Introduction to Fluke Fishing
You will find very few east coast fishermen who do not take pleasure in fishing for fluke. Flounder, a breed of flat fish also known as “fluke” with a personality never to be forgotten, are a first-class catch for fishermen. Proficient at hiding, they are so speedy and crafty that they are quite often mistaken for shadows. These delicious white fish are not tasty but also incredible fighters, giving rise to an extraordinary fishing experience.
In the northeast you can find flounder near the shorelines as early as May. The warmer the water the more likely you are to find them hiding out seeking their favorite foods – sand eels, squid and other baitfish – and they can generally be found in shallow beach waters, bays and tidal river mouths. In the dead of summer, you can find flounder lurking as close as 30 feet from shore – or as far away as 120 feet. They like to stay in water temperatures that they are comfortable in but where food isn’t too far away. The cooler the temperatures, the closer to the shore they’ll be found. In the late fall, you’re going to find them making their annual trek down the coast towards the warmer waters on the Atlantic coast. Fluke are not fond of northeast winters.
Like fishing for any other type of fish, you probably have your own distinctive approach to fluke fishing, mostly dependent on the water’s depth. When fishing throughout the earliest and latest months of the season, you will probably do best in the shallows, typically at a deepness of roughly 20 feet (or less). It’s best to opt for regular tackle or a spinning rod. You should rig the jigs with squid, generally in the 1-4 oz range, then cast the rig directly down from the boat, which should be drifting at this time. You have to be sure that the jig is weighted sufficiently to sink toward the waterbed where the fluke feed.
Working your jig is critical – you can do this by raising and lowering it as your boat is drifting. Your best bet is to raise it between one and two feet from the bottom of the waterbed by lifting just the tip of the rod about two feet. The simply lower the jig slowly to attract the most attention.
If that method is not working, you can always use the snap method, which is effective when dealing with a school of lazy fish since it catches their attention. The snap method is very straightforward, you simply allow the line to hit the bottom of the waterbed and then snap it back. Allow the line to go slack, and it will most certainly catch the attention of even the laziest fluke.
Once you’ve found and caught a fluke, make note of where you are and what equipment was used successfully. Triangulation is an effectual means of pinpointing your location, but using a GPS system is the simplest method of notating the site. Keep in mind that GPS systems are also nearly indispensable when first trying to find the school of fluke.
Fluke will begin to stray from the shoreline as the season gets hotter. For this reason, you may decide to change methods and use target fishing. This is best done with the use of spinner rigs, fun to create but able to be found in high quality bait and tackle shops. Trying out a variety of pre-made spinners is the best way to discover your “favorite.” Once you learn this trick, the trip can be even more memorable by designing and creating your own selection of spinner rigs.
Spinner rigs are not complicated. They are primarily three eyes. The main eye connects to the main line, then a sinker is attached to the second eye, and the final eye holds a leader. For those who are trying to get the most of out of their spinners, beads and a spinner blade are placed above the hook. Favorite bait and sinkers help ensure that the line will stay in proximity to the waterbed and create not only a visual queue and a vibration that will get the attention of the laziest fluke. When your boat drifts, the spinner blade rotates ahead of your hook and creates this queue.
Deeper water rigs can be advantageous as the fluke begin to migrate toward the cooler waters later on in the season. These rigs let you more successfully catch fluke effortlessly and speedily even later in the year. When you are hoping to catch a large number of fluke, you can easily use a jumble of methods. Making use of these concise and trouble-free guidelines can guarantee that you will at least understand how to catch those delicious fluke.
In order to have a successful time fishing, you want to make sure you have the correct supplies. Some examples are Shimano Reels, Daiwa Fishing Reels, and Shimano Spinning Reel.