More Bucktailing Tips

[Detour66]

Hey guys....i know a lot of you sharpies catch alot of big and plentyful Fluke on bucktails...I myself have done ok but i know there is much more to learn.

Please help me out...that would rock!

Ken

[ALS Mako]

detour, that's a pretty vague question. are you looking for advice on tackle or technique? tackle i like 7' spinning rod MH or H, line braid 10 - 20 #, reel - 2500 or 3000 class spinning. i always use a top shot of floro 20 - 30# about five feet. i like to use a small spro power swivel for the connection, some guys like uni-uni or albright or what ever, i like to use a swivel. when i first started jigging i used a two bucktail rig, now i just use a single. depending on current and depth 1/2 oz to 2 oz spro jig, i don't like to go much heavier, if a 2 oz is not working, i will switch to bait fishing. i always use a trilene knot to attach jig to line. colors- you have to do some work yourself! some guys tip their jigs with strip baits, i have done that in the past, now i just mainly use gulp.

as for techniques, first thing is first- cast around- cover water- you will get more fish covering more water! let the jig hit bottom, and start bouncing, you will have to experiment on what rythm works. bounce anywhere from 3 -12", mix it up. also make sure you are in contact with the bottom every so often. some times a fish will follow the jig and then lay on it as it hits bottom. and the most important advice- fish, more time on the water and practice. you could listen to advice till your ears bleed:eek: , but time on the water is the greattest teacher. hope this helps

[GDubya07]

I am no Sharpie but in my humble opinion -Great advice ALS Mako couldnt of said it any better - :D

I also try to watch the sharpies on the boat - Mako Eddie and Archie have helped me tremendously and can thank them enough - half the time I just watch how they work there rigs - THANK YOU GENTLEMAN :)

It is also nice when these guys share there knowledge but they can tell you everything they know but like anything else it takes time,practice and paitence

GoOd Luck

gDUBYA- out :cool:

[Flukeguy]

Bounce Bounce Bounce!!!!

[Skolmann]

Under 2 ounces, I use spinning tackle. Over 2 conventional.

I use a Homer-Rhodes loop knot to attach the bucktail to the leader.

More you do it, the better you become.

If you miss the initial strike, keep bouncing as alot of times the fluke will hit it again.

[Life's A Beach]

Seen all those guys plus the guys on BMH do it that way.

I don't.

I fish the back side of the drift, using as heavy as needed to stay as perpendicular as possible. Do NOT drag them.......you ain't aiming to snag the fluke but rather catch them. WHATEVER bait you're imitating is SWIMMING close to the bottom. Touch the bottom every 5-10 bounces just to be sure you're in proximity. Some days they like a steady, slow bounce while other days they fall for the big UP & DOWN. After a miss, drop the bucktail to the bottom and let out line. Sometimes they'll think they wounded it and then pounce back on it.

I always use a stinger hook. SOME peepz use the Owner/Gami 3/0 or 4/0 pre-made stingers. Some make their own fashioning them like those just mentioned. Other peepz tie &/or crimp heavy mono to a trailer hook for their stingers. I either buy Mai Tai bucktails with a swivel ALREADY ON IT (slightly more $) and crimp on a siwash hook or buy swivels the smallest size BUT just big enough to fit over the bucktail's hook barb and the siwash hook. Joe @ Mai Tai showed me the Cat's Azz last week; close the eye on siwash hook. slip plastic tubing (just barely big enough to fit over the eye) OVER the eye, then clip the tubing. Snap the siwash hook onto the bucktail hook, puncturing the plastic tubing. The tubing keeps the stinger hook on AND STRAIGHT. The ways I use aren't going to be quite as long as the pre-made stinger hooks BUT they'll cost A LOT LESS. A pack of Gami stingers (3/0 has 3 and 4/0 has 2 in each pack) cost around $4. Swivels are a dime and hooks 20 cents so mine cost 20% of the pre-made ones and take only seconds to make.

Big and Fresh Strips.....fluke (watch laws), sea robin, mackeral, bunker, blue fish, shark....anything. TRIM the strip WELL.....you want it to flutter not flop around. Some peepz put whole squid on their bucktails and stinger with success.

Teasers above the bucktail is another story.

