Best Fluke Bait Ever

[Billfish715]

I was very impressed to see these killies in a drainage from the marsh on Sandy Hook. Without a doubt they are the best bait for fluke in and around the Sandy Hook and Raritan Bays as well as the rivers that flow into them. These killies were bunched up in a pool at low tide during today's full moon. They will be ready for the fluke when they show up in a few weeks and the fluke will find the table set with plenty of food on which to fatten up. The first picture is of a solid mass of killies to a depth of about 5 feet.

[loosescrews]

Wow pretty cool. Nice find

[NoLimit]

There are days where spearing will outfish the same rig right next to it with a killie - by a big margin. I used to go out with killies all the time but now I go all the time with spearing.

[bulletbob]

I dunno.. Lots of small fluke on killies, but they certainly do like them in the rivers/bay... I find a spearing is hit just as quickly as a killie, and they are cheaper, unless you have access to "free" killies.. They say that big live killies are very good for sea bass as well, never tried them. In fresh water, live killies are inhaled instantly by pickerel, perch, crappies etc.. I found them better than shiners, because shiners would croak just looking at a hook, and i would often catch 4 or 5 fish on the same killie, and it would still be kicking... Tough little SOB'S.... bob

[Billfish715]

The amount of killies that were in that one pool was incredible. What was even more mind boggling was that there were so many that survived the cold and snow and ice. While it's true that the spearing do come in early to spawn, the mainstay of forage fish is the killie. Seeing how resilient they are and the fact that they will be here whenever the fluke show up make them my number one bait. Killies are natural baits and their lively movement is irresistible to a hungry fluke. Check out the Wonder Rig videos and talk to anyone who regularly fishes in the Manasquan, Shrewsbury, Navesink, or Shark Rivers or the back bays even some sections of the ocean and they'll agree that killies rule. The faster the drift, however, usually forces a change to a different bait. In the meantime, I am just fascinated by the fact that it's been so cold and this tiny bait fish is still hanging tough. I might have found a new place to set my killie traps this summer.

[SaltLife1980]

Who uses bait anymore?!?!:eek::D:D

[bulletbob]

The amount of killies that were in that one pool was incredible. What was even more mind boggling was that there were so many that survived the cold and snow and ice. While it's true that the spearing do come in early to spawn, the mainstay of forage fish is the killie. Seeing how resilient they are and the fact that they will be here whenever the fluke show up make them my number one bait. Killies are natural baits and their lively movement is irresistible to a hungry fluke. Check out the Wonder Rig videos and talk to anyone who regularly fishes in the Manasquan, Shrewsbury, Navesink, or Shark Rivers or the back bays even some sections of the ocean and they'll agree that killies rule. The faster the drift, however, usually forces a change to a different bait. In the meantime, I am just fascinated by the fact that it's been so cold and this tiny bait fish is still hanging tough. I might have found a new place to set my killie traps this summer.

Cold doesn't bother killies in the least, and not trying to piss in your Cheerios, but those masses of killies may move on in the warm weather... or not.
I saw the Wonder Rig vids.. Simply a jig being used as a weight for live killie on a leader. In my opinion, a small bucktail with the killie hooked through the lips would probably work just as well.... bob

[Reelron]

I have seen Killies frozen solid in a block of ice, thawed the ice and the majority of them were alive.

Have the seals found them yet?

[Blackfish Doug]

Who uses bait anymore?!?!:eek::D:D

That's the problem we changed the way the fish eat. I like to know how much money the people who sell Gulp & Spro bucktails & gami hooks donate to the RFA & people who are fighting for our rights to fish.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Great pics....

I think Killies are more effective when fished in areas they are naturally present. Rivers, creeks, back bays etc....

Larger baits like Snappers and Peanut Bunkers seem to do better when fishing the ocean as does Gulp and a bucktail or long strip baits.

Since we have an 18 inch minimum, a lot of people have changed their tactics to target larger fish and are fishing the ocean lumps. Most of them are no longer doing the squid and killie thing. One reason is you'd be snagged all the time on rough bottom... The other is that smaller baits attract smaller fish.

[bigal427]

I 'll take strips of Mackerel over killies any day bay or ocean

[reason162]

That's the problem we changed the way the fish eat. I like to know how much money the people who sell Gulp & Spro bucktails & gami hooks donate to the RFA & people who are fighting for our rights to fish.

what?

[Billfish715]

From the perspective of someone who has trapped killies since he was a kid, the sheer numbers of bait in that drainage was amazing. I've never seen so many in one spot ever. If you look at those images and think about their dollar value, you would be looking at a gold mine. However, kids who used to trap killies and sell them years ago, would probably be hassled by the bait police today. I'll continue to trap them and keep them in my homemade, wooden killie car and keep them on ice on every fluke trip we make. If you can't trap your own bait, buy some at one or more of the sponsors on this site. The quality of last year's killies was excellent. Never leave the dock without them.

