How to Catch Flounder from Shore with Bucktails and Gulp 

So I tried your jigging method for fluke last week. I used the rigs that I made up based on your other video and fished with Berkley Gulp soft baits. I fished the Brigantine side of the Absecon inlet from the rocks on the south side of the jetty. I fished about 3 hours over a two day period and caught 2 keeper flounder and one short. No one else who was fishing those days caught anything. But no one else was jigging either. Oh, and one last thing, based on your video, I kept the jig working right up to the rocks and all three fish hit just at the last minute. John, thanks for the flounder dinner and also thanks for these videos. I've fished for fluke for many years (since I was a teenager in the '60s) but I learned a lot of new methods from watching the videos.

John, i wish i could upload pictures, but I watched your video last night on "How to Catch.." Set up my rig with your "How to tie the Flounder Rig" video, and today I caught a nice flounder on my fourth cast. I ended up with about three in this particular spot at Pirateland Campground in Myrtle Beach SC. I used your "how to filet.." video and had an incredible meal tonight. Thanks for the great information! It works!

Mr. John I would like to thank you for all the information you have taught me about catching flounder. Today i went fishing and had one of the best days i"ve ever had using your technique. THANK YOU

Used this approach and rig today John. Worked great. All shorts but fun non stop action. Lots of American Shad all on the teaser as well.

John An old timer who could catch fluke like you in the Barnegat Light surf told me that if I thought I was reeling slow enough it was entirely too fast. He used an old Penn Squidder and could out catch me 5:1. I learned fishing for speckled trout that the size of the reel makes a huge difference. Anything larger than a 2500 and it is painful to try and reel it slow enough. That is why I like that you show the size reel you are using. When you say a slow retrieve with a 3000 reel, that is almost as slow as a 2500. When there are no drum around I'll drop to a 1000 size and it is game on. A drum will spool a 1000!

John,l love your vidios. I have fished the surf over 50 years, I will never stop learning! Thank you!

Hi John! I did this technique last Sunday on Jones Beach, West End Field and worked amazing! Im very happy. I got a lot fluke, small ones, and one keeper. I did by the jetty. Thanks for the tips. Its really works.

I’m impressed, I need to say. Really hardly ever do I encounter a youtube video that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you may have hit the nail on the head. Your thought is excellent; the issue is one thing that not sufficient individuals are talking intelligently about. I am very completely satisfied that I stumbled across this in my seek for something referring to this.

I can watch you do this for hours. A master angler at work.

John, thank you for this video. I hit a pretty well known shore spot today on a hunch saying "maybe this might wok there" sort of deal and I'm glad I did. I managed a dozen fish with one being a nice keeper which I released because I'm not that big into eating fluke. I also missed agood 5 or 6 fish as well. I have fished bucktails for fluke from boats many times with success but this was pretty cool because some of what happens in your video actually happened to me as well. There were a few instances in which I would get a hit or two and wouldn't hook up but I'd keep my bait there and continue jigging and more often than not, the fish would come back. I did note though that a bunch of my fish came on the teaser with only a handful on the bucktail. Also I will no longer dismiss shallow water as the majority of my hits came right as my bucktail would come up onto the 3 to 4 foot sandbar out of the deeper 5 to 6 foot sections I was working which intrigued me because I thought the hits would come from the deeper pockets. Either way thanks so much for the informative videos, this type of fishing you introduced me to has the gears turning in my head now so I wanted to say thanks again!!

I just caught a 25" Fluke this morning at Robert Moses Using your techniques from the Shore thanks a lot and your book is Great fishing the Bucktail.

Just want to say that your videos and techniques are all extremely informative and helpful. As someone who doesn't know what they're doing, thank you. I will have to try your techniques the next time I go saltwater fishing.

