use a single hook with a heavy weight instead of the jig head.
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How well does this rig work off the surf? Should you shorten the leader lenghts and what lb test?
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Hi Nick,
I agree about 30 ft.
However, I still try to use the three way rigs if in the sand.
I find that if I am fishing deeper than 30 ft., I am usually around structure.
If I fished in "no hang zones" I would use the three way swivel almost exclusively.
To anyone that asked or wondered ... if you cast with this setup, it is a high probablility that it will foul.
Also, if I am using it near structure with a weight instead of a SPRO, I use 6 lb. test line to snap the weight off if it gets snagger. The more the rig is in the water, the more time catching. I see too many people wasting too much time trying to save termianl tackle.
BTW, it would be a good topic to start about how to "un-snag" yourself or even how to break off a line that is snagged, especially with braid.
Thanks,
Ed
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Hi Nick,
I agree about 30 ft.
However, I still try to use the three way rigs if in the sand.
I find that if I am fishing deeper than 30 ft., I am usually around structure.
If I fished in "no hang zones" I would use the three way swivel almost exclusively.
To anyone that asked or wondered ... if you cast with this setup, it is a high probablility that it will foul.
Also, if I am using it near structure with a weight instead of a SPRO, I use 6 lb. test line to snap the weight off if it gets snagger. The more the rig is in the water, the more time catching. I see too many people wasting too much time trying to save termianl tackle.
BTW, it would be a good topic to start about how to "un-snag" yourself or even how to break off a line that is snagged, especially with braid.
Thanks,
Ed
I also use a light leader when fishing on structure. If I get snagged using Braid while drifting, I just hold the spool and the line will snap right at the swivel where the mono leader and the braid meet..
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For braid, if you get snagged, do not grab the line and wrap it around your hand and pull on it. It WILL cut you and cut you deep.
I will either wrap the line around my reel (depending on the reel I am using) or wrap it around a dowel I keep on the boat just for this purpose. The line will either come free or break at the weakest joint, thus the use of a lighter leader on the sinker.
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For braid, if you get snagged, do not grab the line and wrap it around your hand and pull on it. It WILL cut you and cut you deep.
I will either wrap the line around my reel (depending on the reel I am using) or wrap it around a dowel I keep on the boat just for this purpose. The line will either come free or break at the weakest joint, thus the use of a lighter leader on the sinker.
Very true about it cutting you, I don't wrap anything around the line, if I am using a spinning reel, I just point the rod tip at the snag, and hold the spool to pevent it from spinning... then SNAP>>>>
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I will use a ball jig, like the above post when I am fishing deep water where I need a heavier jig. The spro's as of now come up to a 4oz. Sometimes you may need more weight.
Spros now come in 6 ounces.
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BTW, it would be a good topic to start about how to "un-snag" yourself or even how to break off a line that is snagged, especially with braid.
Thanks,
Ed
I ALWAYS carry a 12" wooden dowel whenever I fish braid. If I get hung-up I'll make 5-7 wraps of the braid around the dowel and pull on the dowel to free myself. NEVER NEVER EVER grab the braid with your bare hands to free yourself from a snag--unless of course you want to slice open a finger.
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Great info Skolmann ...
I use 6 oz. SPROs and when I need to go heavier I use the 8 oz. plus chrome balls.
Thanks,
Capt. Ed
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If I have to go heavier than 6 ounces when bucktailing I'll switch to dragging bait.
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I will use a ball jig, like the above post when I am fishing deep water where I need a heavier jig. The spro's as of now come up to a 4oz. Sometimes you may need more weight.
Spros now come in 6 ounces.
Really, I only saw them in 4. Thats nice to know.. Did they go larger with the hooks, the hook size of the 3oz are large enough..
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Hooks on the 6 ounce Spro work fine for fluke. However what I like to do is take an open eye Gamakatsu hook and place it over the Spro hook (crimping down the eye with a pair of pliers) to create a stinger hook. This allows me to use a long strip bait--its deadly.
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Gamakatsu makes an assist hook that you can thread onto the main hook. I use it alot.
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great idea
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No I don't use the assist hooks.
