100+ Fluke As EPIC Summer Flounder Bite Continues!

It seems like Summer Flounder (Fluke) pave the bottom in some areas, drawn by large schools of sandeels. This is the best fluke fishing in many years on these waters! Supports my latest book, Fishing the Edge - Techniques and Tales from Surf, Boat, and Kayak: amzn.to/3TQtFvq.
Sale!: Slicker and Jacket Combo Special ($100!) : bit.ly/3yPYjzi
Online Fishing Course Discounts - www.saltstrong...
Salt Strong Special Club Offer Including Free Lures: bit.ly/Skinner...
My Books (Amazon):
(Latest) - Fishing the Edge: amzn.to/3TQtFvq
Fishing the Bucktail: amzn.to/2MQDysM
Fishing for Summer Flounder: amzn.to/2TcZnIP
Striper Pursuit: amzn.to/3ceIQYp
A Season on the Edge: amzn.to/3lHWye4
Rod, Reel, Line, Lure:
Dark Matter Skinner Casting Bay Rod: bit.ly/3B4X1Q1
Casting Reel: bit.ly/2SDW7Rg
Bucktail (1-2-ounce): bit.ly/3xktVwA
Gulp Hook: (3/0): bit.ly/3vCua26
Gulp Grub 4-inch: bit.ly/2MYfaDe
Reel Power Handle: amzn.to/3pMJox8
Line: bit.ly/3SpH3Gj
Leader (30#): bit.ly/2EcadoD
Miscellaneous Gear:
Sale!: Slicker and Jacket Combo Special ($100!) : bit.ly/3yPYjzi
Breathable Slickers: bit.ly/3niFm2S
Breathable Outer Jacket: bit.ly/3nhLGHS
Deck Boots: bit.ly/3WqLFAC
Tackle Bag: amzn.to/42sAmYz
Flats Shirt: bit.ly/45QTxwY
Flats Pants: bit.ly/44S3SYq
Fish De-hooker: amzn.to/432vLNf
24V RoyPow Lithium Trolling Motor Battery: bit.ly/3NwNHe7
The above are affiliate links.
Fishfinder: bit.ly/2N2SvqP
Trolling Motor: bit.ly/2VS9C2r
Fishfinder Coastmaster Chart - bit.ly/34KEcQo

[@obxkoastie8170]

John...I envy you. In the great state of North Cackalacky our flounder season in 2023 was two weeks with daily catch limit of one fish over 15". In 2024 the season is closed the entire year. Of course big North Atlantic Halibut show up occasionally and somehow become "fillet and release fish." Have you ever tried a 4-5" flag of sea robin belly for fluke bait. Growing up we always tried to catch a sea robin early in a trip and that belly would last all day of catching fluke!

[@livenhfree]

I think I've come to the conclusion that I really need a boat. :-(

[@a.k.t388]

It’s a game changer no doubt. But your cost to fish increases tremendously.

[@livenhfree]

@@a.k.t388 No doubt.

[@TheNyfishguy]

Thanks for all your Videos. Super informative 🙌🏼🎣🐟

[@johnlanigan4130]

Great day on the water John. I will try the contrast for sure, thx.

[@Krackcorn]

Never saw waters as calm as that.

[@UDTghost]

Great video Mr skinner this year is the best fluke fishing that I've had in ten years.when on the boat their everywhere and big, but I have been catching them in the surf out front and in the back gulp sand eels with pro cure flounder pounder is the ticket and I'm convinced fishing the edge is the reason I've been doing so well.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

The distribution is definitely different so far this year. Some places are great, others terrible.

[@abrahambetesh921]

this guy guy can set a hook that's for certain

[@comfortablynumb9342]

Y'all have a great fishery up there. Without a boat here around the Chesapeake I have haven't caught a keeper flat fish this year. People with boats are getting some but not around the shore that I can find. Even with a boat I don't think it's anywhere near as good as up there. NC isn't having a recreational flounder season at all this year. But here in VA it's always open. The minimum is 17.5" now, and it's tough.

