Superb question. The key is the 15-pound-test braid we're using. This is very thin line with the diameter of 4-pound test mono. The other factor is that the 1.2 MPH is mostly current, which means the boat is moving only slightly faster than the water below it. If it was windy we'd put out the drift sock to cut down on the wind effects on the drift speed. We would go to a 1.5-ounce jig if we have trouble staying down, but almost never heavier than that unless it's quite breezy.
this must have been an amazing day...ever since they raised the limit to 21 inches ive pretty much given up on fluke fishing but ive always gone with squid/spearing...im gunna have to try bucktailing for them, its ridiculous watching you guys slay them like this haha. great footage, love your underwater camera views of it too, helps you to understand what you're supposed to be doing so much better. Definitely make more of those, very very informative. Thanks for your efforts to educate ppl!
I'm fishing the shallow edge of a dropoff where it goes from 15 to 90 feet. There's an obvious rip there and it's well-known structure. Yes to the drift sock.
It's just like you saw in the boat, but it helps to fish when the drift isn't too fast else you end up paddling a lot. A drift sock can help that too if it's breezy.
We use bucktails between 3/4 and 1.5 ounces, usually 1 ounce. If you were fishing larger bait strips, you'd need to go a little heavier to stay down because the bait strips (except squid) have more drag in the water than Gulp. We use a small SPRO barrel swivel between the braid and the fluoro. 7:1 gear ratio on those reels.
A good chunk of the fluke fishing in that area is done out at the buoy line on the inside of the dropoff. The buoys being 11 (port jeff), 9 (Rocky Point), 7 (Wading River). That line is a bit of a paddle for kayaking. However there is good fishing well inside that. Watch your depth for changes. Even a 5 foot gradual drop can be great. Look for rips on the surface that give away drops and rises. If you see the birds working consistently in an area, try fishing under them.
The rig I use now is 15# braid to a 20# fluoro leader with a perfection loop on the end to attach the bucktail and a dropper loop to a 3/0 gamakatsu baitsaver hook 1 foot above the jig. 4-inch gulp swimming mullets on the hook and jig.
@1973Saved Where I fish it's a sandy bottom with sandeels as the predominant baitfish. We focus a lot on areas where there's a depth change, like slopes and ledges.
Correct, These are "freshwater" models. We have three of them and have had no corrosion problems. We have about 5 years on the oldest reel. We spray them down with freshwater after each trip. Sometimes a little wd40 on the thumb-bar.
@Jbones3390 For 8 people I think you'd need to go on a Party Boat. The ones that fish the waters near the video are the Celtic Quest and Osprey from Port Jefferson, and the Capt. Bob from Mattituck. Note that we start losing the bigger fish around July 15, and I wouldn't even consider making the trip in August.
This technique is boss! I caught the most fish on a party boat last Saturday for Fluke opening day in NJ! I should had carried some more heavier jigs as there were a few times where we hit deeper faster current spots. Thanks for the video and for those who haven't bought the book... get it!
I had a good day today using the rig and method noted in this vid. I was out for less than two hours. Caught the daily limit for CT which is 5 this year. Two of them doormat size in the 10-12lb range! Best fluking day I've ever had. The Gulp Alive is so much better than squid.
Hi John. I've been using the fluke rig as shown in your videos and have had great success. On average I've been catching 5-6 fluke from the surf everytime I go out. While most of them are shorties I'm happy to catching more numbers. On the other hand, today I went out on my coworker's boat today and applied the techniques in your book. I used a heavy enough bucktail to just touch bottom without dragging and tipped it with 6" Gulp grub. Above that was a teaser tipped with Gulp of varying kinds. Sadly, my coworkers totally outfished me just dragging squid on the bottom. I'm not sure what I was doing wrong but I just couldn't seem to even buy a bite. Went through some of your videos when I got home today and read through the corresponding chapter in your book even. I still have no clue what I was doing wrong.
