Best Fluke Bait Ever

[Arbutis]

It's also amazing how big a fluke even a small hook will catch. Love my #4 gama killie swimmers. (Gut hooking is very rarely a problem - let the bashing begin )

[Joey Dah Fish]

Originally Posted by Arbutis

It's also amazing how big a fluke even a small hook will catch. Love my #4 gama killie swimmers. (Gut hooking is very rarely a problem - let the bashing begin )

#4 ? And you don't gut hook fish? Sounds like you never fish

[shresearchdude]

I remember a few years ago... standing near one of the area bridges and a few sharpies standing around chatting and not fishin'. I chatted for a few minutes went with my dipnet to a killing hold spot-netted a few chunky ones up-put them on a tiny bucktail and dropped it right at the sharpies feet. Nailed several school bass before they even asked me what I was using....

[reason162]

Originally Posted by bunker dunker

bucktails save lives.

That should be your sig! lol

I've brought this up before and I'll say it again: rental rod bait dragging on party boats result in short fluke holocaust. Heavy lead, heavy mono, heavy glass poles...a long fishfinder rig, and guys who count to ten before setting the hook. I've seen gut-hooked fish by the dozens in one trip.

One mate took my suggestion of tying on a hi-lo rig for a few rentals, sinker on the bottom and a very short dropper loop 10" above, using boat bait. They caught more fish and zero fish were gut hooked. Bonus: you don't even need to use that 3-way swivel.

[jmurr711]

people fish for fluke? I thought they were just an annoying by catch that you strip for ling bait

[River Rat]

Fluke Lives Matter...

Bucktails forever.

[Capt John]

Originally Posted by bunker dunker

mom!!!! joeys mixing paint again.agreed 110% on the gut hooked by bait dragging.never seen a 4 oz bucktail in a flukes stomach.to each there own but bucktails save lives.

Totally agree....that's why I bucktail almost exclusively. Much less mortality rate with shorts I would venture a guess. FISH BUCKTAILS....SAVE A LIFE! I rarely, if ever, get a bleeder bucktailing. Using strip baits, with a teaser is DEADLY! Catch em up!

[ALS Mako]

the wacky kwacky rig. enuf said. hello george, yes that is a treble hook i'm using.

[Billfish715]

I've used killies on crab drop lines by using a metal or wire hoop attached to the main line. I would thread the killies on the wire and attach a weight and have at it. Of course it meant having an ample supply of bait which we caught with a large seine at low tide. The upper Navesink above Red Bank was loaded with them. We've also taken killies with us when we head offshore. A handful of them tossed at a piece of dolphin-filled flotsom would turn those tasty mahi on like a light switch. A fast drift for fluke is not the best while using killies but often a strip of squid on the same hook when the drift is fast will get the attention of a willing fluke. If you fish on a party boat you probably wouldn't use killies since most boats don't supply them therefore you'd have to bring your own. Pete did have some great ones last year and when kept in a small cooler on some wet newspaper or seaweed over ice, they last an entire trip. A hi-lo rig with a killie on the bottom and a Gulp on top often produce double headers. Don't overlook their versatility.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Capt Sal

Bucktailing is not for everyone. My dad was one of the best fluke fisherman i ever saw and he would never bucktail. He said he came fishing to relax not work. Drifting and dreaming is relaxing.

Yep... On certain days when I'm just out there to relax, I like to drag bait too... Put your bait on, pole in the holder, find a comfy seat, crack an adult beverage and sit back and watch the pole tip. Repeat as necessary...