[@djmkstewart]

I live in Va as well and the flounder bite is decent. The bite was slow yesterday because of dirty water but I did manage a keeper @ 20 inches. As long as the water is moving and clean, I've done well. I've caught my limit in 45 minutes a few weeks ago.

[@Ed-qf6qu]

Miss the North Fork. I might plan a trip. Keep up the good work Skin

[@luccigucci1569]

Awesome video

[@mustluvkatina]

Gotta get that reel serviced john lol

[@dougbrodsky3745]

Lets hope that we can get these kinds of Fluke Runs back every season in this area !! Its been god awful for many years !!

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Agreed. Nice to have them close again. Now only if the Peconics could get back to its old ways with the fluke.

[@chrisrogers9189]

I'd love to see an old-school, side by side, underwater, comparison of salt strong products (mossy mullett, slam shady) and gulp. Kind of like you've done in the past with squid strips and spearing

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

That's very difficult to do. I can tell you that my side by side fishing tests of Gulp vs any soft plastic, scented or not, including the mossy mullet, have been won easily by Gulp.

[@dennisgeorgatos3920]

Great

[@Tony-ge2hj]

Id like to know how you go about tying your double rigs setup. If you could share that would be great.

[@dennisgeorgatos3920]

Very nice fish 🎉 wow

[@dennisgeorgatos3920]

Very nice video 🎉

[@JustinE3188]

Do you have video of the Berkley lab? As always love your content and approach.

[@ynotredrum]

Hi John, did you stop making the S&S Skinner swing hook bucktails? I can't find them anywhere! If so, is there a 4/5oz bucktail for ocean fluking that you would recommend? I've spent hundreds on your bucktails and am very brand loyal!

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

We hope to have those bucktails under the Dark Matter brand in about a month.

[@BIGYAKRFISHING]

Have you ever added any additional weight to get that tube you are trolling down a little lower?

[@tomreilly9295]

Wondering, do you have to go further out to catch the door mats size fish? Seems like you catch larger fish on Ricks boat. Thank for another fun video!

[@andrewgaroh9538]

john, what would be your recommendation for a teaser when fishing muddy new jersey back bays? i heard you talk about shrimp and im wondering if that would be your go to. 4:33 thanks in advance

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

3-inch Gulp shrimp on a 3/0 Gamakatsu Baitholder hook.

[@weekender38]

Your 3/0 gulp hook link goes to a jig, please correct the link. Mighty fine action here.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Fixed. Thanks.

[@MartinVSmith6334]

Nice video! Before Gulp we'd keep a couple of the birdfish and use the bellies in lieu of squid. Counted six commercials in the video put in by You Tube! You must be hitting home runs! Good for you.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Great use of searobins!

[@blackvelvet631]

Hey John, I’m 10 years old and I’m tomorrow I’m going on long beach and I’m gonna try to catch a fluke. What do you think I should use

[@FMorgigno1]

John that fantail cam is absolutely priceless for documenting the process of action on the bait and the hook set. You should use it more often. Really great video. Frank

[@pastapaul150]

That’s a lot of fish, great conditions. Why do you think the yellow belly’s? Do you change out your gulp or just wait to get torn up?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I'll swap it out when convenient to do so.

[@miket4548]

John have you ever eaten sea robins? I hear they are pretty good.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

One time. Bland.

[@yussefhyman7311]

@@JohnSkinnerFishingHow was it cooked? Curious, because I tried them fried once, and stopped throwing them back. 😋

[@markbarabas8015]

Have trouble keeping and knowing the bucktail is slightly off the bottom while imparting action. Any advice how you do this? Thanks John.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Drop and touch bottom once in a while. If you're continuously letting out more line and scoping, go heavier. You shouldn't use anything thicker than 15# braid. I use 10 hear.

[@GAFisherman]

I've fished in the Big Bend area of Fla on flat days like you had. It was miserable, as I'm sure you were. I didn't enjoy the level of success you had though. It paid to have the trolling motor for sure.

[@jtpalooki7757]

I was out there yesterday off of the Block, and the fishing is atrocious.. all throughout RI waters fluke fishing is terrible.. hopefully it will pick up soon!

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Thanks for the report. I haven't been hearing much good from there or Montauk.