Mr. Skinner can you make a video on how you set up your gulp jig step by step. From hook and teaser set up to adding bucktail. I've never fished for flounder (fluke) before so this is all new to me. I am learning and your video footage is the best so far that help me understand .
the numbers are the setting of your reels magnetic anti-backlash control, and the knob adjusts your spool tension. If you are having trouble casting without backlashing you'll want to adjust these until you are comfortable, and then as you practice you can lower the settings and cast further.... good fishing!
@tennnnn I said that about surfcasting for stripers. For whatever reason, fluke seem attracted to the rapid bouncing. It's especially noticeable on slow days when they won't touch a strip rod.
It's probably the size of your hooks. I don't like the hooks on the SPROS 1-ounce and heavier, so I make my own with the same hook used in smaller SPRO bucktails. I set the hook when I feel weight while jigging. There is sometimes a slight pause in the jigging before I set.
@terence you need to use a mono backing. Spool the rod with 20lb mono 1/4 way then put the braid over it. You also shoulld run the line out. While the boat is moving fees all the line out the back of the boat and reel it in slowly and guide it along so it goes in straight. I love these videos I show them to everyone! Keep them up. I'm a local captain on Long Island. Hope I get to meet up with you one day! .
jskinner5278 Enjoy them? They are fantastic! I post share them whenever possible. Its great you can show people what I try and describe to them. They first time we watched them it was about 5 of us crowded around a phone on the boat lol. If you ever want to take a bus-mans holiday and come out on the Osprey for a day we would love to have you as our guest. Just give me a ring we can accomidate you when ever you would like to join us!
Thanks for the tip. I do not have a boat, but a rent it form Jack Tackle on City Island, Bronx. I go to Long Island Sound every weekend on the summer time. I never find a Right spot.
I started today. Went out by myself and had three keepers on the first drift and one early on the second drift. Our limit is 4. Done in about 35 minutes. Our limit is 19''.
Finally someone who knows how to use a spro! You look familar dude, i work on the Celtic Quest i feel like ive either fished with you or seen you before.
I only worry about shrinkage when I swim in cold water (Seinfeld fans get it). Mine are in the juice when I'm not fishing. I had just put them on before pulling up on the structure.
The fishing up there is like that in North Carolina. Down here in Georgia, we use live shrimp for flounder. I like this technique and will try it down here. Capt. Jimmy AKA: Saltwaternecker
I do things a bit different in the manasquan river of nj. I use a 1/2 oz buck tail tipped with a 18 in leader on 30 pound seagear fluorocarbon . We drift past the channels and jig. Got 15 fish off it once.
Few around when those were shot, but when they are around, we get them. I avoid green jigs when they are around, but I'm not even sure how much that helps.
@Bullseye115 Accurist 570PT. If you google "quantum accurist flipping switch" you should find a very similar reel for about $100. We use right-handed reels.
I tried this method with a dropper for seabass and it was killer! I would double up and also catch Scup. Although the dropper had smaller fish probably because the bucktail presented a larger profile. I'll have to try the 6 inch version on the dropper for seabass.
the current/wind seems to move me along to fast.i sometimes have to let out extra slack line to slow it down but then i end up missing strikes. i learned a ton off your tube and worm video.. thanks
Very nice video, lots of valuable information there. Thanks for taking the time & effort to produce & post it. My question is; How do you locate good fluke areas, what type of bottom etc? Thanks.
Ive been using this method with great sucess in North Carolina. Dosent matter what color spro bucktail you use. The rod action is important and hard to maintain over long drifts, if your forearm burns at the end of the day you are doing it right. If not you are probabally not catching fish either.
damn you guys we're nailing them that day..with the new 21' bullshit i find it real hard to catch keepers in the back bays here on the south shore long island. Caught maybe 7 to 10 all year with about 20 trips out.
@1973Saved if you compare a spro bucktail to many other competitors they just have a better look to them first off, second well balanced for good action and letting it sit on the bottom right up, and gamakatsu hooks just an amazing jig just use one and you'll see
I'm assuming you have a star drag??.... In any case, obviously you want your drag to give before your line ( or when using braid your ROD ) breaks... Have a friend hold your line and then put a good bend in your rod... set your drag so that you can put pressure on a fish but loose enough that it will give if the fish runs..... then you may want to adjust it either way depending on the type of fishing your doing. For example, when fishing for Tog I have my drag set for maximum allowable tension.