[MartyS]

Big and Fresh Strips.....fluke (watch laws), sea robin, mackeral, bunker, blue fish, shark....anything. TRIM the strip WELL.....you want it to flutter not flop around. Some peepz put whole squid on their bucktails and stinger with success.

Teasers above the bucktail is another story.
How do you rig the strip (and any other bait) when you are using a bucktail with a stinger hook? Are you putting both hooks through the bait?

[GregV]

How do you rig the strip (and any other bait) when you are using a bucktail with a stinger hook? Are you putting both hooks through the bait?

Hook the wide end of the strip on the bucktail, stretch the strip out to find the place on the strip that will let it sit naturally on the bend of the stinger hook and then put the point of the stinger hook through that spot and place strip at the bend of the stinger. Best to use long and thin (thickness, not width) strips tapering to a pendant shape for maximum flutter. I like fluke ribbon, sea robin, bluefish or bunker strip. Fresh is always best. I have also used mahi, dogfish, mackerel strips. All that said, I did best last year with Gulp, but always have strips on hand in case they prefer them that day.

Owner sells stinger hooks with the plastic over the eye that Lab was describing. I buy stinger hooks with oversized closed eyes that will fit over the bucktail hook barb and bring aquarium tubing to fit over the hook eye. Like Lab says, it will hold the stinger straight back, but sometimes the stinger will twist around and twist the strip bait. Be sure to check for this and fix it if it happens. Good luck

[stripedbass]

The hooks with the over size eyes are siwash hooks.

[Detour66]

Thanks guys so much for the info.....I have bucktailed fromtime to time now but I am trying to up my game and I hear reports from shapies here and it seems most of the best fluking is done with bucktails not bait.

The info I am would like also is brands, colors, etc and lines used.

Thanks again for taking your time to help me out!

Ken

[Life's A Beach]

10-15# braid tied directly to a small swivel; tie a 3' leader to the white or glow bucktail (size already mentioned) and tie a 1' leader from the swivel to the teaser.

Some peepz tie the braid to mono/flouro top shot and tie a dropper loop or figure 8 for the teaser above it (1-2').

The color of the bucktail doesn't matter AT ALL; as long as it's white! I mentioned the brand I use. The paint holds up long, the bucktail doesn't pull out and the hooks stay sharp long. That plus Joe does make some of his jigs with the aforementioned swivel already on the hook; convenient! His products are for sale in tackle shops in Brielle and Point Pleasant; PM for exact names.


OPPS.........first two pics are a recent dinner; broccoli/cheese pasta, yellow corn (yes left over from flounder season), broiled scallops and monkfish with a couple slices of rare fillet mignon roasted and sliced.

next two are some Mai Tai Bucktail Jigs. Notice that most are white or glow. the second is a Black Bart carry case which keeps the sizes seperated (thanks for sharing the info Backdoor). it rolls up small for easy handling then rolls out to pick your next donation.

[ALS Mako]

OPPS.........first two pics are a recent dinner; broccoli/cheese pasta, yellow corn (yes left over from flounder season), broiled scallops and monkfish

mike, i'm assuming you did the cooking, next time pan roast the scallops. basically let them cook on one side till it get's nice and brown (carmalizing the natural sugars), start pan on high, and turn down to med, med-low and let them go, probably a a break down of 75% and 25% of cooking time for each side. centers should be warm and about med-rare/ med. i don't want to tell you how to eat or how to cook, just making a suggestion:) . or you could put the scallops closer to the atual heating element on the broiler (don't know if your using gas or elec) with a small pat of butter.

[Life's A Beach]

steve

did exactly what YOU suggested 2 days later.

I was broiling the monkfish in butter, fresh lemon and chopped garlic. I tossed the scallops in for the last ten minutes; turning them after 6 minutes.

[jesse+blackfish=king]

10 lb braid and spro buck tails all colors work

[Detour66]

Mike,

Thanks for the follow up. I know what I will be using next time out!

And that dinner looked delicious!

If you guys are ever looking for someone to a fill a spot on one of your trips,

please consider me.That would rock!

