It's Montauk Doormat Time
The fluke fishing all over Long Island has been incredible. Most days saw
anglers having a lot of action, with plenty of keeper fluke and lots of
shorts mixed in. The pool fish ranging anywhere ffrom 3-6 lb. on most days
and occassionally up to 7-8 lb. The 10 lb.+ fish we saw in May and June in
the Peconics have been mostly absent from the reports. This is the typical
pattern as in past years, however, it is time to get ready for those doormat
fluke again.
As we get into the second half of summer my plans begin to focus on the
southside of Montauk. From the middle of August to the middle of September my
biggest fluke of the season usually is caught from this area. This is not
fast fishing. I have fished with the legendary Charley Nappi and some of the
best fluke sharpies in Montauk, if you want a great shot at catching that
"Flukasaurus" then this is the place to be.
There are numerous areas along the southside of Montauk that produce big
fluke.
You can fish from the radar tower and all the way west to Hither Hills and
beyond.
The secret is to find structure. Those big fluke come in to feed on the large
baits found around that structure. The southside is littered with many rocks
and small wrecks in 30-70 feet of water that hold bergalls, seabass, porgies,
lobsters and crabs. Those big fluke are feeding heavily before they start
their offshore fall migration to the deep ocean for the winter.
Look for wrecks, rocks, edges and drop offs. Big fluke love to hang out
downtide of a wreck, edge or drop off to have the tide sweep the bait to them.
Drift around these structures, fishing the downtide side as well both left and
right sides of the structure. If you hook up, note your position relative to
the structure. I like to throw a small marker bouy so I can take the drift
again. If you don't get any action in a short time then move to another spot.
These fish are constantly moving.
Another factor is tide. Big fluke are opportunistic feeders. They are
relatively lazy, so fishing the tide change is usually the best time. The
last two hours of the incoming and the first of the outgoing is my favorite
time. The tide can be very strong at time with a very fast drift, therefore
fishing the "dropback" technique is very important. Fish with the reel in
freespool. When you feel any extra weight or a definite bite, dropback about
15-20 feet of line while pointing the rod tip at the water. Engaged the reel
and let the line come tight. If you still feel the weight raise the rod to
set the hook. You do not have to strike hard. Play the fish to the boat and
make sure you have a large enough net for these fish.
As far as tackle and rigging, leave the light stuff home. A medium action
conventional rod capable of handling sinkers up to 10-12 ounces is needed.
A matching reel spooled with 20-25 lb. quality mono with a very smooth drag
completes the set up.
I have written alot about using the bucktail and teaser for fluke, and they do
catch their share of big fish. However, if you really want to catch that
doormat, I would stick to a bait rig. The reason is that the bucktail and
teaser attracts alot of fish
from shorts to keepers. The bait rig usually does not catch as many smaller
fish but catches a higher ratio of bigger ones.
I tie up my own bait rigs. I use 2 4/0 Gamakatsu Black Octopus hooks tied in
tandem on a 48 inch 40 lb leader. Use a spread of about 5 inches between the
hooks. I then put on two 5 mm. glow beads and a 4 1/2 octopus skirt in
flourescent green and silver. I then add a 6-8 inch strip of fish belly with
the tail split to increase the fluttering action. Fluke belly (both the white
and dark side work), fresh bluefish belly and dogfish strips are prime baits.
Well that's it. I will be heading out there every weekend for now until the
end of the fluke season. I hope to see you out there. I hope to get lots of e-mails reports about the "Flukasaurus" I hope you will catch.
Tight Lines.
Return to Al Goldberg's Tackle Corner, Al's Columns or Dave's Homepage.
As we get into the second half of summer my plans begin to focus on the southside of Montauk. From the middle of August to the middle of September my biggest fluke of the season usually is caught from this area. This is not fast fishing. I have fished with the legendary Charley Nappi and some of the best fluke sharpies in Montauk, if you want a great shot at catching that "Flukasaurus" then this is the place to be.
There are numerous areas along the southside of Montauk that produce big fluke. You can fish from the radar tower and all the way west to Hither Hills and beyond. The secret is to find structure. Those big fluke come in to feed on the large baits found around that structure. The southside is littered with many rocks and small wrecks in 30-70 feet of water that hold bergalls, seabass, porgies, lobsters and crabs. Those big fluke are feeding heavily before they start their offshore fall migration to the deep ocean for the winter.
Look for wrecks, rocks, edges and drop offs. Big fluke love to hang out downtide of a wreck, edge or drop off to have the tide sweep the bait to them. Drift around these structures, fishing the downtide side as well both left and right sides of the structure. If you hook up, note your position relative to the structure. I like to throw a small marker bouy so I can take the drift again. If you don't get any action in a short time then move to another spot. These fish are constantly moving.
Another factor is tide. Big fluke are opportunistic feeders. They are relatively lazy, so fishing the tide change is usually the best time. The last two hours of the incoming and the first of the outgoing is my favorite time. The tide can be very strong at time with a very fast drift, therefore fishing the "dropback" technique is very important. Fish with the reel in freespool. When you feel any extra weight or a definite bite, dropback about 15-20 feet of line while pointing the rod tip at the water. Engaged the reel and let the line come tight. If you still feel the weight raise the rod to set the hook. You do not have to strike hard. Play the fish to the boat and make sure you have a large enough net for these fish.
As far as tackle and rigging, leave the light stuff home. A medium action conventional rod capable of handling sinkers up to 10-12 ounces is needed. A matching reel spooled with 20-25 lb. quality mono with a very smooth drag completes the set up.
I have written alot about using the bucktail and teaser for fluke, and they do catch their share of big fish. However, if you really want to catch that doormat, I would stick to a bait rig. The reason is that the bucktail and teaser attracts alot of fish from shorts to keepers. The bait rig usually does not catch as many smaller fish but catches a higher ratio of bigger ones.
I tie up my own bait rigs. I use 2 4/0 Gamakatsu Black Octopus hooks tied in tandem on a 48 inch 40 lb leader. Use a spread of about 5 inches between the hooks. I then put on two 5 mm. glow beads and a 4 1/2 octopus skirt in flourescent green and silver. I then add a 6-8 inch strip of fish belly with the tail split to increase the fluttering action. Fluke belly (both the white and dark side work), fresh bluefish belly and dogfish strips are prime baits.
Well that's it. I will be heading out there every weekend for now until the end of the fluke season. I hope to see you out there. I hope to get lots of e-mails reports about the "Flukasaurus" I hope you will catch.
Tight Lines.