John, You're wasting my time! Since I found you last night, I've tried to watch ALL your videos. I love flounder and gulp. This is very educational. I cast my 4" Shrimp on a 1/4 jighead , just like bass fishing. I'll give your way a try as soon as possible.
Thanks for the prompt reply. I am aware that braid needs tighter spool tension when installed on the reel. My problem comes 40 or 50 casts into the fishing day. Just reeling in a lure (w/ o fish!) seems to allow the line to get loose and eventually dig in on a hard cast for fighting a fish. Vertical jigging avoids the hard cast issue. Do you take any other line management precautions while fishing? Thanks again for the informative videos.
We have 7' normal tides where this video was shot. There are places where the current is too strong, and this technique wouldn't be appropriate. A 2.5mph drift is mighty fast for flounder. If it's because of wind, you can use a drift control sock. I'd look for areas with less current.
Thanks for posting the fluke jigging videos! I learned so much watching these. I like braid and baitcast reels, but I have problems with braid under 40lb digging into the spool and breaking. This happens while casting as opposed to jigging, but I do both with the same rod/reel combo. How do you prevent this? Thanks.
I dont know the area, but I do know that where there are birds ( robins ) there are usually fluke too. You are a bit restricted as to how far off shore you can go, but I would suggest going deeper.... I'm sure you will figure it out. I know there are some nice up there!!
Your videos are amazing and full of good information. I am going to try this drift method this coming weekend with my wife. I am in NE Florida, well see how it works here. Would it be OK to put a live mullet on the top hook or do you think the double jig is just the best way to go?
Superb question. The key is the 15-pound-test braid we're using. This is very thin line with the diameter of 4-pound test mono. The other factor is that the 1.2 MPH is mostly current, which means the boat is moving only slightly faster than the water below it. If it was windy we'd put out the drift sock to cut down on the wind effects on the drift speed. We would go to a 1.5-ounce jig if we have trouble staying down, but almost never heavier than that unless it's quite breezy.
All of those will catch. The swimming mullets are a nice match for the bucktails we use, and have that nice flutter on the tail.
this must have been an amazing day...ever since they raised the limit to 21 inches ive pretty much given up on fluke fishing but ive always gone with squid/spearing...im gunna have to try bucktailing for them, its ridiculous watching you guys slay them like this haha. great footage, love your underwater camera views of it too, helps you to understand what you're supposed to be doing so much better. Definitely make more of those, very very informative. Thanks for your efforts to educate ppl!
I'm fishing the shallow edge of a dropoff where it goes from 15 to 90 feet. There's an obvious rip there and it's well-known structure. Yes to the drift sock.
We often fish a 4-inch swimming mullet on a 4-inch dropper loop a foot above the jig. We use a 4/0 Gami baitsaver hook for that.
We're near Mattituck.
It's just like you saw in the boat, but it helps to fish when the drift isn't too fast else you end up paddling a lot. A drift sock can help that too if it's breezy.
We use bucktails between 3/4 and 1.5 ounces, usually 1 ounce. If you were fishing larger bait strips, you'd need to go a little heavier to stay down because the bait strips (except squid) have more drag in the water than Gulp.
We use a small SPRO barrel swivel between the braid and the fluoro.
7:1 gear ratio on those reels.
A good chunk of the fluke fishing in that area is done out at the buoy line on the inside of the dropoff. The buoys being 11 (port jeff), 9 (Rocky Point), 7 (Wading River). That line is a bit of a paddle for kayaking. However there is good fishing well inside that. Watch your depth for changes. Even a 5 foot gradual drop can be great. Look for rips on the surface that give away drops and rises. If you see the birds working consistently in an area, try fishing under them.
The rig I use now is 15# braid to a 20# fluoro leader with a perfection loop on the end to attach the bucktail and a dropper loop to a 3/0 gamakatsu baitsaver hook 1 foot above the jig. 4-inch gulp swimming mullets on the hook and jig.
