Fluke (summer flounder) should be pretty good this year. If you have not given it a try yet, now is the time. Our fluke fishery is in good shape, so good, fish managers lowered the minimum size in RI last year and are expected to this year to 18” with an eight fish/angler/day bag limit with a fluke season running from May 1 to December 31. In New York State fish man- agers are expected to lower the minimum size this year to 18” with a five fish/angler/ day bag limit with a 128 day fluke season (dates TBD).”
Here are some fluke facts, tips from the experts and information on where to find them.
Fluke facts:
• In May, fluke move in shore from deep Continental Shelf waters where they spend the winter. They stay inland until October and then move back to the deep water.
• Fluke return to the same areas, bays, etc. year after year
• Over the past fifty years the local abundance of flounder, including summer flounder, has been on the rise. Studies shows abundance moving from off Maryland and Delaware in the early 1960’s to off the coastal shores of NY, CT and RI today. Some scientists (including Dr. Jonathan Hare, NOAA’s lab chief in Narragansett, RI) believe climate change and warming water has contributed to this movement.
• Fluke are a flat fish with two eyes on the same side of the fish. They are bottom fish that do not look aggressive, but they will chase bait aggressively and eat the same bait that bluefish and striped bass eat. The difference is that they feed off the bottom.
• They can be caught from a boat (usually while drifting) or from shore with little knowledge, so they are an ideal catch for beginners and children
• Fluke are chameleons; they change color to blend with the bottom.
• Largest fluke on record is 26.6 lbs. and 36″ long. The RI State record is a 17 pound, 8 once fish caught by G. Farmer or Warwick, RI in 1962. The NY State re- cord for fluke is a 22 pound, 7 once fish caught by Charles Nappi, Hicksville, NY in 1975.
Fluke tips from the experts
Capt. John Rainone, Li’l Toot Charters, Pt. Judith. “I have switched to a larger wide gap hook 3/0 instead of the old J style hook. It is easier to release a short fish without hurting it due to the style of the hook. Like a circle hook, it is usually hooked right in the corner of the mouth. We also have started to use bigger baits, and sometimes even a stinger hook with a very large bait. When the mate fillets a bluefish, he saves a nice long strip of the belly or underside of the bluefish for baits. Whole squids work well too, or larger strip baits of squid, instead of the old 3” strip of squid. You can also save some fluke belly or striped bass belly from your fillets to use on your next trip. Just put them in some salted water and keep cold.”
Capt. Jim White, White Ghost Charters, author and lecturer, Coventry, RI. “I use only fresh squid, local squid with a buck tail jig. The rig is a simple buck tail with teaser on top. I started to use flies I used for fly fishing as teasers and have had extremely good success because you can use a pattern to fit any bait condition. Patterns can include anything that fits the bait conditions… all white buck tail, ones that mimic silversides or mummies and that is the beauty you can make anything to fit the condition.” Jim likes to fish with jigs going over irregular bottoms and believes you need to slow the boat down to keep the jig as vertical as possible to the bottom so you can feel the bite.
Capt. George Cioe, Patricia Anne, Pt. Judith. “I use squid strips with a sand eel or live minnows…put the hook thru the squid once. I split the trailing edge of the squid to give it some action as it moves thru the water. We often use fluke belly, especially if there is other bothersome species hitting the bait. Fluke belly is more durable and you’ll get more bottom time with the bait. There is an issue though. Because it will not tear off like squid, it is possible to pull the fluke up to the surface, even though he is not hooked, only to watch the fish let go of the bait and swim away. When you fish with belly – let the fish keep the bait a little longer before you pull him up.
When I am in deeper water – 60 to 75 feet– I’ll use a whole squid – a sure recipe for catching jumbos. The slower the drift the better – but you do need to drift. I’ll use a sea anchor to slow me down.”
Capt. Robb Roach, Kettlebottom Outfitters, Jamestown, RI. “Wind and tide in line otherwise stem it. Bigger fish are on sharper edges… meaning a steeper drop off will hold the bigger fish. Don’t forget to fish in the vicinity of wrecks. Live bait works best and snapper blues are THE BEST Fluke bait. Clean the skin off of the squid when baiting”
Capt. Rick Bellavance, Priority Too Charters, Pt. Judith, RI. “When I fluke fish with charter clients, I typically use a large style pre-rigged fluke rig which I purchase from a local bait shop. We try to use a piece of fresh bait such as the belly meat of a bluefish to act as an attractant. We use a 3-way snap swivel with a large snap to facilitate changing sinkers (which the mate does often). I believe the smallest weight that will hold bottom is best. Much of our fishing effort takes place around Block Island and just about any piece of shoreline will hold summer flounder and we always drift, usually picking the side of the island with the strongest tide or wind. When we start catching, I record the depth and I also make note of specific depths where bigger fish may be congregating… I coach our clients to drop the tip of the rod when they feel a bite and to then slowly, but deliberately, lift up on the rod to set the hook. We use circle hooks and modified wide gap hooks exclusively to reduce release mortality.”
