Weekly Column - July 31, 2006

This is the second of a two part series containing some of my favorite tips for catching flounder.

As I mentioned last week, there are probably as many thoughts on how to fish for flounder as there are fisherman. In this column, I’ve been sharing some of my favorite techniques -- but there are many others.

Flounder are not picky eaters -- if it looks appealing they will eat it. Fishing with live bait is a favorite of many fishermen. Finger mullet (finger sized pop-eye mullet), mud minnows, small menhaden and pin fish are all good choices to use for flounder bait. When using a pin fish, I usually cut off the dorsal fins to make the fish easier to swallow -- if you have ever been stuck by the fins of a pin fish, you know how it got its name!

One of the most popular ways to rig live bait for flounder fishing is called a Carolina rig. Let’s start from the bottom of a piece of 25- to 40-pound leader material (I like to use fluorocarbon). Tie on a 2/0 or 3/0 circle style hook; above that you can add beads and a spinner if you want; and then about 18 to 24 inches above the hook tie a barrel swivel. Tie on another piece of leader material about 12 to 15 inches long. Add an egg sinker to the line with a colored bead on either side. Finish the rig tie with another barrel swivel at the end of the line.

This rig allows the line to move freely through the sinker, which will keep the flounder from feeling the weight when it picks up the bait in its mouth. Also, the live bait is free to swim around in a natural way. Make up a variety of these rigs in advance using different size weights, from a half ounce and up, and using a couple of different hook sizes. Then when you are ready to fish, you can match the rig to the fishing conditions. Just select the appropriate rig and tie it directly to your line. A variation to this rig is to add the sinker directly to your main line and tie the line directly to the barrel swivel above the hook.

Other popular natural baits are shrimp (both dead and alive), cut mullet pieces, pork rind strips or squid strips. These are often tied to a standard two-hook bottom rig or to a lead jighead.

On the artificial bait side of things are bucktails and soft plastic baits. Bucktails are often tipped with a pork rind or piece of cut bait. A variety of soft plastic baits are available, many of them pre-rigged. My favorite artificial bait for flounder is a lead jighead loaded with a Berkeley Gulp! shrimp or pogy.

No matter which bait you choose, remember that flounder are opportunistic feeders, not hunters. They wait for food to come to them, and then they pounce. They use their great natural camouflage to blend into the bottom, wait for a meal to pass nearby and then attack.

However, once they take the fish, they often settle back down on the bottom to enjoy the meal; they usually do not run. This is where it can get tricky, especially if you are using live bait. If you try to set the hook before the flounder has swallowed the bait completely, you will pull the fish out of his mouth and not set the hook. When the flounder first takes the fish, you will sometimes only feel a slight tension on the line or a light tug.

At this point, keep the rod still, or play out line if needed and count to 20 or so; then take up any slack in the line and set the hook with a smooth short snap (not too hard). I think more flounder bites are lost because the hook set is attempted too soon than just about any other reason. It takes patience and attention to the line, but it’s well worth the extra effort and patience.

Catching report
Fishing continues to be very good but spotty at times. The catches seem to be stronger offshore, but I’ve seen some great catches inshore this week.

Flounder have been showing up in good numbers around the inlets on both sides and in the channels and drop-offs nearby. Fewer are being seen in the creeks and channels, though they are starting to show up there as well. The near shore reefs and wrecks are producing some good size flounder as well.

Red and black drum continue to bite well in the sound marshes and creeks as well as around the docks. The sheepshead bite has been good around pier, bridge and dock pilings. A few croaker and mullets are being caught inshore, but the bite is spotty. Speaking of spots, not many have appeared yet -- but there have been some reports of small ones being caught.

Offshore, the king bite and mahi catches have been excellent. Billfishing has been very good as well. I’ve heard some good reports on bottom fishing for grouper, snapper and other bottom dwellers in the 20 to 50 mile range.

The piers are reporting a typical summer mix of flounder, mullet, blues, sheepshead, drum and trout. The bite has been very sporadic, however -- early mornings and evenings have been the best times.

Don’t forget the second annual Mike Martin Memorial fishing tournament coming up Aug. 19 and 20 at Surf City Ocean Pier. There will be nine different categories of fish with prizes awarded in each. The cost is only $5 per category, or $30 for all nine. So sign up and come join in the fun -- and the chance to win a prize and bragging rights!

Tight lines to all!