Fluke may not be very plentiful lately, but there are still effective ways to catch them if you know the right techniques.
Fishing has been slow for fluke enthusiasts. These flat-bodied bottom-feeders are low in population lately and simply aren't biting as frequently. It won't be as easy as it used to be, but here are some tips to help you hook a few.
- Bait... Fluke will bite on quite a few things, with bunker, killies, and squid being the main choices.
- First, there are peanut bunker (baby bunker). Fluke like these, but when you hook them, they fall apart very easily. Fluke are actually frightened by their eyes, so you have to pop the eyes out before casting.
- Fluke love live killies. You have to hook them while they're still alive, which can make them hard to handle; using pliers makes this easier. They need to have their eyes popped out as well. While they are alive, fluke see them simply as swimming killies without noticing the hook.
- Hooking the bunker and killies: Again, live killies are hard to grab and keep steady for hooking, and needle-nose pliers can help. While some people recommend hooking them from the tail up to the mouth, another effective method is to hook them from the head down to the tail. Remember that fluke are scared of the eyes, so they stay away from the head and try to approach prey from behind. If the hook is in the tail, they will essentially hook themselves. It is a tricky business.
- Squid is great on its own, or you can pair it with peanut bunker or killies. Fluke truly love squid, making it an excellent bait to use.
Remember that while it is better to use killies while they are alive, you can freeze them for later use. You must freeze your squid and bunker as well.
- Method: Depending on the tide and the depth of the water, you will need to choose a sinker that works best. You can test them to find one that does not drift without you pulling on your line. There should be about 2 feet of line between your sinker and your hook. Once you have cast out, the best technique to use is "drag-and-wait." You certainly do not want to just leave the bait sitting motionless on the bottom.
- Here is another tricky part of this tricky business: Fluke are bottom-feeders, but their eyes are on the sides of their heads, so they skim along the bottom looking upward. If the bait is suspended in the middle of the water between the bottom and the surface, the fluke will see it. You will want to use the drag-and-wait method: drag your line just a bit, giving it a slight jerk, and then stop. Repeat this every 5 seconds or so, and the fluke will go after it.
So, there may be a lot to the process, and because fluke numbers are low, you will need to follow these steps to catch them, especially this year. Fishing has always been challenging and may be a bit harder now, but hey, you are an angler and you know how to be patient—which is the most important skill in fishing. Good luck to my fellow fishermen, and hopefully your next trip won't be a flop.
How to Fish for Fluke
Fluke may not be very plentiful lately, but there are still effective ways to catch them if you know the right techniques.
Fishing has been slow for fluke enthusiasts. These flat-bodied bottom-feeders are low in population lately and simply aren't biting as frequently. It won't be as easy as it used to be, but here are some tips to help you hook a few.
- Bait... Fluke will bite on quite a few things, with bunker, killies, and squid being the main choices.
- First, there are peanut bunker (baby bunker). Fluke like these, but when you hook them, they fall apart very easily. Fluke are actually frightened by their eyes, so you have to pop the eyes out before casting.
- Fluke love live killies. You have to hook them while they're still alive, which can make them hard to handle; using pliers makes this easier. They need to have their eyes popped out as well. While they are alive, fluke see them simply as swimming killies without noticing the hook.
- Hooking the bunker and killies: Again, live killies are hard to grab and keep steady for hooking, and needle-nose pliers can help. While some people recommend hooking them from the tail up to the mouth, another effective method is to hook them from the head down to the tail. Remember that fluke are scared of the eyes, so they stay away from the head and try to approach prey from behind. If the hook is in the tail, they will essentially hook themselves. It is a tricky business.
- Squid is great on its own, or you can pair it with peanut bunker or killies. Fluke truly love squid, making it an excellent bait to use.
Remember that while it is better to use killies while they are alive, you can freeze them for later use. You must freeze your squid and bunker as well.
- Method: Depending on the tide and the depth of the water, you will need to choose a sinker that works best. You can test them to find one that does not drift without you pulling on your line. There should be about 2 feet of line between your sinker and your hook. Once you have cast out, the best technique to use is "drag-and-wait." You certainly do not want to just leave the bait sitting motionless on the bottom.
- Here is another tricky part of this tricky business: Fluke are bottom-feeders, but their eyes are on the sides of their heads, so they skim along the bottom looking upward. If the bait is suspended in the middle of the water between the bottom and the surface, the fluke will see it. You will want to use the drag-and-wait method: drag your line just a bit, giving it a slight jerk, and then stop. Repeat this every 5 seconds or so, and the fluke will go after it.
So, there may be a lot to the process, and because fluke numbers are low, you will need to follow these steps to catch them, especially this year. Fishing has always been challenging and may be a bit harder now, but hey, you are an angler and you know how to be patient—which is the most important skill in fishing. Good luck to my fellow fishermen, and hopefully your next trip won't be a flop.
How to Fish for Fluke
By Howtodotips
Fluke may not be very plentiful lately, but there are still effective ways to catch them if you know the right techniques.