Cathy Muli, Jackpot Digger Jigs, Westerly, RI. This past January I met Cathy when she shared the stage with three national experts at the National Saltwater Sportsman Semi- nar Series with George Poveromo held at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT. Cathy and her husband invented a line of fishing jigs called ‘Jackpot Digger Jigs’ that actually stir up sand each time the jig is dropped on the bottom. “I use to fish for summer floun- der with an old timer who said, when the tide is slow you have to move that jig like your churning butter.” said Cathy. Cathy suggests fishing contours, from high to low or low to high and said, “just experiment” with different rigs and baits as the fish bite something different every day.
Favorite fluke tips
• If possible, fish when the tide/current and wind are going in the same direction
• Fluke face into the current to feed, so you want to drag your bait over them, drifting with the tide and wind when in a boat or slowing pulling your bait over the bottom when on land
• When fishing slack or flood tide with no water movement try to fish in locations that have a lot of current (like under bridges or around jetties) or try power drifting (putting the vessel in and out of gear to create movement)… or troll perpendicular if in a boat so no matter what way the fish are facing you are passing them at least on a right angle
• When it comes to fluking, squid is the bait of choice. Some anglers cut it in very fine strips to mimic sand eels, others cut it into an inch thick strip and still others like to use the whole squid.
• One of my favorite fluke baits is what I call Capt. Monti’s fluke cocktail. The recipe… a fluorescent green or white plastic squid rig, baited with a horizontally hooked minnow or, a squid strip and topped off with a strip of fluke belly. This arrangement doubled my keeper ratio. Something about that horizontally hooked minnow or silverside that attracts the big ones, you will catch fewer fluke with this large bait presentation but your keeper ratio will be better as smaller fish pass on the big bait presentation.
• As with all fishing, you should match the hatch… what this means is use bait that matches what the fish are feeding on. For example early in the season the squid are in so it would be good to emphasize squid on your fluke rigs. Some anglers use an entire squid when the squid are in, however, later in the season when squid are not so plentiful you may want to emphasize other baits… silversides, mummies, etc.
• Another tactic that will enhance your fluke bite is teaser bait placed above the main bait. The idea is to create action above the main bait that draws the attention of a fluke on the bottom. A buck tail hook is often used as a teaser with a piece of squid stip. The top hook often gets the hit.
Favorite Places to catch fluke
Look for drop offs, structure, the banks of channels, and deep water particularly in the warm weather, in spring time they tend to be in lower depths. Favorite places to catch fluke in my area are noted below, check with your local bait shops for hot spots in your area.
• Channel breaks in and around Warwick Neck light
• Channel breaks on the northeast side of the Jamestown bridge
• areas off the north west corner of Dutch Island
• Underwater valley off the southeast side of Dutch Island
• Areas off URI’s Bay Campus
• Austin’s Hollow (an underwater valley) off the west side of Jamestown
• Beavertail in deep water off the west side
• Off southern Rhode Island coastal beaches… Watch Hill, Charlestown, in front of the five cottages, etc.
• Off the center wall of the Harbor of Refuge
• Off Newport at any number of deep water brakes
• At the mouth of Hull and Mackerel Coves off Jamestown at the drop-offs
• Off Block Island… the North Rip, Cow Cove on the north end, along the State beach on the east side
Special video interviews on fluke fishing
Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=18LMdr cMZi4 for and interview with Capt. Charlie Donilon of Snappa Charters, Pt. Judith, RI on how and where to catch fluke off Block Island and coastal shores.
Visit http://newenglandboating.com/v ideos/fall-fluke-fishing.html for a video with Capt. Dave Monti, Kelly Parker and Tom Richardson, co-hosts of New England Boating TV. Tom is a former Saltwater Sports- man magazine editor. They fish for fluke off Jamestown, RI and make Capt. Monti’s Fluke Cocktail.
Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing for over 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fish- ing license. He is a RISAA board member, a member of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association and a member of the RI Marine Fisheries Council. Visit Captain Dave’s No Fluke website at www.noflukefishing.com or e-mail him with your fishing news and photos at dmontifish@verizon.net.
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