I'll either use the Gamakatsu trailer hooks for the 1-3 ounce Spros since they only come in 1/0 & 2/0 sizes of the Gamakatsu Open Eye Siwash hooks (they come in sizes bigger than 2/0) for the 4 & 6 ounce Spros.
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I just tied up some fish finder rigs to use sunday on the Navesink. I tied a spro (white) on the long leader about 24" and a plain hook on the shorter leader about 12". I am going to bait the plain hook with a gulp mullet. How do I hook the gulp bait on? Through the lip like live bait , through the back fin, or thread it on the hook like a Texas style large mouth bass rig. Thanks for all the help guys this is a great site to share info and learn new methods to make you a better angler.
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I just tied up some fish finder rigs to use sunday on the Navesink. I tied a spro (white) on the long leader about 24" and a plain hook on the shorter leader about 12". I am going to bait the plain hook with a gulp mullet. How do I hook the gulp bait on? Through the lip like live bait , through the back fin, or thread it on the hook like a Texas style large mouth bass rig. Thanks for all the help guys this is a great site to share info and learn new methods to make you a better angler.
I love the pogy Mullets.. I hook them above the mouth area just above the eyes and come out around the dorsal fin area..
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I just tied up some fish finder rigs to use sunday on the Navesink. I tied a spro (white) on the long leader about 24" and a plain hook on the shorter leader about 12". I am going to bait the plain hook with a gulp mullet. How do I hook the gulp bait on? Through the lip like live bait , through the back fin, or thread it on the hook like a Texas style large mouth bass rig. Thanks for all the help guys this is a great site to share info and learn new methods to make you a better angler.
Just curious, what size three way swivels did you use?
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I used a 1/0 swivel. Rigs worked well, need to shorten the top leader a bit. I think 10" will work better than the 13" to 14" I used on Sunday.
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Something I see a lot of people do is take drifts that are too long. What I'll do is use my electronics. When on the fish I'll hit my MOB to mark the spot the bite started. Then drift back as long as the bite is on I'll keep going. But as soon as I see the bite has slowed or shut off I'll hit my MOB again so I know when to stop each drift after. Once at the end of the drift I pull up the lines and go back to my starting mark. I'll keep repeating this until the bite shuts off. Also pay close attention to your fish finder for depth of water and type of bottom structure. If the bite shuts down I'll move around looking for similar depth and structure first before making a big move. So if your fishing on a reef for example, maybe fishing over a tank and as you come past the structure you are getting Fluke and as you go farther back you are doing nothing you should have hit the MOB just as you passed over the tank and hit it again when things stopped or slowed. Then go back and keep doing this. You are just wasting time to keep drifting back when your not doing anything. STAY ON THE BITE!
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Something I see a lot of people do is take drifts that are too long. What I'll do is use my electronics. When on the fish I'll hit my MOB to mark the spot the bite started. Then drift back as long as the bite is on I'll keep going. But as soon as I see the bite has slowed or shut off I'll hit my MOB again so I know when to stop each drift after. Once at the end of the drift I pull up the lines and go back to my starting mark. I'll keep repeating this until the bite shuts off. Also pay close attention to your fish finder for depth of water and type of bottom structure. If the bite shuts down I'll move around looking for similar depth and structure first before making a big move. So if your fishing on a reef for example, maybe fishing over a tank and as you come past the structure you are getting Fluke and as you go farther back you are doing nothing you should have hit the MOB just as you passed over the tank and hit it again when things stopped or slowed. Then go back and keep doing this. You are just wasting time to keep drifting back when your not doing anything. STAY ON THE BITE!
exactly
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Some decent fish are accessable form shore spots as well. been fishing from some piers in back of Raritan Bay and while not getting many, the ones we have been catching are decent sized keepers.
Usual modus operandi is casting out light weight jigheads and bucktails, usually 3/8oz but that all depends on currents, location, etc. My fiance and I tip our jigs with Gulp products, mainly the grub style. others use strip baits or spearing.
Cast out and work the jig along the bottom either bouncing back to us or along with the current.
