Big Bait/Big Fluke

[Billfish715]

Take a look at the mouth on this 6# fluke. What can we learn from looking at the business end of this eating machine? Think about the size of the hooks and baits you are currently using. A mouth like this one can fit an average-sized fist in it, so it can easily eat an adult bunker with no problem. The adage about big baits and big fish seems to make sense.

I've caught 14" fluke while fishing with 8" snappers so I know how voracious a fluke can be. Bigger hooks might not be a bad idea. Once a fluke has taken a bait, it simply has to open its mouth wide and the hook and bait will just slip right out. Lately, we have been dropping "mystery" fish on their way up after what seemed like a good hook set. The fish would come about half way up and then the line would go slack despite a tight line and bent rod. Seldom was the bait (mostly Gulp or Sea Robin strips} ever damaged. Could the "mystery" fish be a fluke that just held on to the bait with a closed mouth? Or could they be sea robins that have no teeth and would never damage the bait?

After seeing the maw on this particular fluke, I'm beginning to reconsider my choice of baits and hooks. With mouths like that, it would be very easy for a fish to never be hooked solidly especially if the hook never turned while it was in the fish's mouth. They can simply open their mouths and the bait and hook will just pop right out.

So, imagine how big the mouth is of a 10# fluke! A lot has to go right in order to hook and land one of the big girls.

[Fortunate Son]

Makes sense. I lost quite a few on Sunday that felt pretty good, and was using a puny #4 hook on the wonder rig.

[tjd24]

We used 2/0-4/0 "J" hooks in the past for fluke. I cut off a lot of hooks so I didn't kill the fish. Now when using 6" Gulp with a Bucktail jig & Gulp, we seldom use a hook smaller than 6/0. Lately, in the deep channels, I've gone up to as large as 8/0 baitholder. I like the bend of the hook exposed when using that large Gulp.

A 12" weakfish took a 6/0 baitholder/Gulp this past weekend. The large hook allowed me to easily release the fish, but the whole 6" Gulp was in his mouth.

[Gerry Zagorski]

A lot of guys using 9/0 hooks and as Shrimpman Steve always says " if you think that's too big, your wrong"

I think it actually increases your odds of catching fish since the hook is longer and it won't miss as many short strikes when using longer strip baits like fluke and Sea Bass ribbons and gulp.

[Detour66]

What's also important on catching big fluke besides hook size is how sharp and strong the hook is. The bigger fluke mouths are mostly cartilage which is basically bone and very hard to penetrate! Strong hook set is important also. Tight Lines.

[shrimpman steve]

Fellas please, as our fearless leader mentioned, 9/0 hooks with barbs on the shank.

If you think that’s to big, your wrong