One of the many things I like about fluke fishing is that it's relaxing. A lazy drift on a lazy afternoon. It is a good chance to relax. To take a weekend off. While fluke are pretty scrappy for their size, they just don't have the muscle or weight to put on a show as good as a striped bass. Furthermore, fishing for fluke usually means fishing in a fleet which can take away from the relaxing part. Lastly, striped bass are striped bass. There is an aura that surrounds these fish that keeps us coming back time and time again. There are many many methods of fishing for bass, but I'm here to tell you about a method I call fluking for bass. It is exactly what it sounds like. Lets start with the rig. On a medium outfit, spooled with 20 pound line, tie on a 3-way swivel. To one end of the swivel, tie on a 1 or 2 foot leader with a loop at the end. To this loop attach your sinker. The the other loop on the swivel, attach your hook (a 6/0 beak) with a 4 foot leader. Your all set. Ride out the the 30 foot depths off any beach that is known to harbor bass, put on a nice large fresh clam with the belly and all the stringy stuff (which I like to refer to as "snot") attached, let her down to the bottom, and relax. Just sit back and drift-fish like you do for fluke. Let out some scope, keep your sinker on or near the bottom and wait. When your offering passes near a bass, the hook-up will be one of many. Some fish will engulf it and run, while others will just kind of play with it. I react here as I do with fluke. If the rod bends good, I lift and reel. If it is just a bump, I left, if there is no weight, I free spool for about 3 seconds and slowly let the line come tight and feel for extra weight or life. If it's there, hit him. If not, let it scope out again for a few seconds. Just like fluke fishing. Only the fish are bigger, stronger and can run as big as 50 pounds! To date, the largest fish I have personally caught using this 2 year old method (for me) is 36" I've lost a few that may or may not have run larger, but quite frankly, I'm happy with the size of the fish I've been catching. And, especially the ease with wich I've been catching them. So the next time you head out to the bridge and see your favorite spot is all filled up, think of fluking for bass and give it a shot. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Good Fishing - Captain John
(cr) May 2002