Flounder, a breed of flat fish with an attitude not soon to be forgotten, are a prime catch for fishermen. Experts at hiding, they are so fast and stealthy that you may mistake them for a mere shadow. There are very few east coast fishermen who do not take pleasure in fishing for fluke. These flavorsome white fish are not only pleasing to the palate but also are tremendous fighters, creating a memorable 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 this method fails, you may decide to utilize the snap method, which is most useful when managing a school of lazy fish, seeing as it grabs their attention. The snap method is very easy for you to use: just let the line reach the bottom of the waterbed then snap it back. Let the line go limp, and this motion will 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.
When the season starts to get hot, fluke will begin to stray from the shoreline. At this point, you’ll probably need to swap over to target fishing. This calls for spinner rigs, which are enjoyable to create, but they can also be found in high-quality bait and tackle shops. You’ll likely decide to try out a number of diverse pre-made spinners until you find your favorite. Once this is learned, you may even choose to design your own spinner rigs. Spinner rigs are not complex, and mostly consist of three eyes. The first and primary eye connects to the main line, eye two is attached via a sinker, and the final eye is connected to a leader.
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.
If you are determined to catch more fluke than you need, use a combination of techniques. Deeper water rigs can help you catch more than you imagine as they move out to the cooler waters later in the season. Fortunately these rigs can help you catch fluke not only easily but quickly as well. Let’s not forget how tasty fluke are, and with squid strips on your spinner rigs and jigs you are liable to get a very pleasant surprise. Nearly every fisherman enjoys fluke fishing – these quick and simple tips can help guarantee that you know exactly what to do to catch your share of fluke.
In order to have a successful time fishing, you want to make sure you have the correct supplies. Some examples are Shimano Reel, Daiwa Fishing Reels, and Shimano Spinning Reel.