Tight lines

Ken

[BottomBouncer13]

Ive bucktailed the last two years with a set up very similar to Mike's, and Ive been very successful...This year I have been using a completely different method with alot of sucess...First off I primarily fish the raritan bay and inshore areas of sandy hook...My set up consists of 10 lb braid on what some would call a beefed up trout rod or flounder rod...I use very light bucktails (no more than an ounce) with a teaser tied about a foot or two up from the bucktail and i always tip it with gulp swimming mullet...I let my jig hit the bottom and instead of engaging my reel, I simply hold the line...I jig the bucktail with a range of hops... (anywhere from 3" to 2')... as i jig i feel for the jig to hit the bottom...once it does (every 10 or so hops) i release the line for a few seconds to make sure to keep the bait in the strike zone and repeat the process until i get hit...most of my hits are pretty far off the bottom as the jig rarely touches the bottom...and for some reason (probably just luck) my keeper ratio has deffiently improved this season on my boat and on party boats...i always use white, glow, chartrouse, and pink (in the ocean)...this method is effective in 4 ft to upwards of 40ft of water...
Whats really cool about this method is how hard the fluke hit the bucktail and teaser...They come flying off the bottom and crush it...there really are only a few missed fish...I love bucktailing and i know if i have one bad day im going back to the old fashion way... but right now it is working for me...

[bigal427]

In the bay light 10 pound power pro tied directly to a 3/8's white bullet type jig with a strip of mackerel or spearing the more straight up or down the better just a slight bounce of the bottom and never let them have it. Same for the ocean just a 1 to 4oz. hot lips, more then 4 oz. and its time for the fluke rig.

[cool hand fluke]

LAB -

When you use a teaser, did you say you tie a foot from swivel? Is that a on a separate line or do you use a dropper loop on same line as line you have bucktail on?

I always use a single line of fluro off my braid/swivel with dropper loop 12-18 inches above the bucktail and a foot down from swivel.

By the way, this is a useful thread!

Thanks

Al

[Life's A Beach]

Al

try both

see which one fouls less, for YOU.


when I do seperate lines.....I use a swivel.
when I do dropper loop......I tie mono to the braid; no swivel.

[GDubya07]

Yes this is a great thread and thanks to everyone willing to contribute - I learned alot from it and it is very cool that people are willing to offer suggestions

By the way that meal looks outstanding and must of even tasted better - Lifes a Beach

G- OUT :cool:

[MartyS]

Ive bucktailed the last two years with a set up very similar to Mike's, and Ive been very successful...This year I have been using a completely different method with alot of sucess...First off I primarily fish the raritan bay and inshore areas of sandy hook...My set up consists of 10 lb braid on what some would call a beefed up trout rod or flounder rod...I use very light bucktails (no more than an ounce) with a teaser tied about a foot or two up from the bucktail and i always tip it with gulp swimming mullet...I let my jig hit the bottom and instead of engaging my reel, I simply hold the line...I jig the bucktail with a range of hops... (anywhere from 3" to 2')... as i jig i feel for the jig to hit the bottom...once it does (every 10 or so hops) i release the line for a few seconds to make sure to keep the bait in the strike zone and repeat the process until i get hit...most of my hits are pretty far off the bottom as the jig rarely touches the bottom...and for some reason (probably just luck) my keeper ratio has deffiently improved this season on my boat and on party boats...i always use white, glow, chartrouse, and pink (in the ocean)...this method is effective in 4 ft to upwards of 40ft of water...
Whats really cool about this method is how hard the fluke hit the bucktail and teaser...They come flying off the bottom and crush it...there really are only a few missed fish...I love bucktailing and i know if i have one bad day im going back to the old fashion way... but right now it is working for me...
I use a similar rig, but heavier bucktail jig, and I'm probably staying closer to the bottom than you. The majority of my hits are on the teaser.

I'd be curious to know if your fish hit the teaser or bucktail primarily, since you are higher off the bottom.

[BottomBouncer13]

Bucktail 60% teaser 40%...almost all keepers on the bucktail...

[Gerry Zagorski]

Great to see a post like this.. VERY INFORMATIVE and thanks to all who contributed to it.

Funny thing is, just Monday I was telling a friend about how some sharpies on the site were Bucktailing big Fluke and that I had attempted it several times with no luck. This will really help a hack like me out. Now I just have to resist the temptation to continue my lazy dead stick fishing with bait. :D

Once this thread plays out I will move it over to Best Of.