I have fished the same type terminal tackle set up but instead of a buck tail I use the heavier storm swimming shad with great success(I switch to the white storms when the snapper blues are thick). Also, If you get short bites on the gulp on the dropper loop, switch that to a basic red and white teaser fly. Many times downsizing to a fly teaser will do the trick. It also will sometimes get them active when nothing is producing. The key is to put your time in and make adjustments when things are slow or non existent.

Very nice video. I left long island, NY when I was 15. Didn't have a choice. I fish wherever I am, but sure miss Fluke fishing. I used to do shore fishing and had a 10 ft dingy with a 5.5 Johnson seahorse on it from age 12-15. Back in the early 80s. Thanks for posting.

John always an honor amazing great video’s very educational God Bless you happy father’s day

John, I'll tell ya, it's videos like yours that are going to get me through the winter. Not simply enjoying watching them (The fish) being caught but learning new techniques and learning proper rigs to use when catching them. My last day on the beach this year was December 15th and I can't wait till spring to try the things I'm learning this winter. I plan on adding a Kayak to my arsenal soon. Can you point me to some directions to go for learning all about them? - Jeff

I used this same technique off the beach on the north shore of montauk three weeks ago and it was deadly very exciting to see a fluke rise up from behind a bolder and strike the bucktail!!!

Nice catches Mr. Skinner!! Man I love when you're jigging then all of sudden wham and you got one. I also love fishing for slammers off shore. I usually use a crocodile or a Gator spoon. I love when all of sudden all the gulls come and start diving in the water. Then I grab my with the spoon and cast right before the school of blues. Then right as I start to real I get that awesome stop and then the feeling fighting with the slammers is so great. I live in Jersey so I usually go to Sandy Hook and I walk that two mile hike to the point. Love fishing there cause I always go home with two buckets of fish. One with slammers and the other with fluke!! Ave you tried that area Mr. Skinner? If you haven't I highly recommend you give it a shot. Best spot for Blues, Fluke/Flounder and Monster Strippers!! Okay think I just wrote a book Lol. Love your videos keep up the great work been following you for along time now. God bless and keep catching those fish!!!

just caught my first fluke on this rig first time fishing on gulp as well thanks John your videos helped extremely

John thank you I caught 2 flounder today on your setup

Have tried this method here on the Gulfcoast for southern flounder, haven't had much luck yet but I know it should work. Keep up the good work. I am a bank fisherman.

Mister Skinner I love watching your videos and I love when you say I am taking some home the best ever

Very nice, John ... 19 flatties in 2 hrs is a good outing.

Actually caught a 13" flounder the other day on a bucktail with squid at the breach way! It worked really well!

John, I just finished your book on Fishing the Bucktail, Very informative, I am going to start doing the light tackle for Fluke and Strippers with you tips. I can't wait to do it. I myself will be fishing from a Kayak, so your book suggestions will come into play. Thanks for a Great Book..

I really appreciate all of your videos, especially the way you fully explain what to use and how to use it. Thanks!

THIS works tried last summer at an inlet caught 4 fish in an hour. Thank you for your videos very informative

I've caught so many fluke this year using this rig. thanks so much for the awesome advice!

Seriously impressive fishing as always John. You are my idol man. Fishing idol at least. Got me interested again because of your passion and just the time you put in I know is way more then the videos show. I absolutely love fishing again , and have begun figuring it out again because of you. Just wanted to thank you. I really needed something to put my mind and attention to a hobby bad when I found your videos , so they've impacted even more then you would think. Thanks and can't wait to keep watching.

Thanks for showing everything you do! Most people dont go into alot of detail and it really helped so thank you!

great videos John! Renewed my passion for salty fishing. Thank you

This video was extremely helpful and the technique works really well. Thank you for posting this.

those of you from Brooklyn can come to plumb beach and you will have the same results . especially fishing for stripers in the evening or even fluke. Plumb beach for those of who don't know you can see from the belt east bound, towards JFK. Their is a lot where u can park your car and fish. I live in the area so i have a boat i go out with but sometimes i fish from the shore and have great catches as well. rite after exit 9a you will see the lot.

