Thank you Fluke "wonder rig"

[briansnat]

Recently someone here posted a video of the so-called "fluke wonder rig". I have thank him. Hit Sandy Hook Bay today with a friend. My fluke fishing experience is limited to maybe 4 outings over the last 30 years. He's been fluking much of his life. I rigged a rod with the "wonder rig" with a killie on the end and he was using his standard rig with a killie and a strip of squid.

30 minutes into our first drift I had boated 3 keepers (biggest 25 inches) to nothing on his line. The next drift he got a short, a dogfish and a sea robin and I boated 3 more shorts.

By the end of the day I had about 15 in total and he had about 8, but most of his were after he switched to the "wonder rig". Alas, after me going 3 for 3 for keepers we got nothing but shorts.

Going forward this will be my go to rig for fluking. My only change was leaving the hook on the jig. No way am I cutting the hook off a $6 Spro bucktail to make it a fancy sinker. Besides I thought maybe there is that monster fluke out that that might prefer the jig.

[nutleysigns]

let's see this "Wonder Rig" congrats on your catch

[bulletbob]

let's see this "Wonder Rig" congrats on your catch

Basically, its a 1 oz or so bucktail jig with the hook clipped off, tied on a 1 foot leader off one eye of a 3 way swivel with another longer leader maybe 18 inches that has a small , REALLY small hook tied on, and is baited with a killie.. The rig looks fine for loading up on 15 inch fluke, but that #4 hook is better suited to fishing for crappies. or maybe small sand porgies.. a 5 or 6 pounder on this rig??.. maybe , but you'd have to be all ass to pull it off.
It looks ok for rivers with a lot of cabbage, but IMHO, the plain old jig and teaser looks WAYYY better for ocean fish... Go on youtube and type in "Fluke Wonder Rig", and there are videos... IMHO, that guy must miss a LOT of hits when fluke grab that bucktail sans hook.. In my opinion, in the rivers you would catch just as many fluke on a plain old live killie rig with a small egg sinker painted white .. I wasn't impressed personally.. The Shrewsbury and Navasink systems are stiff with smaller fluke in June some years, and using live killies or plain spearing can get any good fisherman several dozen hookups in a few hours on the right day... I would not use the rig as shown for fishing structure, or even the big deep channels around the Hook... bob

[briansnat]

I used 1/0 octopus hook

[bulletbob]

I used 1/0 octopus hook

Good idea.. The #4 hook is simply no good for big fluke... bob

[reason162]

I used 1/0 octopus hook

That's a porgy hook, and small porgies at that. A keeper fluke will take a 6/0 hook all day with no issues whatsoever.

[Blackfish Bobby]

It works.
Smilin Bill jigs with hook cut off work real well. Green and white.

[briansnat]

That's a porgy hook, and small porgies at that. A keeper fluke will take a 6/0 hook all day with no issues whatsoever.

But will a killie? I can't imagine one providing very much movement attached to a 6/0

[bulletbob]

But will a killie? I can't imagine one providing very much movement attached to a 6/0

You are correct of course, but its a trade off.. That #4 is simply too small for fluke fishing .. Yes you will catch some, and you did great your first time with the rig... However using porgy/flounder hooks for fluke is going to lose you a lot of nice fish over time.. Killies catch fluke as well as anything else, but tend to catch a lot of shorts... Thats fine as I personally consider the "wonder rig" more for rivers and shallow bay areas, maybe big tidal creeks that hold smaller fluke.
Using a #4 hook on big deep water fluke will make for a lot of problems, and a a lot of gut hooked fluke... bob

[reason162]

But will a killie? I can't imagine one providing very much movement attached to a 6/0

I'd go 3/0 with a killie. I also wouldn't wait 20 seconds or anything ridiculous like that to set the hook. Another name for the "wonder rig" is the "gut-ripper rig."