[howarda780]

I would say 90% of my fluke are taken on the top jig.

I use a 1-2 oz on the bottom and a 1/2-3/4 oz. on top (15-18" apart). Varying between squid/fluke belly strip with spearing on the bottom and squid/fluke belly stip with a gulp 4" swimming mullet chartruese, on the teaser.

I fish right on the bottom just continually bouncing and try to drive the fluke nuts by pissing him off and trying to make him hit it. Its been pretty successful so far this year.

[MartyS]

I would say 90% of my fluke are taken on the top jig.

I use a 1-2 oz on the bottom and a 1/2-3/4 oz. on top (15-18" apart). Varying between squid/fluke belly strip with spearing on the bottom and squid/fluke belly stip with a gulp 4" swimming mullet chartruese, on the teaser.

I fish right on the bottom just continually bouncing and try to drive the fluke nuts by pissing him off and trying to make him hit it. Its been pretty successful so far this year.
Same as me, and I have about an 80% hit rate on the teaser. With us keeping the bucktail close to the bottom, the teaser may be in the strike zone most of the time. Bottombouncer, fishing up higher, probably has his bucktail in the right spot.

[BottomBouncer13]

All I use for a teaser is a feathered 3/0 hook with gulp...I'm gonna try next week without the teaser...

[bigfishtale]

I hate dragging bait for fluke and try to bucktail all the time, sometimes it's just not in the cards.

For the bay/shallows/no current/shore I like to go as light as possible:

Anywhere from a 3/8oz jighead to an ounce Spro bucktail is my favorite. Generally use a light graphite spinning rod akin to a trout/bass stick. 10# Fireline attached to 15# mono leader, anywhere from 3' to 10'. Don't really need a shock leader length of line but never had any problems with such a long leader on the spinning reel. Connection knot can be whatever you are comfortable with tying. lately I've been going with the doubled slim-beauty knot but in a rush I'll just tie a uni-to-uni.

Bucktail goes on the end of the leader via a no-slip loop knot. I feel that gives the bucktail/jig alot more action with less effort.

Teasers? I've sworn by them in the past and have done quite well with them at times. Generally just tie a drooper loop about a foot above the bucktail and slip on a feathered/bucktailed hook(fly) or even a pre-rigged soft plactic like the Tsunami 3" splittails. Can bait up hooks with whatever you choose whether it be a Gulp product, spearing, other bait, etc.

Last few seasons I've gone with just the bucktail and still put fish in the boat. IMHO, fluke do swim above the surface but generally it's about a foot up. Unless fishing really irregular rough bottom, the teaser should be 10-14" above the jig. I would suggest fishing without a teaser and just the bucktail to begin with until you have working the jig correctly down.

I like to see what way the boat is drifting before casting. need to know how the lines will be running especially when on a crowded party boat. Of course the pulpit and stern corners are the easiest to work as it gives you room to cast and work the bucktail longer.

If the boat is drifting say left to right, your baits will be dragging behind the boat to the left. I will cast out and to the right, ahead of the drift, so that when it hits the bottom you have more area to cover first and be ale to work it along until it catches up with the drift and then continue to work it letting out some line if necessary. With light bucktails sometimes you really can't feel it hit bottom and need to pay attention to your line as it'll "tell" you when you hit botton though it just might be a slight pause in line coming off the reel/sinking. I like short, quick snaps of the rod and will reel in the slack created from the lifts and the drift. Once it's fully into the drift, you should be able to just bounce it along. Shouldn't be dragging it along the bottom, just bouncing and atleast coming into contact with the bottom occassionally. If you're catching skates frequently, you're fishing to heavy and dragging it.

Color of bucktail does matter IMHO. I've fished one color successfully and switched to another that does not get nearly the amount of bites with all other things being identical, ie weight, size, and what it's tipped with.
That being said, 90% of the time I start off with a Spro chartreuse bucktail.

Tried the Spro mudkicker and did very poor with it. The Live/open mouth/smiling bill types I also have done less than stellar with. personally like the regular Spro bts or a bannana head-type ones my buddy builds. The bannana heads one are what I usually use from shore or for under 1/2oz conditions. Coin head types too but have meager supply of them.