10 years of great videos. Love it.
@1973Saved
Where I fish it's a sandy bottom with sandeels as the predominant baitfish. We focus a lot on areas where there's a depth change, like slopes and ledges.
Correct, These are "freshwater" models. We have three of them and have had no corrosion problems. We have about 5 years on the oldest reel. We spray them down with freshwater after each trip. Sometimes a little wd40 on the thumb-bar.
@minichinatown
I'm not sure. It might work out if you're in deep water, but that's quite a bit different than the 20' jigging we did in the video.
@Jbones3390
For 8 people I think you'd need to go on a Party Boat. The ones that fish the waters near the video are the Celtic Quest and Osprey from Port Jefferson, and the Capt. Bob from Mattituck. Note that we start losing the bigger fish around July 15, and I wouldn't even consider making the trip in August.
This technique is boss! I caught the most fish on a party boat last Saturday for Fluke opening day in NJ! I should had carried some more heavier jigs as there were a few times where we hit deeper faster current spots.
Thanks for the video and for those who haven't bought the book... get it!
Congrats on those big ones! Thanks for the feedback.
I had a good day today using the rig and method noted in this vid. I was out for less than two hours. Caught the daily limit for CT which is 5 this year. Two of them doormat size in the 10-12lb range! Best fluking day I've ever had.
The Gulp Alive is so much better than squid.
The tackle you use sounds identical to my walleye fishing tackle! Makes me want to fish for fluke even more!
Hi John. I've been using the fluke rig as shown in your videos and have had great success. On average I've been catching 5-6 fluke from the surf everytime I go out. While most of them are shorties I'm happy to catching more numbers. On the other hand, today I went out on my coworker's boat today and applied the techniques in your book. I used a heavy enough bucktail to just touch bottom without dragging and tipped it with 6" Gulp grub. Above that was a teaser tipped with Gulp of varying kinds. Sadly, my coworkers totally outfished me just dragging squid on the bottom. I'm not sure what I was doing wrong but I just couldn't seem to even buy a bite. Went through some of your videos when I got home today and read through the corresponding chapter in your book even. I still have no clue what I was doing wrong.
Mr. Skinner can you make a video on how you set up your gulp jig step by step. From hook and teaser set up to adding bucktail. I've never fished for flounder (fluke) before so this is all new to me. I am learning and your video footage is the best so far that help me understand .
the numbers are the setting of your reels magnetic anti-backlash control, and the knob adjusts your spool tension. If you are having trouble casting without backlashing you'll want to adjust these until you are comfortable, and then as you practice you can lower the settings and cast further.... good fishing!
@HeadlessBlade
Yes - for depth, bottom structure, and bait schools.
@tennnnn
I said that about surfcasting for stripers. For whatever reason, fluke seem attracted to the rapid bouncing. It's especially noticeable on slow days when they won't touch a strip rod.
It's probably the size of your hooks. I don't like the hooks on the SPROS 1-ounce and heavier, so I make my own with the same hook used in smaller SPRO bucktails. I set the hook when I feel weight while jigging. There is sometimes a slight pause in the jigging before I set.
@terence you need to use a mono backing. Spool the rod with 20lb mono 1/4 way then put the braid over it. You also shoulld run the line out. While the boat is moving fees all the line out the back of the boat and reel it in slowly and guide it along so it goes in straight. I love these videos I show them to everyone! Keep them up. I'm a local captain on Long Island. Hope I get to meet up with you one day! .
jskinner5278
Enjoy them? They are fantastic! I post share them whenever possible. Its great you can show people what I try and describe to them. They first time we watched them it was about 5 of us crowded around a phone on the boat lol. If you ever want to take a bus-mans holiday and come out on the Osprey for a day we would love to have you as our guest. Just give me a ring we can accomidate you when ever you would like to join us!
palomar on both sides of swivel that connects the braid to fluoro leader. Perfection loop at the bucktail end.
There's a small barrel swivel between the two. Palomar knots both sides.
Thanks for the tip. I do not have a boat, but a rent it form Jack Tackle on City Island, Bronx. I go to Long Island Sound every weekend on the summer time. I never find a Right spot.
