Introduction to Fluke Fishing

November 30th, 2009 Posted in Travel and Leisure

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 northeastern part of the United States, you can find fluke near the shoreline, usually around the month of May. Put simply, the warmer the water is, the greater the likelihood that you can find them. They normally cruise for their favorite foods when the water is warm, and enjoy foods like sand eels, squid and other baitfish. You can usually find them easily in shallow beach waters, bays and tidal river mouths. When summer is at its peak, you can haul them in between 30 and 120 feet from the shoreline, as they like to stay in water that is comfortably warm but where food is also readily available. When the temperature is cool, you have a chance to catch them even closer to the shoreline, and in the later fall months it is easiest to catch them during their annual trip toward the warmer Atlantic coastal waters. Fluke are not keen on the harsh winters of the northeast.

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.

How you work the jig is vital, and this should be done by using the boat’s drifting motion to signal when to raise and lower the jig. Typically, it should be raised and lowered a foot or two from the waterbed by simply adjusting the tip of your rod. Then, you can drop the jig gradually to draw the most attention.

Another effective method is to use the snap method. This is extremely helpful if you’re dealing with a school of lethargic fish as it gets their attention quickly. It is not complicated to use a snap method – simply wait until your line hits the bottom and snap it back – then allow it to go slack. Regardless of how lazy the fluke are feeling this will certainly get their attention.

After catching that first fluke, try to make note of where you are at and what equipment you are using. Triangulation is an effective method of pinpointing your location, and using a GPS system is the easiest method of notating position. GPS systems are also virtually indispensable when you are attempting to locate a school of fluke.

Once the season starts to heat up, fluke will start wandering away from the shore line. In this instance, you’ll want to switch over to target fishing. This will require spinner rigs which are fun to design or you can but them in any good bait and tackle shop. Most people find that they would rather experiment with a number of different pre-made spinners until they find their preference. Once they find what they prefer, most fishermen want to make their own 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.

On trips that you are trying to catch a larger number of fluke, it’s smart to utilize a mixture of techniques. Deeper water rigs can be helpful as the fluke migrate to the cooler waters later in the season. These rigs can allow you to catch fluke easily and quickly. Following these brief and easy tips can assure that you will at least know how to catch those tasty fluke.

In order to have a successful time fishing, you want to make sure you have the correct supplies. Some examples are Shimano Fishing Reels, Daiwa Reels, and Shimano Spinning Reel.