[Arbutis]

Recently someone here posted a video of the so-called "fluke wonder rig". I have thank him.

You're very welcome! Glad you had success.

The #4 hook is simply no good for big fluke... bob

Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Good one Bob. Such a strong, definitive statement. (but wrong - unless 20-24 inch fluke on a regular basis aren't big enough)

That's a porgy hook, and small porgies at that. A keeper fluke will take a 6/0 hook all day with no issues whatsoever.

I agree. The #4 Gamakatsu octopus is a perfect hook for porgies, sea bass, kingfish, snappers, grunts, yellowtail, largemouth bass, weakfish, and yes - fluke (amongst many other species I don't have time to list). It's sharp as a mother and the shape helps it slide right into the corner of the mouth almost as good as a circle hook. I defy anyone to use a 6/0 on one rig and a #4 octo on another identical rig and get better hookups with the 6/0. That little hook is the *key* to success of this rig and soooooo many people don't believe it UNTIL THEY TRY IT.
12 pound test line and the #4 can bring in some massive fluke.

But will a killie? I can't imagine one providing very much movement attached to a 6/0

Another *key* is the killie - but most important is to keep that little bugger alive and well and not weighted down by a big heavy hook or leader or other strip bait. It's amazing how well they are able to swim and survive with the little #4 stuck through their face.

Another name for the "wonder rig" is the "gut-ripper rig."

I'm not going to lie and say it never happens. Obviously any baited hook has that potential. But if any of you out there have experienced days with lots of bites but very few hookups, switch to the #4 octo hook and leave all of that behind you. This hook catches EVERYTHING. So you catch a lot of shorts too - at least you catch them instead of wondering what the heck is down there stealing your bait.
I've used up to 7/0 kahle hooks for fluke and everything in between and have had gut hooks with all of them. However, I can honestly and confidently say that I have had more fluke with corner of the mouth hook sets with the #4 than with any other hook I've ever used and until YOU try it for yourself, you will not believe it. So if you haven't tried it, please don't make assumptions or matter-of-fact statements about frequent gut hooking.

The Wonder Rig - because everyone fishing around you will be 'wondering' how you keep catching fish when they are not. Happens every time I go out there.
I have a river compilation video that I've been putting together from this season - coming out soon. I bring several kids out and even use a KMart special Spider-man rod and reel and we just keep on catching! Try it - you'll be converted - just keep everything as small and light as possible.

[briansnat]

So if you haven't tried it, please don't make assumptions or matter-of-fact statements about frequent gut hooking.

Between the two of us I think we had three gut hooked fish all day and one of them was the dogfish on a larger hook. Even if they are gut hooked, a smaller hook is easier to remove and does less damage and if you decided to cut the line and leave it in, the small hook will rust away much quicker than the larger one.

I'm still not sold on the #4 either. I've seen them bend on big trout and bass so bringing up a big fluke from a 45 ft deep channel on a #4 would worry me. I've but I found the 1/0 octo to provide a nice balance, giving me an active and swimming killie and enough backbone if you get a monster on.

[bulletbob]

Quote/
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Good one Bob. Such a strong, definitive statement. (but wrong - unless 20-24 inch fluke on a regular basis aren't big enough)"

Look, I won't argue,, Sure you can catch good size fluke on a #4.. Hell I have caught them on #8 flounder hooks... However, do you REALLY think a #4 hook is the hot setup for taking big keeper sized fluke?.. It really IS a porgy hook..
I guess the multiple thousands of VERY good fluke fisherman that use hooks from 2/0 to 6/0 are going about it the wrong way, and really should be using hooks meant for porgies and spots...

The guys making expensive pre packaged fluke rigs for for a living have been wrong for decades I guess.......bob

[june181901]

I have tried the "wonder rig" and believe me it works. My son thought I should have used a 4/0 not a #4.
When I started catching more fish he became a believer.
Give it a try! I fish the Navesink/Shrewsbury Rivers.