MACOJOE

[fillet1]

MJ -

Care to share any fluke secrets for the upcoming season? what do you use up there to catch the numbers that you do?

bait, Rigs, tides etc. Gimme something that I can use here in NJ!!

[macojoe]

I use a custom made (by me) St. Croix F70M-BK, 3/4 -3oz rod.
I use a Penn Squider 146 reel, with 30# test (12# diameter) Fireline.
I use a 30 or 40# Flouro leader (Seaguar) with SS Mustard 4/0 wide gap hooks #37160S

My leader is about 30" long with the hook snelled to line.
you can use a 2 hook system, but found that more times then not the 2nd hook just ends up in your hand when trying to get the hook out of the fish on the other hook.

I have a swivel at the other end tied to the Fireline with a fish finder.
I use any thing from 2 oz to 6 oz what ever it takes to hold the bottom. You must be on the bottom or forget about getting any fish.

Some of the hooks have bucktail tied to them, some have plastic squid skirts, others have nothing.
But all are tipped with Squid or Sand eels to get going, then I start using Fluke belly's.

If the water is moving slow I use a long bait (6 to 8") and if the current is moving fast I will use a short bait (4 to 6)
If you are drifting and getting a lot of misses cause the current is moving you need a short bait so the fish will get right up on it or you will lose it everytime!!

Most fish are in the teens to 30 or so feet for this type of fishing.

If you want to fish deep water (50+) then I go with Bucktails in the 4oz range.
This is tricky, cause to use bucktails you need to be jigging straight up and down, or the fish don't want it!! If it gets angled out away from the boat you need reel up and start over.
You can slow the drift a few ways, drift sock, 5 gal bucket or by shifting in to reverse. What ever it takes to stay slow so that the jig is straight!!

I just bought some nice Spro Jigs in Pink & White, which are good colors here.



Last, if you want to try for HUGE!! then find a place known to hold fluke, mostly deeper water for the big ones.
Then live line Scup!! Scup here are to be 10" for you to keep but being the rebel I am i will take some small dolly scup 4" and use a good hook, I like 6/0 Gamy Octopus hooks.
Again use like a 30" leader with the floro leader, and fish finder with what ever weight you need to get that scup to swim on the bottom!
I got two 13 pounders in a row on a wreak, that we have here. on the scup.

OK there you go for starters, let me no what else you want to know.

O yea USE A NET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You get that big one you will lose it for sure if you are trying to lift it over the side!

[bigshrimpin]

MJ - Tell him about the jumping fluke!!

[macojoe]

Yes there is a deep hole were I go some 70 feet or so. I was trying it out for the hell of it? I was getting nothing, then as I reel up I was getting hits near the 50 to 40 foot range.
And they were nice size Fluke from 5 to 8 pounds in the water column!!
They were chasing sand eels all the way to the top and then jumping!! I thought from a distance we go over there as it was slow and play with schoolies or some blues.
Boy were we surprised!!
I was told by a old timer that he once made that mistake and found the fluke also!! So if you are in a known fluke area and see bait breaking the water it just may be fluke!!
This area has always given me a few nice fish! Not alot but some nice ones.

[fillet1]

Thats some pretty good stuff!!

We fish alot of tidal creeks and channels for fluke in the bay and then later on in the season we pick the larger ones in 70ish feet of water on the inshore artificial reefs.

I use nothing but fireline on all my rods. IMO better then all others including power pro.

I've gotten away from the fishfinder rigs the last few seasons. I hand tie my own high low rigs that are a little different then most. I use Gammi octopus hooks.

Do you find that the Flouro leaders make a difference?

My name is Seakindly and I am a fireline addict. 8)

MJ - I use 30# also, but doesn't it cut thru the plastic sleeves of your fishfinder rigs? I use 3-way swivels instead.

[reelapeelin]

Holy JUMPIN FLUKES, Maco... :o

[macojoe]

SK when I was using the black ones it really sucked!! But I have changed to the white and have not had as much a problem.

fillet, yes I think the floro makes a huge difference!~! In all my fishing!!
Except at night!! I use Green Big Game for that!! and it makes a huge difference as well!!

hmmm ... white ones you say.
I have only used the blacks.

[chumbucket]

The black ones are polypropylene (I believe) and the white appear to be polyethylene. Polypro being the softer of the two plastics and the line cuts through easier.
btw, I'm a Fireline fan too. IMO; beats Power Pro and Spiderwire hands down. ;)