6-foot quantum rod, rated 8-17#, quantum accurist reel. Depends on the partyboat. Might be too light for some.
Depends on depth and current. Either might be right depending on conditions.
I use teasers all the time now. See some of my more recent flounder and fluke vids. One of them deals specifically with rigging.
Yes. See the recent video I posted on shore casting for fluke.
Both. On my channel I have a scuba video of feeding gulp to porgies. they gobble them up.
@JMGZ8
I use heavier bucktails and gear in deeper water with faster current.
I started today. Went out by myself and had three keepers on the first drift and one early on the second drift. Our limit is 4. Done in about 35 minutes. Our limit is 19''.
@oGabe97
I haven't fished the Gulf for flounder, but I bet the jigging technique in the video would work.
awesome, thanks. i have to say that your videos are incredibly informative. better than anything else out there. maybe i'll see you on the LIS!
Finally someone who knows how to use a spro! You look familar dude, i work on the Celtic Quest i feel like ive either fished with you or seen you before.
Sure, I've been on the Celtic Quest for cod and also with the Nor'east Saltwater staff for blackfish. We've probably met.
I only worry about shrinkage when I swim in cold water (Seinfeld fans get it). Mine are in the juice when I'm not fishing. I had just put them on before pulling up on the structure.
The fishing up there is like that in North Carolina. Down here in Georgia, we use live shrimp for flounder. I like this technique and will try it down here.
Capt. Jimmy
AKA: Saltwaternecker
we average about 7 fluke per gulp grub. Just keep using it if the tail isn't torn. We only lose bucktails if there are bluefish around.
I do things a bit different in the manasquan river of nj. I use a 1/2 oz buck tail tipped with a 18 in leader on 30 pound seagear fluorocarbon . We drift past the channels and jig. Got 15 fish off it once.
The cabelas 5x large sock is rated for boats to 26 feet
Just want to thank you for your contribution to the fishing comm.
Few around when those were shot, but when they are around, we get them. I avoid green jigs when they are around, but I'm not even sure how much that helps.
Thanks John for the wisdom. I'll try to downsize from 20 to 15-lb-test braid.
@Bullseye115
Accurist 570PT. If you google "quantum accurist flipping switch" you should find a very similar reel for about $100. We use right-handed reels.
White is always good all around. Chartreuse is good too.
If you're dragging bottom with the chain, you could very well end up going slower than the current.
I tried this method with a dropper for seabass and it was killer! I would double up and also catch Scup. Although the dropper had smaller fish probably because the bucktail presented a larger profile. I'll have to try the 6 inch version on the dropper for seabass.
hey john thanks for the tips went out today and caught 5 fluke and 2 keeper fluke.
Green or white gulp. The teaser is a good idea. The reel is $100, a rod for that reel would be $30-$50.
Something like a medium action 7-foot spinning setup would be good with 15-20# braid.
the current/wind seems to move me along to fast.i sometimes have to let out extra slack line to slow it down but then i end up missing strikes. i learned a ton off your tube and worm video.. thanks
@emlax20
May 16, 2010, 1-3pm, first of outgoing. Most tackle shops carry those SPRO Prime bucktails.
Yes, just be sure to keep it close to the bottom.
@theklamp1
No, just the bucktail for weight.
Could you show us what kind of tackle box and/or containers you use to transport your bucktails around?
Thanks John, next Saturday is opening day in NJ, going to sweep them up :)
We're drifting. Drop it to the bottom and jig. It will end up gliding and bouncing inches off the bottom.
Very nice video, lots of valuable information there. Thanks for taking the time & effort to produce & post it.
My question is; How do you locate good fluke areas, what type of bottom etc? Thanks.
@1973Saved
They don't have to be SPROs. They work well though.
I have three and no problems. I rinse them after each trip.
Ive been using this method with great sucess in North Carolina. Dosent matter what color spro bucktail you use. The rod action is important and hard to maintain over long drifts, if your forearm burns at the end of the day you are doing it right. If not you are probabally not catching fish either.
damn you guys we're nailing them that day..with the new 21' bullshit i find it real hard to catch keepers in the back bays here on the south shore long island. Caught maybe 7 to 10 all year with about 20 trips out.