Monday after work she managed two keepers, one going just over 17" and the other a nice 21" flattie. I managed a jumbo blueclaw and a short ::)
We use 7' light spinning gear. Her's is a Lami XPS704 with Tica Camry 3500 and 15# Tuf Line XP braid with mono leader. Mine is a custom Graphite-USA with Tica Camry 3000 loaded with 14# hivis green Fireline and mono leader.
Jigheads and bucktails tied on using a no-slip loop knot so you get nice action from them. Mono leader ranges from 15-25# test. The heavier stuff for when the yellow-eyed demons are out and about. ;)
Biggest fluke from our spots this season is a fat 26" flattie. Overall the action has been slow and not that many shorts like seasons past, but some quality fish are around even when killing a few hours after work with artificials.
go get em TT^ t^
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In order to catch killies, spearing, and other baitfish, do you need to be out on a boat, or can you do this by walking in the bay or something with a throw net? Thanks
Fish On
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Hi fishon,
They sell killie traps at almost every B & T shop. Just ask for a killie trap(pot).
Next find a small creek that leads to the bay or any salt water body of water. Put some bread into the pot and attach a line throw it in and position the pot so the front and back align with the current. If it is a good spot it will only take about 15 min to get enough for a days outing.
Good Luck.
Paul
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Small spearing were jumping about yesterday evening. Buddy threw the cast net and snapper blues in the 4-6" range had to be thick under them as we had a load in the net. Took 2 dozen for three of us and released the rest.
Had a few short fluke and some decent keepers in the 19-22" range on them.
Things would be like fluke-crack in some deeper water spots ;)
Fishon42, I like using the smallest sized sabiki rigs I can. Jigging them around docks and the like results in alot of baitfish from jumbo spearing to snapper blues. Heck we even caught fluke on them :o
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t^ t^ nice
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For fishing the Surf, Inlets, River, what not. What pound test is the best for fluke ? I had 18 on my pole just because my 9 foot ugly stick that I use is generally the pole i fish for anything in the ocean, except for stripers. My set up is a 9' ugly stick, with a Flueger Trion GX7 (i think) reel, and 18 lb test. I usually just buy the fluke rigs with the hair/what not on them, i cut that part off and i re-tie my own hook a gamakatsu octopus hook 3/0. I am getting the hang of things, and I am learning how to use the current and drifts to maneuver the way ill be moving my pole as to bounch it across the bottom, or just drag the bait across the bottom. Any other suggestions of how I can improve myself? Thanks everyone ;)
Fish On
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i would still use the power pro, 30 lbs.. test
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WOW!!! All the information in this section alone is worth the price of admission! But for me nothing beats a nice fresh piece of Sea Robin, and just when you think its looking to beat up to work it just keeps getting better! I also keep a squid jig on board, I have caught fresh squid in that warm deep water, just remember not to bring them on board until you have them in a bucket or you will have a big mess to clean up from the ink.
Ask me how I know?
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What would be the best way for getting them from the shore? 5hrug
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Put on a one or two ounce jig with a strip bait on it and cast it out. Make a slow retrieve coming back into the beach. Fan cast out to cover the most area and move off to another spot after a bit.
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3. Don't be afraid to go off away from the fleet. After a congregation of boats or anglers sit on one spot, the stock will eventually diminish. Find a spot where nobody is fishing or hasn't fished. There may be fish there and no one even knows about it.
Nailed it. I hate it when i see the Jamaica steaming off to some secret spot with 10 center consoles trailing it. They didn't catch any fish- they just reeled them in!
Never fish arbitrarily either. fish a wreck, a channel egde, anything, just dont fish here because "well it just looks kinda good"
Also, try clams or live peanuts. They kill the doormats.
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I have to agree
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Clams kill the doormats?
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I don't know if they kill doormats, but I have caught them on clams while fishing for sea bass. TT^
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What's everone's go to Fluking outfit? Mine is a 6 1/2' Shimano Calcutta for 8-17lb line with an Ammbasadeur 5500. I do most of my fishing in the bay in less than 30' of water.
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I like the Fenwick HMX Trigger Stick with an Ambassadeur Record Reel loaded with 30# Power Pro. I fish the ocean out to about six miles on the lumps and broken bottom.
