New to Bucktailing

[Ryan W]

Originally Posted by MohawkJD

I wanted to try bucktailing for fluke this year and need a little help with my tackle. My fishing is done mostly from a private boat and occasionally from a party boat. I usually use 3 to 6 oz to hold bottom when bait fishing.

1. Line- I was going to use 30lb braid. I’m open to all suggestions including mono.
2. Leader – What size is recommended and is fluorocarbon worth it?
3. Rigs – Are dropper loops OK? I bought a couple of pre-made set ups in Somerset last week and they have a single line tied off the main leader with an ornate knot, the other end tied to the bucktail about 5 inches out. Sinker loop at the bottom.
4. Bucktails – Rigs I’ve seen in the past have 2 small bucktails about ½ oz each, is this a good size? JD

This rig usually works well:

30 lb braid (or lighter) topshotted with 40 lb mono (need some abrasion resistance here). Tie your bucktail (enough weight to hold bottom) to the bottom of the line. 12-18 inches up, make a dropper loop and put on your teaser. I like a 4/0-5/0 baitholder hook with one of those big gulp grubs. This setup works well out front. Make sure you get some bucktails from 3-6 oz minimum so you can hold the bottom and not tangle everyone up. Don't use a regular sinker, the fish won't bite that. Be sure to keep the bucktail moving so you don't get stuck in the bottom, that sucks.

I'm a total novice compared to many on this site here in terms of bucktailing, many of them have a lot more to share here.