Before Gulp came on the scene I used a variety of hard and soft body teasers about 18" above my bucktails , usually with a spearing added for some flavor. And I caught just as many large Fluke on the small teasers as on the bucktails with squid or fish strips added to them. On most days that set up would easily out fish the old standard bait rigs.
With the introduction of Gulp many things have changed. Originally the small 3" and 4" swimming mullets used to be the hot ticket either fished on a bucktail or on a teaser of plain hook above the bucktail. For at least the past 7 or 8 years the really hot ticket has been the Gulp 6" grubs in a variety of colors. I see 2 main techniques used, some putting the big worm right on the bucktail while others, like myself, prefer to place the worm on a plain hook above in place of a teaser. This rig has consistently caught more large Fluke including several DD's on my boat than almost any other method. Having said that fish, can be particular from time to time and, as such, I always have a backup rod rigged with a more traditional bucktail and teaser rig ready. There are days when that presentation will prove to bail you out when other techniques may not obtain the desired results.
And, BTW Pequa, I wish I had those "smart" birds on the North Fork and at Montauk. On the drops I fish the birds can put a serious dent in my wallet with the pace they swallow my Gulp offerings!!
