Who's ready to talk about FLOUNDER?

[BIGGESTJACK]

I'm ALWAYS ready to talk flounder. So where's the shop at I can see these tied rigs?
My goal is to top my personal best (8.2 Lbs) and break double digits !



That's easy,
If they're bitching at you when you net them or as they're going in the box, They're DEFINITLY females................. Sorry Fresh Water Girl

if you don't bring fu acoffee he probably won't open the door.

ADDED FEATURE THIS YEAR BUY 3 RIGS GET THE SECRET MAP FREE.

[BUCKTAIL WILLIE]

CLAWS n Beer -- I've caught a couple of fluke (maybe a few more than a couple ) on bucktails in the back over the years and I will pass on a couple of things to consider
#1-- I like to go as light a bucktail as possible and still touch bottom once in a while, and I lightly jug the bucktail on a drift. Start with white, real sunny day swtich to light green

#2---early in year I like fresh meat,herring,mackeral,bluefish ,just about any fresh meat in a 3" strip 3/8-1/2" wide ,once water gets above 60 I'm totally Berkley Gulp in shrimp or 3" swimming minnow
#3-I like mouths of small creeks and ditches on outgoing tide along sodbanks, As has been said here fluke are ambush fish and wait for bait to come to them
#4-- incoming tide I like to work the edges of channels NOT the deepest part until water temp gets over 72 than I will work deeper holes
#5 -I like a small clip in stainless as it can give a slight flash but I tied to Flouro on a 3ft leader
#6 Watch your fishfinder (if you have one ) for bait concentrations and work that area in several different directions
#7 if boat is small enough try going into the many shallow bays and drift a bucktail under a float ,catch a fluke remember the spot and keep hitting same spot you will be amazed at how many legal size fish are sittin gin 4ft or less water

Good luck

[fishanuk]

Just to take Fred's post a bit further, what color works best for you? Two years ago pink or bubblegum was the killer for me, last year it was green. Go figure. Bait was any combo of meat, mac or minnow for me.

[C-phase]

if you don't bring fu acoffee he probably won't open the door.

ADDED FEATURE THIS YEAR BUY 3 RIGS GET THE SECRET MAP FREE.

Not a problem at all

[Maycraft04]

Fred,

Can you describe in more detail or post a pic of three hook rig? You tying a dropper loop in leader? How far apart? Any flash or teasers?

[phillyfishing]

colors.. some days white is king then green, then pink.. but my go to color is white.. as many as fred post state.. trim down the hair on them... from fishing with freakyone and listening to fred i have increased my back bay catches on fluke.. not all keepers but its sure a lot of fun

freakyone took me and a buddy of mine out fluke fishing in the summer.. my buddy had more fun catch and release of small fluke then he ever had.. said he never caught more fluke then that day and it was his best day fishing ever

[chunking]

This is my three hook rig. Snell a wide gap and slide on a few pearl beads. Then a dropper loop that I pass through a teaser then over another wide gap. One more dropper and another teaser and wide gap. Then the last small dropper with a swivel on it with a short perfection loop for the weight. I keep this short so there are less tangles from the rig wrapping around. This is a short version so I could get it all in the frame. I usually have a few more inches between each hook. I have eight different colored teasers so there are many color combinations.




When I came up with this rig last season I wanted it for two actions. First was to have all baits moving in one direction. Second was to present a larger target for the flounder. Three baits in a row will mimic a baitfish school moving one behind the other. Also when a flounder is in it's finicky mode one target may not motivate a strike. But three gives any predator a better chance for success. It worked very well for me and others who used it. Plus you can mix your baits. I liked a shiner on the end followed by two plump minnows on the teasers. Also works with gulp or any other packaged bait. Drawbacks are these. Let it fly to the bottom and you will get a parachute effect. Weight will go down quickly causing the hooks with baits to flutter above the weight. If it starts to swing around because of lopsided bait it will wrap right around your main line. But this can happen with any rig going down too fast. If you use squid on this or any other rig remember. ONLY HOOK IT ONCE. A strip of squid will flutter on the hook if only hooked once. When you pass the hook through multiple times it looks like a fist with a tiny tail and it will act like a knuckle ball causing more tangles. Fish aren't going to swipe your squid so just hook it once. If the bait looks too long and it's not then just cut it down to fit the size you want. Don't ball it up on your hook.

[pattyboy]

Can't wait guys, thanks for the info

[C-phase]

This is my three hook rig. Snell a wide gap and slide on a few pearl beads. Then a dropper loop that I pass through a teaser then over another wide gap. One more dropper and another teaser and wide gap. Then the last small dropper with a swivel on it with a short perfection loop for the weight. I keep this short so there are less tangles from the rig wrapping around. This is a short version so I could get it all in the frame. I usually have a few more inches between each hook. I have eight different colored teasers so there are many color combinations.




