By Allison Miles
Ah, the month of June is really when the fishing season kick-starts here in New England. No matter what time you leave the dock, you see fishermen on their boats with lines already in the water waiving and smiling as each boat passes by. The excitement to smell the awesomeness of bait again means that your first catch and fish- fry are just moments away.
June has to be one of my favorite months for fishing, not just because I can shed my winter sweaters, but because I get to target a fish that holds a special place in my heart; winter flounder. There is nothing like going out for a day of flounder fishing. You pack a lunch, set your favorite flounder tunes on your iPod, grab a flat of worms and sunscreen and get ready to bounce and reel up some feisty blackbacks.
I have my favorite spots that have produced a few Massachusetts awards but in all honesty, the harbor is full of productive spots. So when the well-known Deer Island flats start to look like a parking lot, look for less pressured areas that have muddy bottoms close to deep drop-offs where fish feel safe and can make a hasty retreat if they need to.
I’m a big fan of the chum pot when I fish and flounder fishing is no exception. Bringing the fish to me is my preferred method. Typically in Boston, we almost always need a small sea anchor deployed to slow our drift when we’re fishing for flounder. The drifts for these flatties are short and let’s just say, pulling the sea anchor in over and over is a pain in the dorsal. Plus anchoring and chumming almost always provides some thrilling excitement when a striper decides to get in the game after picking up the scent. We often take a chunk bait or big clam and toss it way back in the hopes of intercepting that curious bass. We use slightly heavier tackle than the flounder gear but we keep it light enough so even the schoolies give us a thrilling battle.
My angler-2-angler tip this month is this: always think bigger than what you’d be happy with. If you’re out fishing for flounder, throw out a striper rod because you never know, you’re catch of the day might just be ‘bigger’ than you had hoped for.
Allison Miles with super sized winter flounder caught just off Governors Flatts.
Allison Miles is an award winning angler, fishing enthusiast and blogger. She is Pro- Staff for Esca Lures and an Ambassador for Pure Fishing. You can follow her angling adventures at www.gopogy.com