Can't hook 'em!

[Billfish715]

While I was fluke fishing last week I dropped a few mystery fish after what seemed to be solid hook sets. I was able to keep tension on the fish with enough rod bend. I never raised the rod too high and was able to crank in line more than half way up. A couple of times the fish grabbed a 6" grub and other times they ate the legal fluke strip only to drop them on the way up. I'm guessing they were sea robins because there was no damage to the grubs or the strips. I had a couple of grubs pulled off as well. I sure thought the fish were hooked solid. They had enough time to settle on the bait before I hammered it home. I was using braid so there was no stretch. The fish were definitely on the trailer behind the jig and there was enough hook showing through the bait to allow for a good hook set. The only other idea that comes to mind is that the fish held onto the end of the strip or grub and never got to the hook. That's hard to believe because of how far up I was able to reel the fish in with a bent rod. Any ideas?

[nutleysigns]

it happens to the best of us ... happened to me on Sunday. I don't know ... use the sharpest hooks? Give the fish an extra second before setting the hook?

[reason162]

Fluke are the trickiest fish.

Few weeks ago, I tied on a brand new jig and on the first cast set the hook on a solid fish, I won't say if it was a beast but it was between 5 and 10. Anyway, solid hookset, needle-sharp hooks, zero slack, felt the headshakes thumping...and all of a sudden, Gone.

Got my jig back, and there's nothing on the grub or the skirt, except on the jighead itself: a tiny mark where the paint got scraped off. IMO what happened was the fluke inhaled my jig (I set the hook immediately), and clamped down on the jighead, with the rest of the jig and gulp inside its mouth. After a few headshakes, she let go, and out comes my jig. I never hooked this fish despite fighting it for half a dozen cranks!

[shrimpman steve]

Ask Joey the fish, it happens to him all the time

(That's because I crimp his barbs when he's not looking)

[dfish28]

Originally Posted by shrimpman steve

Ask Joey the fish, it happens to him all the time

(That's because I crimp his barbs when he's not looking)

Lol... Ohhh boy- that's funny

[makosnax]

Use a smaller grub

[tropics]

I've had it happen and IMHO they are grabbing it from the front.

[vinntastic]

HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, GLAD IT WASNT ONLY MELAST WEEKEND...

[Billfish715]

I've had fluke shake a jig out near the surface but I don't think these fish were on the jig. It's puzzling. I do use a skirt over my bait but it's pliable. I'm glad I'm not the only one that this has happened to. One more guess is that the hook may have been turned at an angle that would have put the barb near the corner of the jaw hinge but not back far enough to catch the bone. The fluke's mouth is slanted to one side when it's lying flat ( left sided ). If the hook is facing that way and not up and down (vertical) it just might just release when the fish opens its mouth. Lay an octopus hook next to a fluke's mouth and see if it makes it back to the corner of the jaw hinge. I'm wondering if it's their strong jaws locked onto the skirt and bait that keeps them on without being hooked. Maybe that's why they used long shank hooks back in the day.

[njflyfisher]

it's my first yer fluking but here's my advice.
Begining of the season i bought some cheap baitholder hooks that were gold in color. I went out and kept missing fish. Next week i bought gamkatsu baitholder's. I pulled in every fish that i set the hook on.