More Bucktailing Tips

[MartyS]

Originally Posted by 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...

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.