Dragging bait or Jigging??

[Detour66]

I know the Fluking has been off for most this season but wondering when you do catch what has been working best. Jig/Gulp or Bait? If bait what has been doing the trick?

[Skolmann]

My last two times fluke fishing (this past Friday & Sunday) in Raritan Bay I had better success using a jig/GULP when we fished along a channel edge but when we fished the flats bait (spearing) worked better.

[Skolmann]

I'm thinking of heading out tomorrow and hopefully catch a few snappers before we leave the slip. I know someone who did well them them over the weekend.

[Chrisper4694]

fish are around, but it's tough. our biggest problem was keeping the small seabass and porgy off us. I never drag bait but sometimes it's def the way to go. just keep looking for them, hard to get into them consistently.

[hammer4reel]

Bucktail s and gulp has way out performed over bait for us .

[bulletbob]

In my opinion nothing will beat small snapper blues for bait right now.. They work in the bays and rivers and out in the ocean as well... bob

[dales529]

You don't say if you are bay or ocean fishing. Either way in my opinion its all about conditions. In a fast drift / wind against etc a simple high low with weight sized to hold, bare hooks tipped with gulp and strip baits have been working well. In good conditions buck tails and gulp are the way to go but it also depends on how you fish, Are you a fishermen that works small buck tails up current and casts a lot? Or do you like to fish heavier top to bottom.
Bottom line is you wont know until you read the conditions and adjust. Its all fun either way.

Fluking is starting to heat up in a lot of areas

[Pennsy Guy]

I've been dragging bait all my life...last week on the morning trip had limit of SB(2) and two keeper fluke...for me a pink squid over a squid strip & 2 spearing-anything pink, gulp, jig or skirted bait was the ticket but that was then, this is now...2 weeks before, the boat had no keepers of anything unless you wanted baby ling, bass or robins and the lead was a lot colder...

[mikeytheflop]

Fished the Angler yesterday; I tried gulp first but it only produced shorts. Switch to bait dragging with spearing and came up with 2 keepers.

Agreed that its conditions dependent, so try both and see what works.

Note that 1 or 3 spearing is best on the hook; 2 spearing creates a helicopter effect = no good.

[Man Workin]

Bait has been best for us but only in a small sample this year.

[RBC67]

Jig and gulp

[nutleysigns]

Bring two rods, 1 for dragging, 1 for jigging

[Pennsy Guy]

Fished the Angler yesterday; I tried gulp first but it only produced shorts. Switch to bait dragging with spearing and came up with 2 keepers.

Agreed that its conditions dependent, so try both and see what works.

Note that 1 or 3 spearing is best on the hook; 2 spearing creates a helicopter effect = no good.

You're right about 2 spearing(together). I put one on, then squid, then the second one making a sandwich---no helicoptering...surprising how many times the first spearing put on gets hit=no hook up...

[Skolmann]

Note that 1 or 3 spearing is best on the hook; 2 spearing creates a helicopter effect = no good.

I've never had 2 spearing helicopter.

[Capt Sal]

How about a small English off set, lite line and a single killie in shallow water?

[Pennsy Guy]

I've never had 2 spearing helicopter.

Sometimes I did, sometimes no...eliminated possibility with hooking as stated above...why take a chance?--Unless a crossed-eyed fluke is chasing it...LOL