No drop back. I stick them very soon after feeling the weight.
Forgt to add I was using 30 LB braid and were fishing at a depth of 65'. For the most part I had to use a 5oz bucktail.
No - because I wouldn't want the lighter tip to dampen the jig action. Medium taper is fine.
I use only real deer hair. It's hollow, and flows nicer in the water than the synthetics.
Do your flounder hit jigs or artificials? If yes, then yes, else I'm not sure.
@1973Saved if you compare a spro bucktail to many other competitors they just have a better look to them first off, second well balanced for good action and letting it sit on the bottom right up, and gamakatsu hooks just an amazing jig just use one and you'll see
gulp works great,, caught a ton of fluke on the manasquan river in nj on that stuff this summer
@theklamp1
Where do you fish? How deep?
It's labeled saltwater, and we're now using the 4-inch swimming mullets.
@kwarnisplayer
A 1982 16-ft starcraft aluminum.
John, great videos. How do you connect the braid to fluro?
tie a double uni knot
The Jersey shore which is where I will be fishing for fluke, and I wanted to know some good tricks on how to fish for it.
Not a problem.
Hey John, how do you connect your braid to the leader line. do you use a swivel to reduce line twist?
Your videos are very helpful for me and my friends
Depends on depth, current, and wind. I use 1- to 2-ounces in moderate conditions.
Love watching your videos , great job ,keep them coming
You can buy spools of 20-pound fluoro in the store.
Yes.
I'm assuming you have a star drag??.... In any case, obviously you want your drag to give before your line ( or when using braid your ROD ) breaks... Have a friend hold your line and then put a good bend in your rod... set your drag so that you can put pressure on a fish but loose enough that it will give if the fish runs..... then you may want to adjust it either way depending on the type of fishing your doing. For example, when fishing for Tog I have my drag set for maximum allowable tension.
John, You're wasting my time! Since I found you last night, I've tried to watch ALL your videos. I love flounder and gulp. This is very educational. I cast my 4" Shrimp on a 1/4 jighead , just like bass fishing. I'll give your way a try as soon as possible.
Yes, but a drift control sock isn't the same as dragging chain.
Thanks for the prompt reply. I am aware that braid needs tighter spool tension when installed on the reel. My problem comes 40 or 50 casts into the fishing day. Just reeling in a lure (w/ o fish!) seems to allow the line to get loose and eventually dig in on a hard cast for fighting a fish. Vertical jigging avoids the hard cast issue. Do you take any other line management precautions while fishing? Thanks again for the informative videos.
We have 7' normal tides where this video was shot. There are places where the current is too strong, and this technique wouldn't be appropriate. A 2.5mph drift is mighty fast for flounder. If it's because of wind, you can use a drift control sock. I'd look for areas with less current.
Thanks for posting the fluke jigging videos! I learned so much watching these. I like braid and baitcast reels, but I have problems with braid under 40lb digging into the spool and breaking. This happens while casting as opposed to jigging, but I do both with the same rod/reel combo. How do you prevent this? Thanks.
yes
great video and man thats a good spot. I would be happy with 2. down here in delaware thing are not so good.
I dont know the area, but I do know that where there are birds ( robins ) there are usually fluke too. You are a bit restricted as to how far off shore you can go, but I would suggest going deeper.... I'm sure you will figure it out. I know there are some nice up there!!
You're a good man, John.
White is good too.
Could you do a rigging video for the soft bait and the bucktail or tell me what kind of rig it is
Your videos are amazing and full of good information. I am going to try this drift method this coming weekend with my wife. I am in NE Florida, well see how it works here. Would it be OK to put a live mullet on the top hook or do you think the double jig is just the best way to go?
A live mullet would probably be awesome if these or other gamefish are around.
On my channel there's a video doing this fishing from my kayak in 3 to 8 feet of water.
Awesome vid! What type of set up would you use if you are in deeper water or a faster drift?