Summer flounder fishing tips
On Saturday, I was the guest of Capt. Scotty Gold aboard the Rehoboth Star out of Southshore Marina. The target fish of the day was summer flounder, and to that end, Capt. Gold ran to Reef Site 11 where reports indicated these critters had taken up residence.
We arrived around 8:30 a.m. to be greeted by at least 75 to 100 other boats. Several of these were charter boats out of Lewes, which indicates there was not much happening in the bay or other locations closer to the dock.
When I am on my own boat or running someone else’s boat, I don’t have time to observe what other anglers are doing. When on a head boat, where the captain makes all the decisions and the mate does all the work, I have more time to see how others tackle the task of catching flounder. My observations last Saturday indicated why 10 percent of the fishermen catch 90 percent of the fish.
I saw many anglers on private boats sitting down with their rods in holders waiting for a flounder to hook himself. While this will occasionally happen, it is far more productive to hold the rod and be attentive to what’s going on at the other end.
On our boat there were several folks just out for a day on the water with family and friends. Nothing wrong with that, and the rental rods they were using are a far cry from more sensitive tackle. The fellow next to me was 50 years old and had never been on a boat before. He still managed to catch one short flounder and a sea robin on a company rod and reel.
On the other hand, there were some regular head boat fishermen who used better tackle and rigs. Bob Murphy was one such angler who made his own rig, with a bucktail for a weight and a single hook extending out about a foot or more behind the jig. Dan Lynch is another regular customer, and while his rigs are more on the standard two-hook bottom style, he still fashions them himself.
I was using my very favorite flounder rig with a Tsunami Ball Jig for weight and a Delaware Bay Green Machine tied to the second eye of a three-way swivel. The Tsunami Ball Jig is secured to the three-way with 6 to 8 inches of 30-pound line. If, as so often happens, the jig attaches itself to the bottom, the light line will part, saving the rest of the rig. I believe I donated three or four jigs to the bottom structure Saturday.
The other thing these flounder sharpies do is keep the bottom rig working all the time. You will never see them put the rod in the holder unless they are rerigging or putting on more bait. The most effective technique is to use your wrist to move the rig up and down with a slight pause after every three or four repetitions. Quite often when you start the jigging action again there will be something on the line and it just may be a flounder. Should you feel a bite while jigging, drop back for a few seconds then come tight on the line.
Braided line is a real advantage for flounder fishermen. First, it has no stretch so you can feel the slightest bite and set the hook almost instantly. Second, the thinner diameter means less water resistance, so it is possible to use less weight to keep the bait on the bottom. Both of my Ambassador bottom-fishing reels are filled with Stren 40-pound braid.
Select a rod that can operate with the weight required to hold bottom. On Saturday a 3- to 4-ounce jig was sufficient, but on other days it may take up to 8 ounces. I have a Tsunami rod that is rated to 8 ounces and a Fenwick model that works with up to 6 ounces.
Then there is the bait. Always use the freshest bait available. On a head boat this is usually squid strips or strips of fresh-caught sea robin. I like to use both baits together with the squid trailing out past the strip bait. Do change baits regularly, as the squid strips will get dirty and the fish strips will begin to come apart. Bait comes with the fare on a head boat, so use as much as you need. On a private boat, don’t be afraid to buy more than you think you will use and frequently change out your offering.
On Saturday I managed to catch six flounder with three keepers and one lonely keeper sea bass. Dan Lynch won the pool, barely beating out Bob Murphy. Thanks to Capt. Gold for the invite and to Mate Paul Pergeorelis for all his help.
Eric Burnley is a Delaware native who has fished and hunted the state from an early age. Since 1978 he has written countless articles about hunting and fishing in Delaware and elsewhere along the Atlantic Coast.
