We were off to a late start.  Both Rich and I were antsy as we waited for our host, Captain Bob Rochetta, to finish his last minute preparations.  Bob assured us that we had plenty of time and the Fluke bite was still some time off.  After what seemed like an eternity we finally shoved off from the Orient by the Sea marina at the easternmost point of the North Fork of Long Island, NY.  We took a scenic 10 mile run to the west.  After a quick stop to visit Anthony at Wego Fishing Bait and Tackle for some spearing and squid we were ready to fish.   We baited up, dropped to the bottom, and started jigging our rigs along the bottom.  As usual, the Fluke maven Rich was the first to hook up.  A single bump on his jig was all he needed to know that a Fluke was taking an interest in his bait.  I never saw the second bump as Rich reared back and set the hook.  The rapid head shaking proved it was indeed a fluke and few moments later we had a solid 4lb fish in the boat.  The next hour or so proved to be the most intense portion of the bite and before it slowed to a pick we had seen more than a dozen fish, many in the 4-5lb range and the largest around 8lbs.  We had a couple of more periods of solid action during the day at various stages of the tide.  By the time we were done we had boated more than 30 fish and had seen numerous double and triple headers. 

Know when to go

This bite usually begins around late May and the best action can continue for many weeks depending upon the availability of bait.  Read the local fishing reports to get an idea of how the run is progressing.  Be sure to stop in at the local tackle shop the day of your trip to get the most recent info on where and on what stages of the tide the fish are being caught.  The fish are typically found in the various bays and cuts west of Orient in the waters off the towns of East Marion, Southold and Greenport and around Shelter Island. 

Be prepared

Fishing this area requires a good supply of terminal tackle.  Aside from the usual variety of undesirable species such as Sea Robbins and Skates, Bluefish often frequent the same pieces of bottom as the Fluke.  Even some of the heavier leaders are no match for their teeth.  Be prepared to lose a few rigs.  A good variety of 1-2oz bucktails and a collection of 2-6oz Fluke bullets are needed.  The preferred colors are white, green and pink.  Experiment with the different colors to determine which are the most efective on a given day.  Bring a good supply of 30-50lb leader material and some small three-way swivels. 

The rig

A 6-7ft medium heavy rod capable of handling 15-25lb test line is optimal.  The rod must have enough beef to handle up to a 6oz fluke bullet.  Do not be confused by the suggested lure weights specified on the rod blanks.  These weights pertain to the size of lures that can be cast effectively using that rod.  Much heavier weight can be used when simply dropping to the bottom or flipping the rig away from the boat.  Both conventional and spinning reels are effective.  Since braided lines have a thinner diameter and less water resistance, they provide an added advantage and allow the angler to hold bottom with lighter jigs.  The lack of stretch transmits even the softest of hits back to the angler.  The rig itself consists of a 3-5ft length of 30-50lb Fluorocarbon leader tipped with either a bucktail or Fluke bullet.  The leader can be tied to the bullet using a clinch knot, but the bucktail should be tied using a loop knot to get the best action.  A small 50-80lb three way swivel is tied into the leader 6-8 inches above to jig.   A 3-4ft length of leader is then tied to a 4/0-5/0 dressed single teaser hook or a two hook adjustable squid rig.  The jig and the single teaser hook should be tipped with one or two spearing or sand eels.  The squid rig gets a whole squid with one hook in the tip of the mantle and the second hook through the lower part of the body.  Adjust the rig so that there is a slight amount of slack between the hooks.  This will prevent the bait from spinning.   

Stay in touch

It is critical that the jigs are presented just off the bottom.  Once the rigs get up in the water column, the baits will quickly fall prey to the Bluefish.  Be sure to use a large enough jig to hold the bottom.  Larger jigs are needed as drift speeds increase.  The speed of the drift is determined by both the wind and the current generated by the tide.  Larger diameter lines also require heavier jigs.  Drop the rig to the bottom and keep the amount of scope in the line to as little as possible.  The more line that is in the water, the greater the water resistance and the tougher it is to hold bottom.  The jigs are also more effective when worked in a vertical motion as opposed to a horizontal motion.  Those fishing smaller boats can use their motors to stem the tide by placing the stern into the tide and bumping the motor in and out of gear.  This will also allow the anglers to spend more time over a productive piece of bottom.  When there is little or no drift, the motor can be used to create a drift.  Once again, bump the motor in and out of gear to cover the bottom as thoroughly as possible.  This is known as power drifting. 

Working the drift

Once you arrive in an area, it is important get a feel for the exact direction and speed of the drift.  Position the boat just above the area to provide enough time to get the rigs baited and to the bottom.  Use a fishfinder (sonar) to watch the depth and the quantity of bait on the bottom.  Watch for eddies and rips on the surface as they indicate changes in the bottom where the fish feed and hold.  Pay careful attention to exactly where in the drift the boat is when a fish is caught.  Use either a shore range or a GPS chart plotter to mark the spot.  A body of fish will typically bunch up on a specific piece of bottom or on a particular drift line.  Use this information to plan the next drift.  Be courteous to the other fishermen.  Never run the boat and position it just down-drift of another boat so that your boat reaches the fish first.  This is known as “short drifting” and is simply unacceptable behavior. 

The hook-up

The rig should be bounced along the bottom using short lifts on the rod.  The frequency of these lifts should be varied.  There are times when the Fluke are more interested in a quick moving jig than a slow one.  The initial hit usually feels like a gentle tug or as if a slight bit of weight was momentarily added to the rig.  A slow lifting motion can be used to determine if there is additional weight on the rig.  If increased weight continues to be felt it is time to strike.  A short swift strike is all it takes to drive the hook home.  Once the fish is hooked it is important to hold the rod steady and simply let the reel do its job while keeping a good bend in the rod.  Pumping the rod will result in many lost fish.  Once at the boat, the fish's head must remain in the water until it is netted.   

Access

Anglers wishing to experience this great fishery have several options.  There are several open (party) boats that sail from the North Fork. For those who want a more personal experience, the North Fork boasts a significant fleet of charter boats at very reasonable prices.   Visit the North Fork Captains Association for a listing of the boats.  Several of the marinas have ramps that cater to fishermen who wish to trailer their own boat.  There are numerous motels, resorts and night spots that cater to everything from singles to families.  This is a great place to bring the family.  Even if they are not interested in fishing there are plenty of other activities ranging from the touring vineyards to kayaking and bird watching.   

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