What to tip them with? Anything from fish strips(fluke belly, bluefish, bunker, dogfish) squid, snappers, smelt, pork rind, soft plastics, Gulp product, etc.
I personally love the 4" Gulp swim mullet grub and usually start off with the pearl white color. The 6" is good on bigger bucktails larger than 2ozs.
I caught my personal best on the Gulp sandeel on a 3oz bucktail. Not alot of "meat" on it but did the job.


Obviously deeper waters, snag filled spots, fast currents, etc will need a bit heavier line and gear. I use a conventional setup for heavier bucktails and 15-20# Fireline with 20-30# mono leaders. With heavier jgs I will tend to sway back to using a teaser and larger baits. Tried stinger-hooks and never really had much success with them, then again, 98% of my fluking is in the bay.

This is what works for me so your mileage may vary;)

[AviD]

IMHO, fluke do swim above the surface

Say what? The new flying fish? :D

Surface, bottom...same difference ;)

[bigfishtale]

Surface of the bottom...an oxymoron.:D

[stripedbass]

Does any one use fin-s for a teasers above your bucktail and if you do what color.

[BottomBouncer13]

in the ocean...pink bucktail and pink fin-s

[stripedbass]

The 4 inch ones right.

[Detour66]

Excellent Information from everyone....kudos and all that good stuff!

Man I can't wait to get out there and hammer some of them flukies with

my new bag of jigging tricks!

Thanks to everyone of you...and if you see me out there in Raritan Bay or Down

by the rocks please give me a hola....

Ken

[BottomBouncer13]

4 inch or smaller...

[stripedbass]

Will any other color fin-s work. How about tsunami split tail mimmow in the in 5" i have those in sand eel/olive black and the red hed ones will these work.

[Life's A Beach]

Dude

you've got some, TRY THEM. You may find something that works FOR YOU that no one else is using. Gottog doesn't use anything over 2oz and loves chartreuse and I don't use anything UNDER 3oz and love white; and we BOTH catch fish. It's not hard and fast........that's why they make lures/jigs in every color.

[Detour66]

Keep the info flowing boys....this is becoming a kick azz thread....with info for all .....thats whats it all about.....sharing some info that will make us all better anglers!

Now here's is one of my tips for bucktailing that I have found to work well.

Apply bunker oil or shedder crab oil to the bucktail hair .... this drives the fish crazy...you will notice a oil slick come off of the bucktail and once that oil slick stops time to re apply.....try it...you will like it and so will them fluke! I caught some 8 lb fish last year using this method.....no other bait was needed!

Ken

[Skolmann]

Since the original thread was moved to the Best Of Forum & no longer seems to be accepting any additional posts. I wanted to add to what was said in the last post of that thread.

Someone made the suggestion to soak the bucktail hair with either bunker or shedder crab oil.

Instead of using the above mentioned, try using the GULP spray as it is not as messy and it comes in squid, shrimp, herring & crab scents to name a few.

[privateer]

Here's a tip for those that use stinger hooks w/ long strip baits.

instead of buying open eyelet hooks, dealing with surgical tubing, rubber bands to keep the hook on. I use dip and grip on the eyelet to keep the hook on. Works great!

Rich

[MartyS]

Here's a tip for those that use stinger hooks w/ long strip baits.

instead of buying open eyelet hooks, dealing with surgical tubing, rubber bands to keep the hook on. I use dip and grip on the eyelet to keep the hook on. Works great!

Rich
I purchased some stinger hooks that were made like that commercially.

All you need are some O'shaunessey hooks and the Plasti-dip you didn't use from winter flounder season.

[bigfishtale]

Gottog doesn't use anything over 2oz and loves chartreuse and I don't use anything UNDER 3oz and love white; and we BOTH catch fish. It's not hard and fast........that's why they make lures/jigs in every color.

Well I try not to ever use them over 2ozs. Sometimes ya do and just gotta go with the flow, or drift in this case ;)

So far this season I've been struggling with the bucktail. Too many times I had to go from 3/4oz and up it to 1.5oz :eek:

Tsunami split-tails work great as a teaser. I use the samll ones as that's closer to most of the forage in the bay early on. Outside or when larger baitfish around, the larger will work very well. Also when the peanuts show, it's the only time I'll use paddle tails instead of splittails.