[bulletbob]

Billfish.. Not sure if you do any sweetwater fishing, but if so, save some of the smaller ones and take them to a lake that has Crappies and Perch in late April/May.. The big Crappies go crazy for killies.. best Crappie and Yellow Perch bait of all time. Even though they don't live in fresh water lakes, the fish there love them.. bob

[Richieclip]

From the perspective of someone who has trapped killies since he was a kid, the sheer numbers of bait in that drainage was amazing. I've never seen so many in one spot ever. If you look at those images and think about their dollar value, you would be looking at a gold mine. However, kids who used to trap killies and sell them years ago, would probably be hassled by the bait police today. I'll continue to trap them and keep them in my homemade, wooden killie car and keep them on ice on every fluke trip we make. If you can't trap your own bait, buy some at one or more of the sponsors on this site. The quality of last year's killies was excellent. Never leave the dock without them.
Man that brings back good memories . I used to trap and sell to capt'n Josh's b
&t in point Pleasnt . Made so much money and treated the whole neighborhood when te ice cream man came around

[RussH]

Great pics....

Since we have an 18 inch minimum, a lot of people have changed their tactics to target larger fish and are fishing the ocean lumps. Most of them are no longer doing the squid and killie thing. One reason is you'd be snagged all the time on rough bottom... The other is that smaller baits attract smaller fish.

Which is of course why they MUST introduce slot fish. We need to stop culling those large breeders. A 2 fish @16" and 3@18 or something similar would take a lot of pressure off those deep ocean lumps that hold the most successful breeders. But I'm of course preaching to the choir.

[catsmeow]

Grew up in South River in the 50's. Remember catching killies at a place we called Minnie Bridge which was a big pipe in a creek off Whitehead Avenue with a hook and bread. Also remember catching so many in an umbrella net behind Dairy Queen on the causway could hardly lift the net. Always remember our big adventure one bikes to Fred's on 35 to buy blood worms to fish for small striper in the South River. Well still fishing killies for fluke off Sandy Hook on my boat. Last few years using Pete's Jumbo Maryland killies. Size makes for fewer small fluke. Will be a bait dragger till I'm pushing up daisys at Sacred Heart cemetery in Hillsborough. See all you flukers out on the water...... Walt

[Joey Dah Fish]

You can conserve more and have less casualties when to buck tail. But that's none of my business

[Capt Sal]

You can conserve more and have less casualties when to buck tail. But that's none of my business

Bucktailing is not for everyone. My dad was one of the best fluke fisherman i ever saw and he would never bucktail. He said he came fishing to relax not work. Drifting and dreaming is relaxing. I will do both but not bucktail all day.I have been fishing Raritan Bay for well over 55 years and killies are my choice.Killie and a swimming mullet gulp is a killer in Raritan Bay.A plain killie with a gold hook works well also. I do catch my own killies and that cuts down on the cost. As far as gulp baits go i have this to say. When i ran a party boat the Jack Pot out of sewaren i watched guys loose 50 bucks in gulps and bucktails and tip the mate two bucks! Go figure??

[torchee]

Ever notice the different species of killies???
The tiger striped ones get zero bites!!!

But the plain ones work fine.

[bunker dunker]

bucktails and big gulps or I aint going!!!!

[Fisherman120]

Anybody who fishes with me knows how much I love Gulp. I have a huge container full of 5 inch mullets and 6 inch grubs/mullets and some unopened packages too lying in my room. I also though have fished Raritan Bay my entire life and can definitley say killies work great out here. I would still say Gulp outfishes killies most of the time, but the killies do work and they do have their days where they outperform Gulp, especially early in the season. In the ocean I have never seen bait do better then Gulp jigged properly. On a couple of slow trips I've seen bait produce the same, but never better. Killies are great for inside, but never out in the ocean in my experience.

[Billfish715]

I've used killies on crab drop lines by using a metal or wire hoop attached to the main line. I would thread the killies on the wire and attach a weight and have at it. Of course it meant having an ample supply of bait which we caught with a large seine at low tide. The upper Navesink above Red Bank was loaded with them. We've also taken killies with us when we head offshore. A handful of them tossed at a piece of dolphin-filled flotsom would turn those tasty mahi on like a light switch. A fast drift for fluke is not the best while using killies but often a strip of squid on the same hook when the drift is fast will get the attention of a willing fluke. If you fish on a party boat you probably wouldn't use killies since most boats don't supply them therefore you'd have to bring your own. Pete did have some great ones last year and when kept in a small cooler on some wet newspaper or seaweed over ice, they last an entire trip. A hi-lo rig with a killie on the bottom and a Gulp on top often produce double headers. Don't overlook their versatility.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Bucktailing is not for everyone. My dad was one of the best fluke fisherman i ever saw and he would never bucktail. He said he came fishing to relax not work. Drifting and dreaming is relaxing.

Yep... On certain days when I'm just out there to relax, I like to drag bait too... Put your bait on, pole in the holder, find a comfy seat, crack an adult beverage and sit back and watch the pole tip. Repeat as necessary...