[@tonynicoletti8161]

You seeing anything that would explain it? Lack of bait, cold or dirty water or are the fish just not there

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I hoping things are just a bit delayed with colder water.

[@tmik7864]

Why do you think there are so many short fluke this year and very few larger ones ? Do you think its because of the draggers getting the larger ones before they can even come in ?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

This ratio is not overly uncommon for this area. I don't think it's draggers because their poundage is limited and they can keep 14-inchers.

[@cjk4]

Hey John you said you don't always use gulp on the south shore. What bait do you recommend fishing the fire Island inlet for fluke?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I didn't say that. I said I use Gulp Shrimp in the South Shore bays when there are no sandeels. I use Gulp everywhere.

[@cjk4]

@@JohnSkinnerFishing thank you! I'll try those next time. Only thing I've seen out there is blue fish chasing the shiners.

[@FirstCoastFisherman]

Hat link please 🎣

[@AdamJacobs-e9r]

I remember when viewers asked you about why you don't have a left handed reel your answer was that you set the hook with your left hand. You're definitely setting with the right hand, switching to the left, and reeling with right. Maybe with that amount of fish you needed to use both hands. Just my observation. I've caught a lot of fish because of your tips.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

This is much lighter fishing, so one-handed hooksets are fine. When I'm ocean fluking or striper fishing you'll see my left hand above the reel on a hookset.

[@Krackcorn]

Skinner you waiting for a sponsor to gift you a boat?

[@justbuck603]

No need. He's got friends with better boats.

[@PaulyV56]

Crawl out from under your rock before you make an ignorant statement.

[@fishwhistler758]

His boat is perfect.

[@Krackcorn]

Just was making a statement...Great fisherman - one of the best.As far as the "rock" comment again another example of a texting tough guy.No insult intended for Mr Skinner.

[@Roadrunner2574]

Plenty of advantages to owning a smaller boat

[@kylemarkloff4451]

C'mon man.... Save some for the rest of us

[@tonynicoletti8161]

Why not just use gulp sandeels?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

They would be fine on the teaser.

[@ronsuda7555]

I have a lot of experience fishing that area have used gulp sandeels there every since they were out for some reason the only way they work are on 3/8 lead head that's the only way I had success heaver leaf head they won't touch it teaser they won't touch on 3 way no good can't figure why but on that lead head with the right drift deadly many keepers this year

[@patrickgregory1078]

This takes years of conservation and regulations and not keeping big fish!

[@richardwarfield7386]

107 Sea Robins would have been a hell of a fish fry

[@patrickgregory1078]

Where there's sea Robin's there's fluke!

[@joshrussell9460]

Do you ever notice the tails ripping off right where the color changes on the tail? . Love the combination but they seem to rip alot easier then a solid color.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I haven't noticed that.

[@Roadrunner2574]

Fished yesterday probably 60 shorts 3 keepers. A lot of guy fishing. They should open seabass to take some pressure off the fluke

[@duffmeister6480]

Opened Sunday 6/23. 3@16.5”

[@duffmeister6480]

Really like that top view, can see how you impart a lot of frequency in that jig, Sounds like your reel needs some attention ? Thanks.

[@Fishnbrathas]

Sweet vid man just started my own channel keep up the good work

[@jamesryan2069]

That reel doesn't sound too good John ?

[@stevenseckinger7959]

John Would you do a video showing how you use your trolling motor flounder fishing

[@stephenduda947]

It's best when you can naturally drift. When the wind is wrong I use the trolling motor so we can drift with the current

[@scottsluggosrule4670]

I know it was nice out & calm..but lets say you overheated and passed out or some idiot on his cell runs you over...wear the PFD..not that much hotter..wet its neck for added cooling. Be safe out there. Heck of a fun looking day.. BTW sea robin bellies make great cut bait.

[@markstafford4015]

Hey John do people eat sea robins ? Have you tried them ?

[@jennifergregory7461]

I have, the meat is in the tails. Not that bad .

[@markstafford4015]

@@jennifergregory7461 ok thanks . Ya they obviously feed on same food items as the flatfish