Thanks for the videos. yesterday i tried surf casting for fluke using the same rig and technique and nailed one on first cast!

Great video!! I have been fishing down on Cape Hatteras the last three years and love it!! Picked up some great pointers!!

Yes, for Suffolk County NY residents.

Beautiful fish. Amazing how many flounder were there. Good job!

Great vid. I like how you explain your fishing! Very informative and inspirational to go out fishing!

I'm going to try this at Indian river inlet Delaware this weekend inside channel going into the back bay section hopefully it works out will be first time fluke fishing from shore like this we usually used a boat in sounds in crisfield Maryland so new experience for me

I just bought some of the gulp swimming mullets and am going to try them on a few different rigs. I live in myrtle beach and fish in murrels inlet. Mostly for flounder and red drum.

I caught a nice flounder right off a drop off and slowly reeled in flounder rig with a big live minnow. I fished off the bank and the drop off was only a few feet from the bank. I also caught a nice one at a different location and slowly reeled and jigged a nightcrawler. Flounder atr very aggressive, if they see your bait they will attack it.

I use a Foodsaver vacuum sealer. Fluke fillets hold up for close to a year that way.

How did you come up with this rapid jigging retrieve John? I used it yesterday for the first time and caught 2 dozen fluke. Previously the most I ever caught in a day was probably 5. So grateful, keep up the good work!

I LOVE TO WATCH YOUR VIDEO WITH EXPLANATIONS HOW TO RIGS THE FISHING LINES WITH BUCKTAIL RIGS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Tell me about it...I'm in ND...4 months left on this job then I'm headed to to NC for a 2 MONTH fishing vacation for trout...reds.....and FLOUNDER!!!!

I do seminars at outdoors shows, but only in the winter offseason.

How does the tides effect flounder fishing from shore? Great videos, I am just getting into salt water fishing and I have not boat yet so this looks like something I can do with minimal cost.

wow thats clear water we catch a lot of flounder here in Texas the same way

I'm going to have to try that method of jigging.

Hey john after watching your vids iv cought so many fluke on your rig. I also tip the top gulp with a spearing an I think it helps a lot because most of my fish are on the top rig

I go surf fishing in sandyhook i use 3oz spro bucktails with gulp but never caught anything with it great video.

this rig is awesome! I was having problems with the gulp leaking, but I found an odor and leak proof container...

Great video. That setup is close in specs to the one I wish to build pretty soon. I’ll be looking for an 8’ MH rated for 12-30lb line with a 4000 sized reel. Thanks for posting!

A decent shore bet will be small bucktails on the ocean beaches at sunrise.

It's not like someone presented me with a half-dozen legal fish and said "choose". My family and I eat these things, so I kept the first keeper, which turned out to be the largest of the trip. It was enough for a meal. After that I wasn't going to split hairs over whether a fish was just over or under the 19-inch limit, especially measuring against the handle. When I got another obvious keeper, I took it because that would give us two fresh meals. The rest went back instead of in the freezer.

I'm pretty sure it doesn't catch less fish. I like its extra abrasion resistance over most mono.

Penn regiment 7-foot rated 10/17# line. Yes.

I think I've seen u before at compo beach (where I fish) and u helped me catch sea robin. I may be thinking of a different person however. If u r the person I'm talking about though, thank you.

You are a flounder catching machine !

always so informative. You make it look so easy

Long island fluke fishing is the best on Earth.

Mr. Skinner I fish in new jersey and some times by new your might i recommend the 6 inch gulp alive chartruse jigging grub it fits well on a 4o gamatsu bait saver hook if you slide the tip of the bait over the eye of the hook it also fits on a 1 oz spro or 1.5 oz blue frog please excuse my spelling

I prefer it mostly for abrasion resistance.

i havent had any luck in narragansett bay in forever. giving up on blues and striper for a while, there are other fish in the sea lol

Great stuff. Thank you! I'm learning a ton. Couple of questions: do you recall what strength and action you had on that rod? Also, do you find they strike the lower or upper lure more frequently? Thanks again!