[CadiShackFishing]

Started to bucktail 4 years ago and never looked back. Sometimes the killies work other times a 6 inch mullet and a piece of squid out fish anything. To each their own. :)

[Joey Dah Fish]

I wasn't saying killies don't work or dragging bait doesn't work. What my point was is that buck tailing catches very well and I have yet to catch a fish that was gut hooked. So it reduces casualty rate and usually catches bigger fish. You all seem to believe concerned about maintain the stock and killing breeders so I thought I would throw that bit of info out there. I can't even begin to tell you how many fish get gut hooked while dragging bait. I'm not sure of the mortality rate but common sense dictates its significantly less when fish are mouth hooked. So there it is let the bashing begin:D:D:D

[Capt Sal]

I wasn't saying killies don't work or dragging bait doesn't work. What my point was is that buck tailing catches very well and I have yet to catch a fish that was gut hooked. So it reduces casualty rate and usually catches bigger fish. You all seem to believe concerned about maintain the stock and killing breeders so I thought I would throw that bit of info out there. I can't even begin to tell you how many fish get gut hooked while dragging bait. I'm not sure of the mortality rate but common sense dictates its significantly less when fish are mouth hooked. So there it is let the bashing begin:D:D:D

No bashing here. Use a bigger hook when dragging bait. All fish swallow small hooks.Bucktailing is alot of fun but can wear you out.You have to be less sensitive lol

[bunker dunker]

mom!!!! joeys mixing paint again.agreed 110% on the gut hooked by bait dragging.never seen a 4 oz bucktail in a flukes stomach.to each there own but bucktails save lives.

[catsmeow]

Excellent point about gut hooks with bait. Use big hooks 5/0 vMc English style
Very few gut hooks and will cut off a hook no problem.

[Gerry Zagorski]

It's really amazing how big a hook even a small fluke will take. 8/0 no problems at all...

[Arbutis]

It's also amazing how big a fluke even a small hook will catch. Love my #4 gama killie swimmers. (Gut hooking is very rarely a problem - let the bashing begin :D:D:D)

[Joey Dah Fish]

It's also amazing how big a fluke even a small hook will catch. Love my #4 gama killie swimmers. (Gut hooking is very rarely a problem - let the bashing begin :D:D:D)

#4 ? And you don't gut hook fish? Sounds like you never fish

[SaltLife1980]

That's the problem we changed the way the fish eat. I like to know how much money the people who sell Gulp & Spro bucktails & gami hooks donate to the RFA & people who are fighting for our rights to fish.

That makes no sense:confused::confused:

[reason162]

bucktails save lives.

That should be your sig! lol

I've brought this up before and I'll say it again: rental rod bait dragging on party boats result in short fluke holocaust. Heavy lead, heavy mono, heavy glass poles...a long fishfinder rig, and guys who count to ten before setting the hook. I've seen gut-hooked fish by the dozens in one trip.

One mate took my suggestion of tying on a hi-lo rig for a few rentals, sinker on the bottom and a very short dropper loop 10" above, using boat bait. They caught more fish and zero fish were gut hooked. Bonus: you don't even need to use that 3-way swivel.

[jmurr711]

people fish for fluke? I thought they were just an annoying by catch that you strip for ling bait

[River Rat]

Fluke Lives Matter... ;)

Bucktails forever.

[hammer4reel]

pigeons have always been one of the best baits, both in the bay and oceanside


.

[shresearchdude]

I remember a few years ago... standing near one of the area bridges and a few sharpies standing around chatting and not fishin'. I chatted for a few minutes went with my dipnet to a killing hold spot-netted a few chunky ones up-put them on a tiny bucktail and dropped it right at the sharpies feet. Nailed several school bass before they even asked me what I was using....:)

[Capt Sal]

pigeons have always been one of the best baits, both in the bay and oceanside


.

lmfao!!!!

[Capt John]

Anybody who fishes with me knows how much I love Gulp. I have a huge container full of 5 inch mullets and 6 inch grubs/mullets and some unopened packages too lying in my room. I also though have fished Raritan Bay my entire life and can definitley say killies work great out here. I would still say Gulp outfishes killies most of the time, but the killies do work and they do have their days where they outperform Gulp, especially early in the season. In the ocean I have never seen bait do better then Gulp jigged properly. On a couple of slow trips I've seen bait produce the same, but never better. Killies are great for inside, but never out in the ocean in my experience.

My exact sentiments....

[Capt John]

mom!!!! joeys mixing paint again.agreed 110% on the gut hooked by bait dragging.never seen a 4 oz bucktail in a flukes stomach.to each there own but bucktails save lives.

Totally agree....that's why I bucktail almost exclusively. Much less mortality rate with shorts I would venture a guess. FISH BUCKTAILS....SAVE A LIFE! I rarely, if ever, get a bleeder bucktailing. Using strip baits, with a teaser is DEADLY! Catch em up!

[ALS Mako]

the wacky kwacky rig. enuf said. hello george, yes that is a treble hook i'm using.;)