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My main for inshore is a 7' MH 8-17lb Bass Pro XPS woo Davis rod w/ an ocean master om 2000 w/ 10lb power pro. ( I have several other similar Bass Pro Im8 graphites I use for this as well and a variety of reels (Abu, ocean master, shimano Corvalis). My main is 10lb power pro, the rest 20-30lb.
My main spin outfit is either a 5'6" Fin nor graphite 6-12lb rod with an okuma spinner epixor 20 (which will be sidelined soon) w/ 20lb braid. Also use a Temple Fork Outfitters 7" 8-17mh with same reel for now.
Heavier weight ocean fishing I will either use a St Croix pm70hm w/ my Avet Sx w/ 50lb braid or a bass pro muskie 6'3" XH rd w/ an ambasseduer 7000 or shimano charter special 2000ld w/ 50lb braid :)
Lots of options :) is always nice.
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Usually 4 setups. 1 light bucktail rod, 1 heavy bucktail rod, 1 heavy bait rod and 1 light.
Just ask Skolmann what he brings ;D
Something like 22 rods of different weights and a 122lb suitcase of assorted tackle.. rofla
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If anyone will be fishing for winter flounder and using blood worms or sand worms I'll share something I learned at a seminar that I never knew about. Instead of keeping the worms in the little box they come in, put them in a bucket with a little bit of water in it. The worms will get like 4 times longer by being in the water.
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I used to bring tons of tackle and 3 or 4 rods but lately I've forced myself to travel light.
I take 2 rods, one spinner and one conventional. I usually dead stick one and work the other.
The spinner is usually the same Star Ariel 7'er rated for 10-17lb with a Penn Slammer 300. Great combo for bucktailing.
The conventional is either my light Shimano early in the season. Later I'll take my Crowder rated for 10-17lb.
If I think I may fish the Ambrose, I'll take my Seeker BA-80 or Loomis Bucara.
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What's everone's go to Fluking outfit? Mine is a 6 1/2' Shimano Calcutta for 8-17lb line with an Ammbasadeur 5500. I do most of my fishing in the bay in less than 30' of water.
light weight loomis, with a pen spinning 440ss
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Clams kill the doormats?
When used properly they can be quite effective. You don't want to use the whole clam- then all you will kill is the big stargazers and dog fish. You should get about 3 or 4 baits from each good-sized clam. They tend to work better in deeper water, around wrecks in 60-80 feet. Where I fish around the Manasquan Inlet, I often have sucess with them at the ever popular Sea Girt Reef. They will catch more junksih than the standard killie-squid combo but also more big fluke.
Good luck
blynch
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when using clams for Fluke, you can't just glob it on like you would striper fishing. you have to make long strips with the toung of the clam, so when drifting it won't spin.. presentation is KEY.
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when using clams for Fluke, you can't just glob it on like you would striper fishing. you have to make long strips with the toung of the clam, so when drifting it won't spin.. presentation is KEY.
Yeah good call- use the filament for flutter.
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What's everone's go to Fluking outfit?
Depends on location & what technique I'm using.
In general I perfer a 7' conventional rod.
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Usually 4 setups. 1 light bucktail rod, 1 heavy bucktail rod, 1 heavy bait rod and 1 light.
Just ask Skolmann what he brings ;D
Something like 22 rods of different weights and a 122lb suitcase of assorted tackle.. rofla
If you got it, flaunt it. ;)
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Love to bucktail for fluke. Sometimes adding a "teaser" above the bucktail can be deadly. They can vary from just adding a plain hook on a dropper about a foot above the bucktail to softplastics to anything you can imagine.
Some of my favorites:
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Gulp Shrimp as my teaser in the back bay above a bucktail.
Ocean I will either use a gulp shrimp or a swimming minnow/pogey, etc. Something gulp and big.
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Cool!
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Who uses clams for fluke????
What GT said, bucktailing is the most fun, sporting, and non-boring method of catching fluke.
