Three Lesser-Known Baits for Fluke
At some point in history, our fluke-fishing forefathers came together and declared that a strip of squid topped with an expired Atlantic silverside (more commonly called a spearing) was to be the standard bait for our favorite flatfish. They found that the stark white of the squid pennant practically glows in the depths where fluke hunt, while its boneless undulations give the impression of a mortally wounded baitfish. The spearing adds the touch of deal-sealing realism, and while the fragile bait may not survive a botched hookset, the squid usually does, giving an angler a second chance to succeed. This potent pairing will catch fluke just about anywhere you can find them, but in some cases, there are better, lesser-known baits for fluke that might just edge out this old standard.
Sand Eels
Just a couple decades ago, tackle shops across the Northeast reliably stocked bags of fresh and frozen sand eels. Some of them were bought and used for striped bass in the surf, but many were transported to sandy shoals where fishermen baited them on simple rigs to match the hatch for fluke. Today, you may need to procure your own sand eels in order to get a consistent supply, but it’s often worth the effort.
How to Fish:
The simpler the better with sand eels, as these are often the same bait that fluke are eating over sandy bottoms, but you must get them in front of the fish. Use them on three-way rigs adorned with no more than a sparsely riveted bucktail teaser and, if you must, a single spinning blade. In shallow water, there’s no need to pair the sand eels with squid, but if you want a little more bulk, fish two at a time—if your bait supply allows it. Hook each as you would a spearing, either through the eyes or down through the top of the skull. To hook a fluke, only a short drop-back is needed, as they usually fully engulf the bait in one shot.
Bergalls
While killies are an effective and easily attainable live bait for fluke, their small size makes them a poor choice for anglers hoping to score a doormat. Fishermen who want to offer fluke a larger live bait usually opt for snapper blues, but with the current bluefish bag limit (3) and inconsistent availability during much of the fluke season, snappers aren’t as reliable a bait as they once were.
Bergalls, however, fill that slot nicely. With piers and jetties from New Jersey to Massachusetts full of these 3- to 5-inch wrasse, fishermen using small hooks and bits of clam or squid can usually catch enough for a day of fluking with just an hour or so of effort. Like their close relative the tautog, a bergall is hardy, easily surviving the ride in the livewell and swimming a long time with a hook through the nose.
How to fish:
Send to the bottom on a three-way rig with an undressed 4/0 to 6/0 octopus-style hook (depending on the size of the bait) hooked through the bergall’s nostrils. Drop back to any biting fluke to ensure it has ingested the entire bait, and then set the hook hard.
Dogfish
At times, smooth or spiny dogfish can present a major hindrance to fluke fishermen, chowing through bait supplies, tangling rigs, and wasting valuable time on the fishing grounds. One silver lining when catching dogfish is that they make a great fluke bait.
A strip from the belly of a dogfish has an enticing flutter, an eye-catching snow-white color, fish-attracting scent, and skin so tough it’s nearly impossible for bait-stealers to take it off the hook.
If you have reservations about taking a dogfish for bait, keep in mind that the meat, when breaded and fried, is downright delicious. Don’t believe it? Ask any of the famous fish n’ chips spots across the Atlantic, where spiny dogfish has been the go-to ingredient for generations of seafood-living Brits. So, take the bellies for bait, the rest for your cooler, and get down to the business of catching big fluke.
How to Fish:
Pair with spearing on popcorn rigs, gaudily dressed three-way rigs, and pretty much any rig you’d otherwise use with a strip of squid.
Related Content
10 Reasons You Haven’t Caught a 10-Pound Fluke
Catch Doormat Fluke with Snapper Bluefish
6 Rigs to Know for Fluke Season
Source: https://onthewater.com/three-lesser-known-baits-for-fluke
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