Nantucket fluke advice

[David Leo]

I’m heading up to Hyannis this weekend for an ultra limited trip on the Helen H fleet ,I’ve never done this before , my experience with fluke Is bucktails,and I’m looking for advice on what to bring.
My options are
Black hole 701 L with shimano trranx 300 possible switch rod out fo a g loomis pro blue 12-25
Black hole 731m with a shimano trinidad 12A
Any input would be appreciated

[Gerry Zagorski]

You'll need to be fishing the 731M most of the time. They fish deep and the drift is fast so you'll usually need anywhere from 8 to 12 ounce sinkers to hold bottom. They use Chicken Rigs... Heavy sinker on the bottom and 2 small bucktails, high/low rigged.

When the tide slacks and or the conditions are right, you could use the 701 and lighter weight bucktail but the least you'll likely be fishing is 4 ounces.

[David Leo]

Thanks Gerry

[hartattack]

Bring the heavy stuff. I've been doing HH for 5 years now and never used less than 16 oz :eek:

[Finprof]

I was on the Helen H over the July 4th weekend. I have a Black Hole 701L and a 731m that I left at home even though the 731m is my favorite of all of my saltwater rods. I fished both days with only a Lamiglas TFX 7040, which is a beast.
The first day the mate suggested that we start with 16 oz. That lasted about two minutes for me and I switched to 20 oz for the remainder of both days except for a short period when I went to 24. Keep in mind that this was on a full moon July 4 and the current was screaming. There were times that 24 oz would not come close to holding but that was the biggest I brought.

One of the fellow fishermen said that he has been on the Helen H for 15 years said that was the worst fishing he ever experienced in 15 years. I went with two friends, one of whom was skunked the first day on fluke and got 1 keeper the second day but got some good sea bass, particularly the first day when we had a drop and reel time. The east wind might have been responsible.