Post your 2019-2025 Fluke Pix & Trip Reports Here!

[Leprechaun]

In case anyone wants to give the drop-shot technique on our fluke - here's a nice "starter kit" from Berkley. If it were I, I'd schmear some sort of "smelly jelly" fish attractant on them, but then that's just me.

 

[BoatGuy]

"smelly jelly" fish attractant on them

I learn something new all the time. What the heck is Smelly Jelly. I did a google and there are many "flavors". Which one to try?

 

[Leprechaun]

Hi BG - when I mentioned "Smelly Jelly," that was a very old product from the '90's (I think) and I was really referring to a type of product, rather than a specific one.

This is what I would use if I were to really get into this type of fishing:

Scents

Scents

www.pro-cure.com

I'd go with one of the SW-friendly versions. I see many of the YT posters seem to prefer this brand, the guys I watch include Dan/Fishing Accomplished, Pete Ranieri and of course EliasVFishing - who has his own line of very successful rubber/plastic lures - his "MiniMac" baits seem particularly effective on bay fluke, from what I've seen on-line.

 

[Leprechaun]

And speaking of Pete Ranieri's YT channel, here's his latest video, shot in my own boating backyard.

 

[CaptXXX]

Another valiant effort on a really nice day for the ocean.
BTW, did Stephen's "secret lure" look something like this? If so, I know where you can still buy a few!

View attachment 117990

“No”… says Stephen’s Dad

 

[george]

Keep drilling it out. Gotta be a DD coming soon!

I've been saying that all my life.

 

[Leprechaun]

Only one for me in my entire life. 11.2lbs in 2006 - hit a tandem-rigged squid over one of my old-time open bottom drops. What a beauty she was too . . .

Jeez, I look 20 years younger.

Oh wait . . .

 

[OVERBORED]

Who's the young guy you let hold the fish! Lol

 

[Leprechaun]

Had George and Capt. Mike aboard for an offshore trip yesterday. A fairly significant 3'-4' roll with a light East breeze made figuring out my drift lines a bit tough at first. Anyway, we caught plenty of shorts, including a pair of 18.5" on the last drift, but only found a single fish for the box. It got so tough that I switched my rig over to seabass & ling and fished the final few hours that way. So we ended the day with a half dozen nice-sized keeper biscuits and a small batch of ling. I don't know what is going on this season, but if I had to rate the past three fluke seasons, I'd give 2024 a "7", 2025 a "5" and this season a "1", no lie.

Had a 250lb+ hammerhead come right to the boat (a first for me!), trying to steal a ling, and saw one other big fishie come up as well, but I don't think it was a shark, had the wrong profile and fin set - I dunno, maybe a really big cobia? I've never seen one free-swimming, so I can't say for sure.

Here's a few pics, including a real nice one I boxed.

 

[Snapprhead27]

Had George and Capt. Mike aboard for an offshore trip yesterday. A fairly significant 3'-4' roll with a light East breeze made figuring out my drift lines a bit tough at first. Anyway, we caught plenty of shorts, including a pair of 18.5" on the last drift, but only found a single fish for the box. It got so tough that I switched my rig over to seabass & ling and fished the final few hours that way. So we ended the day with a half dozen nice-sized keeper biscuits and a small batch of ling. I don't know what is going on this season, but if I had to rate the past three fluke seasons, I'd give 2024 a "7", 2025 a 5" and this season a "1", no lie.

Had a 250lb+ hammerhead come right to the boat (a first for me!), trying to steal a ling, and saw one other big fishie come up as well, but I don't think it was a shark, had the wrong profile and fin set - I dunno, maybe a really big cobia? I've never seen one swimming, so I can't say for sure.

Here's a few pics, including a real nice one I caught.

View attachment 118178

View attachment 118179

Tough for sure! I was at the AB reef on Friday all day and it was nothing but shorts. Even saw a Captree boat working McCallister (sp?) and popped over to AB real quick.

 

[Chinacat]

Had George and Capt. Mike aboard for an offshore trip yesterday. A fairly significant 3'-4' roll with a light East breeze made figuring out my drift lines a bit tough at first. Anyway, we caught plenty of shorts, including a pair of 18.5" on the last drift, but only found a single fish for the box. It got so tough that I switched my rig over to seabass & ling and fished the final few hours that way. So we ended the day with a half dozen nice-sized keeper biscuits and a small batch of ling. I don't know what is going on this season, but if I had to rate the past three fluke seasons, I'd give 2024 a "7", 2025 a 5" and this season a "1", no lie.

Had a 250lb+ hammerhead come right to the boat (a first for me!), trying to steal a ling, and saw one other big fishie come up as well, but I don't think it was a shark, had the wrong profile and fin set - I dunno, maybe a really big cobia? I've never seen one free-swimming, so I can't say for sure.

Here's a few pics, including a real nice one I boxed.

View attachment 118178

View attachment 118179

Damn
If thats the results for the “A Team”, the rest of us dont stand a chance with the flatties

At least you came home with some nice biscuits

 

[captmike28]

Had George and Capt. Mike aboard for an offshore trip yesterday. A fairly significant 3'-4' roll with a light East breeze made figuring out my drift lines a bit tough at first. Anyway, we caught plenty of shorts, including a pair of 18.5" on the last drift, but only found a single fish for the box. It got so tough that I switched my rig over to seabass & ling and fished the final few hours that way. So we ended the day with a half dozen nice-sized keeper biscuits and a small batch of ling. I don't know what is going on this season, but if I had to rate the past three fluke seasons, I'd give 2024 a "7", 2025 a "5" and this season a "1", no lie.

Had a 250lb+ hammerhead come right to the boat (a first for me!), trying to steal a ling, and saw one other big fishie come up as well, but I don't think it was a shark, had the wrong profile and fin set - I dunno, maybe a really big cobia? I've never seen one free-swimming, so I can't say for sure.

Here's a few pics, including a real nice one I boxed.

View attachment 118178

View attachment 118179

Those condiditons yesterday were the type that have even the best of us scratching our heads! Thank God for the Sea Bass and Ling to at least give us a few tasty measls.

Always appreciate the top effort you make, Pete.

 

[OVERBORED]

Fluke can be prima donnas under certain conditions. At least plan B put some fillets on the table.

 

[Litugboat]

Still experimenting with the Dropshot rig in the bay . Just can’t get the fluke to hit the jig this year . 40 fish one 20 inch keeper and one 18 and 99/100 that I dutifully released . Gulp jerk shad in new penny or a long thin strip of belly 14 inches up was key