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Hey Capt Allen grtn
Looking forward to fishing with you and your new sponsor in June TT^ chrz
Hopefully we buck em up real good slt
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yoooooooooo Mike I hope so... Water temps need to climb a good 10-15 degrees from where they are RIGHT NOW for some good fishing to take place..
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Used a variation of the standard bucktail rig yesterday that produced decent fluke for both myself and my son yesterday.
Snelled a 1/0 Gamakatsu hook at the end of a 36" piece of #20 mono leader. 2/3's of the way up I tied a 3" dropper loop. I next cut 1 of the legs of the dropper loop (which gave me @ 6"s of line). To this I tied on a Spro bucktail.
I tipped the 1/0 hook with 2 spearing and tipped the Spro with either a strip bait or 4" GULP swimming minnow.
Equal number of bites on the Spro & baited hook.
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I usually use a 3-way with the same kinda set up. Do you find it any different putting the spro directly on the line from the drop loop. I find that a large 3-way swivel keeps the 2 lines a good distance from each other to prevent tangling.
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Had no trouble with the Spro & hook tangling.
I actually wanted the Spro & baited to be close together. They probably were about 10"s apart when the rig was tied.
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3 way is not necessary...
Running line is braid, figure you have a shock leader of about 8' of 30# mono.
Rig consists of 24" of mono, dropper has teaser, bottom hook bucktail is tied direct to the terminal end, and the rig itself is connected to the shock leader with a 80# barrel swivel.
I've never seen that rig tangle in the 10 years I've been fishing it, and I fish it a lot t^
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In the summer when the flukw start regurgatating crabs, Gulp Alive crab patterns work wonders. I put a jig with the usual bait and strip on it on the bottom and put a 6" dropper loop about a foot and ahalf above the jig. On this I just loop on a 3/0 gammi octo and put a Gulp crab on it.
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good stuff here! chrz
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whs t^ grtn
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I've used pre-tied bucktails and teasers before with some luck. I plan to start tying my own this season. One thing I picked up on eBay were hand tied squid lures like GotTog posted.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=350216527919
How would I go about fishing these?
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Those rigs appear to be regular bait rigs. Add a strip, quid, spearing whatever to it and drag it along. Need a decent drift since it has a spinner blade to impart the right action to it.
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When fishing on a party boat if the person next to you misses a hookup let some line out the Fluke might take another shot at the bait and your bait will be right in its face. Also use circle hooks since most of the Fluke will be under the 18 inch mark its easier to release them unharmed.
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In the summer when the flukw start regurgatating crabs, Gulp Alive crab patterns work wonders. I put a jig with the usual bait and strip on it on the bottom and put a 6" dropper loop about a foot and ahalf above the jig. On this I just loop on a 3/0 gammi octo and put a Gulp crab on it.
Same goes with the shrimpies. t^
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I did very well this year with a hi/low rig . 6" top hook leader and 18-24" bottom hook leader. I used Gulp swimming mullets in white and a killie on both.
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The new white 4" Gulp shrimp has worked wonders for some lately on fluke. Rigged up my uncle with one and he catches a cow-nosed ray with it hhppy
I like using light bucktails. The 6" Gulp power grubs don't fit too well on a 1oz Spro but if you cut about a 1/2" off the body, they work much better t^
Gonna try some of the Gulp belly strip tomorrow. Maybe some butterflied snappers on the jig too.
Last time out(Sunday) all the fluke had tiny rock crabs in their gut.
Buddy was out during the week and told me got much better bites, more, and bigger with a plain spearing on a bare hook hung above a bucktail. Said outfished all the Gulp he tried. Also said shorts were destroying the snappers but not taking the hooks.
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Is there a specific gulp bait for flounder and if so, where could I get it? I was talking to a few guys last week and they caught the keeper's with yellow gulp and said the picked up at walmart, I couldn't find it. Any advise will be appreciated.
Thanks,
John
Crimecleanup
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My gulp "bag" for fluke are these t^
4" swimming mullet (chartreuse)
4' shrimp (new penny)
7" belly strips
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I used 4 inch chartruse mullet but my favorite for fluke is the good old squid strips and spearing combo.
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If I had to pick just one I'd go with 4" swim mullet in pearl white. Pink and chartreuse next.