When I came up with this rig last season I wanted it for two actions. First was to have all baits moving in one direction. Second was to present a larger target for the flounder. Three baits in a row will mimic a baitfish school moving one behind the other. Also when a flounder is in it's finicky mode one target may not motivate a strike. But three gives any predator a better chance for success. It worked very well for me and others who used it. Plus you can mix your baits. I liked a shiner on the end followed by two plump minnows on the teasers. Also works with gulp or any other packaged bait. Drawbacks are these. Let it fly to the bottom and you will get a parachute effect. Weight will go down quickly causing the hooks with baits to flutter above the weight. If it starts to swing around because of lopsided bait it will wrap right around your main line. But this can happen with any rig going down too fast. If you use squid on this or any other rig remember. ONLY HOOK IT ONCE. A strip of squid will flutter on the hook if only hooked once. When you pass the hook through multiple times it looks like a fist with a tiny tail and it will act like a knuckle ball causing more tangles. Fish aren't going to swipe your squid so just hook it once. If the bait looks too long and it's not then just cut it down to fit the size you want. Don't ball it up on your hook.

Looks good Fred,
So how do I get some ?

[chunking]

Looks good Fred,
So how do I get some ?

Still tieing the two hook rig. Just like the three hooker but with one less teaser. Half way done now then will switch to the three hook. Do you ever get down to Wildwood? If not then Ocean City maybe. In March I will be at the Ocean City Fishing Flea Market giving a seminar and we will have the rigs there including the float rig. If not then we can mail them out. Just let me know.

[C-phase]

Still tieing the two hook rig. Just like the three hooker but with one less teaser. Half way done now then will switch to the three hook. Do you ever get down to Wildwood? If not then Ocean City maybe. In March I will be at the Ocean City Fishing Flea Market giving a seminar and we will have the rigs there including the float rig. If not then we can mail them out. Just let me know.

Not much but it's not a far drive from Somers Point to Wildwood. I see you have No Bones in your sig. You work there?

I could make the drive when you have some ready, If not I would still like to check out your seminar at the flea market. I've been there before, cool little gathering

Let me know. I'm working nights this week starting tomorrow and could shoot down anytime before 3pm, and as Biggest point out, I could big you some Java

[jadweega]

Fred, how can I order some rigs from you, and thanks for the great information.

[joe_D]

Fred -- Thanks for the explaination of what happens when you drop the rig too fast. I've been using your 2 hook rigs for a couple of years, but occasionally had a problem with them tangling with the main line. Now I know why, always learning something new.

[chunking]

There is no secret weapon, no rod and reel and no item in your tackle bag that will give you an edge more than a knowledge of the area you fish. Back bay fishing demands that you know where to fish and when. Simply drifting down the middle of the channel just doesn't pay off. Even after fifty plus years of fishing behind Wildwood I am still learning new areas. It's a never ending school. Knowing your area is what makes good guides worth their weight in fish.

This morning I walked to the top of the big North Wildwood bridge at low tide. A good northwest wind helped the tide move out. Nothing better than a birds eye view to show shallows, drop offs and deep sod banks. When I got back to the dock my buddy asked where I had been. When I told him he said it would be just as easy to do it by boat. You won't get the same angle or field of view and you also won't grind your prop down in the shallows. We have enough bridges in Jersey so just about anyone who fishes can get some great info that you can always go back and refer to.

This first shot is from the bridge looking South. You can see the shallow side and also the deeper sections along some of the sod banks. Notice the little cuts in around the mud bars. These are excellent spots when the tide starts in. Flounder will be ready to move in here first to get a shot at bait trying to stay one fin ahead of them.



Here is a broader view of the same area. A little effort with a walk on a bridge at low tide can pay off big time this summer.




Here is a shot of Turtle Creek and I'm not spot burning. Everyone fishes here but mostly at high tide. Low tide makes it a little spooky. Fishing the edges of these bars can put more fish in the cooler than just drifting down the middle. And remember this. At low tide you will probably have the same amount of flounder as high tide. But now they are even more concentrated.




This last shot is still looking south from the bridge and you can clearly see the intercoastal channel markers. Take note of the points and gullies around these mud bars. All info that will make for better fishing trips.

[ClawsN'beer]

Thanks Bucktail!!! I think I was using to big of a bucktail and leaving them on the bottom to long. Can't wait to get out there this spring! This thread has me dying to go fluking. Then i start thinking about crabbing, I'm starting to go crazy!! haha