Another great, informative video John..awesome!

John, Will you post a video on your technique for freezing your fish for future meals?

Just wanted to thank you for your good work. I've just moved to Ocean City, MD and have used information on this video, as well as your rig tying video to catch flounder here. The quick jigging technique especially; as well as adapting Hi/Lo rigs to emulate your setup: replacing the existing hooks with a bucktail and a new hook for Gulp swimming mullet. With the snap at the bottom of the Hi/Lo rig I am able to attach 2 oz. to 4 oz. weight because the inlet/bay currents are so intense. I am jigging vertically along bulkheads in 6-8' of water, catching fish as others look on. Does it get any better!? Thanks again.

Me encanta esa técnica ... !!! Enhorabuena !!!!

Your videos are great and hacks like myself are very grateful that you've increased our success in a sport we love! Here's something I never hear you address in your video - How do you fish the tides? Do you fish a rising or falling tide? Does it matter? What advice would you give on that?

love your vids!!!!!!!!!!!! hope you get some compensation from Berkely !!!!!!!!

wow didn't realize the water was so crystal clear in new york

Excellent videos and instruction. Thank you.

I have to compliment you on your clear , concise, no nonsense presentation.Wonderful! One question...do you ever get skunked?? silas

I'm too happy with Gulp to even look for something else.

Great video. I will have to try this setup and retrieve.

I wouldn't go more than 2 ounces with that rod, and that would be pushing it. 3/4-ounce is the sweet spot.

That's WAY out of my area, but if your flounder hit artificials, then what was shown in this video should work. If they eat only bait like clams and worms, probably not.

I don't fish that far west. Talk to your local tackle shop. Maybe Bernie's in Sheepshead Bay. Some real pros there.

A lot of sea robins. I've caught stripers too, but I wasn't jigging as fast as John is in this video.

Great video once again! Thanks for posting.

Normal years - yes. This year seems a bit off.

Thanks for the knowledge you are shearing.

Whats The Heaviest Bucktail To Use To Target Flounder From Shore?

Sharks love these guys.

You're the man! Fish after fish. How long did it take you to perfect your method?

what bucktails do you prefer for surf fishing for fluke? Would spros or rip splitters or blue frog fixed hooks work best on a sandy beach?

It's google maps again. It gets me a lot of fish. Google earth is actually a little better because you can go back in time to find images taken under the best conditions. In relatively shallow areas, the deeper and shallow areas show well.

Hi John, Thanks for sharing. I've learned a lot. I have a question. Will the bucktail/gulp method work off a pier? Or do you have any tips for pier or surf fishing for flounder? I live in North Carolina... You mentioned above that you were in a channel. I'm curious if there's any good methods (or is it worthwhile) to fish on the beach? Thanks, Yak!

Great Video, you're on luck man to have suck a place to fish. And you've got many fish there for you to enjoy fishing. In country where I live, Singapore, we never have the chance to get any fish bigger than five inches from our shore.

Great video and great tips

To about 20 feet depending on current.

great vid,awesome catch

penn regiment 7', rated 10-17# kine

Overall it's about 50:50, even if it doesn't look that way in this video.

is this North Shore? I got my first double header today with a bucktail and gulp teaser thanks to all your videos.

awesome catch

No, but one of them ended up that way by the end of the trip.

John,Going to New Hampshire in late August.Can only fish from the shore.Please any helpful tips.I'm from Pittsburgh and do not get a lot of salt water time.We love Flounder.Thanks Sam.Just subscribed.

Hi John. Your videos are great. Very informative and inspiring. I work on the east end, but don't know how to access bays and creeks. Can you give me some advice on where to start out here? I work in Hampton Bays.