Boat Bait or Gulp?

[Skolmann]

I’ve been having one of my best fluke season in recent years fishing party boats in the bay for fluke. I’ve done 12 trips; limited 6 times (including one trip where I caught 8 keepers-only keeping my limit), had 2 once, one three times and two skunks.

Early in the season killies or spearing were the ticket, then around the last week of June the bucktail/teaser bite turned on. I’m going to start fishing live snappers/peanut bunker now as this was the time last year that they both really produced.

[Fisherman120]

Originally Posted by NJ219bands

I won the pool on NJ fluke party boats 26 times in one summer with smelts and whole squid baits.

Out of curiosity, what boat was this?

[AndyS]

Fish don't grow big eating metal and plastic

[SaltLife1980]

Early in the season they want that meat. Later on in the season Gulp dominates.

[WhaleFart]

There is little to no reason to tip your gulp with bait, notice the guys who tip catch a lot of junk fish vs fluke.. also they seem to miss many many fish due to having such little hook exposed from throwing so much bait over their gulp. Light action rod, braid, lightest lead you can get away with is key in jigging fluke.

[NJ219bands]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Whole squids are killer and there are a lot of them swimming around inshore... Had one follow my gulp up to the surface last week. How are you rigging them??

double tandem with tuna hooks

[NJ219bands]

Originally Posted by Fisherman120

Out of curiosity, what boat was this?

Shamrock, Piper, Holiday, Norma K II, Miss Point Pleasant and Ideal in 1970 when the fare was $5 for half day fluking. Party boats started using smelts for bait after they saw me do so well with them.