Jumbo Sea Bass are No Fluke!

Many large to jumbo sea bass caught while jigging with fluke (summer flounder) gear and techniques. Targeting the seabass this way culls the larger fish, and gives a nice chance at fluke.
Affiliate Links to the Gear:
John Skinner Online Fishing Course Discount : saltstrong.com/skinner
Trolling Motor: amzn.to/2Ji3UCS
Humminbird Fishfinder/GPS: amzn.to/2DQ9msZ
Nexus Fishing Rod (20-50#, 7'): bit.ly/2BhfkV5
John Skinner Bucktails - 1.5-4-ounce - bit.ly/2rk8lTw
Blue Reel: bit.ly/2MdpRpE
Purple Reel - bit.ly/2MnBQkG
Drift Sock (Mine is 44-inch): amzn.to/2RoChd7
X9 Line (preferred) - 10 or 15# - bit.ly/2FowzDe
Power Pro Line - 15# - bit.ly/2YSYWAY
Gulp Recharge Liquid: bit.ly/2JYZJgo
Gulp Nemesis - 6.6-inch - amzn.to/2w4COca
Gulp Grub - 6-inch - bit.ly/2Wp9dYM
Teaser (Tsunami Glass Minnow) - amzn.to/2h4FDjG
Aluminum Fish Ruler: amzn.to/2KlE4PD
Pliers: amzn.to/2IiFzvr
Tackle Bag - amzn.to/2Mege91
Leader - 30# - amzn.to/2ufH3jf
Video Cam, GoPro 7 - amzn.to/2YyeGZQ
John Skinner's Fluke Jigging Book - amzn.to/2uLdaJo
The above are Affiliate Links
Rigging Video: • How to Tie and Fish a ...

[@Piedscooter1]

Congratulations to Dr Skinner for her accomplishment !!!

[@raelin8388]

Great last few videos. You've mentioned the widespread shortage of larger fluke in the sound in recent years.. I strongly believe it's in part because of the trawlers allowed to rake area even up to port Jeff. I'd love for you to address this issue in ur video and perhaps spark a campaign to curtail this wretched practice which is ruining fluking for all the recreational fishermen out there. Txs

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I think it's a distribution problem more than a population problem because this year the Sound is just so far off of what it should be.

[@raelin8388]

@@JohnSkinnerFishing txs for reply John, and what you say may well be but it was a similar situation last season esp fr port Jeff and points west where you don't usually fish. If you inquire around you maybe surprised by how many anglers forcefully share this sentiment. The fact that (relatively) many thumbs up appeared may be testiment to it

[@harveylindenbaum9913]

The Draggers are killing the fishing for the recreational fisherman when they are allowed so close to shore.You are right about the Port Jefferson buoy 11 area.They go through and its a dead zone.The amount of money that recreational fishermen spend is probably 10 x what the draggers contribute to the economy.They should be banned from the Long Island Sound and only allowed in the ocean. Why should one dragger ruin fishing for 100 recreationals?

[@stryder0151]

I agree

[@JerseyShoreBethany]

My husband (from NJ) has committed 100% to your jigging technique. He's been on the meat ever since. My son is stationed in NC and has also applied your methods. Both have had the most successful fishing of their lives!!!

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Thanks so much for sharing that! And thanks to your son for his service!

[@CJfishing2024]

Hi John, congratulations Dr Skinner, I stopped at a masters in electrical engineering. This weekend I will be targeting sea bass, reports of fluke have not changed so i will be heading out east on the Ct side, by the way 6 yrs ago I was fishing the 7B's out of R.I., we were targeting fluke. I hooked into something that I was hoping was a personal best fluke wise, it turn out to be an 7.75lb sea bass, I entered it in a contest they were having and came in second, got beat by a 8.2 lb specimen, as much as you don't like them, it seems like it's the only game in town right now. As always I enjoy your vids, again congratulations to your daughter, well done.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Wow! I just looked and the NYS record is 9.0# set in 1993.

[@brianjones866]

That was a slammer Black Sea bass nice catch 👀 I just wanted to say thank you John you really helped me with my fluke/Black Sea bass game I really appreciate that I'm sure I'm speaking for a lot of guys and girls out there thank you.

[@rhodysweet]

John, congratulations to your daughter, what an accomplishment, you must be so proud! And the PhD is great as well. :) Thanks for the wonderful video documentaries as usual.

[@TheRocksandReds]

Congrats to Dr Skinner! And great catch as well. That was some awesome bass action.

[@Domvav1215]

Congratulations to your daughter on her accomplishments and that huge beautiful seabass !

[@BStavFishing]

I posted my other comment before seeing Doc Katie Skinner landing that monster see bass!! Way to go Dr. Skinner and congrats on your incredible achievements!!

[@strichards5337]

Adding congratulations and deep respect to Dr. Skinner!

[@googeelou]

Nice video Mr. Skinner. I love seabass.😊

[@richie2dicks468]

Funny I ran into a local officer at the boat ramp and we started talking fishing and we both mention the legend skinner and wished we had your skill we are in va by the way. Thanks for all you do.

[@kennydavis3949]

Hey John skinner this is the first time seeing someone else with you

[@georgepress1261]

God I love sea bass fishing. It’s my favorite fishery

[@joeanan5649]

Hey Mr. Skinner, I love your videos, keep up the good work. I'm also going on a fishing trip this Saturday so wish me luck!,😁

[@holz5188]

this couldn’t of been this year, the sun is out in the video

[@adamcosta4610]

South Jersey Fluke fishing (for me and others I've spoken with) has been off. The keepers I have caught had squid and eels in their belly. Tight lines John!

[@richie2dicks468]

Congrats to Katie on her PhD and nice bass. Great job John as always

[@Elios0000]

amazing videos man wish would come down to OC MD some time

[@koreanature]

My best friend, Great... We liked and enjoyed to the end. Awesome... Full watched. Thanks Have a happy day!

[@russseff1246]

PhD in robotics. Nice

[@ericnoble1702]

A useful degree. Skinniers dont mess around.😊

[@scottbecker940]

Great video as always John! I always appreciate the time you take to film and edit! You mentioned you only like to keep sea bass around 18” or more... how many inches would you estimate those “ big ones” to be? Thanks Scott

[@TackleAdvisors]

WOWWWW!!!! Beast sea biscuit! Could ya slide the end screen tiles to the right so the last one shows? Or delay it a bit?

[@jbonebonebone]

You’re the man...

[@craig1lengyel]

Wow. June 23rd opening is a lot later than CT opening if May 19th!

[@seashurjewelry]

Sweet, I need to make a sea bass pendant.

[@berelentless2572]

I went after sea bass on Sunday. I had an awesome time

[@jefferyduran]

Great video for your 2019 "A Season on the Edge" highlights... Yesterday I asked myself... Whats up with John?

[@gm1937]

You are totally right John, was targeting Seabass off CT in a great spot using whole squid then suddenly felt a "dead" weight. Thought I had a shark and when the fish came to the surface it was a giant fluke that swallowed my squid complete.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Nice!

[@MPane15]

Another awesome video John! Quick question, are you tying on the top glass minnow using a dropper loop the same way you tied your bait hook in your rigging video? Or are you rigging it differently?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Same way.

[@garrettlambert4128]

When are u going to post another video from the beach?

[@MatindianGirl06]

Nice Seabass fishing. Oh, CONGRATULATIONS to your doctor daughter. 👏👏👏👏

[@glennscialdoni7928]

Hi John my comment is for all the fish you catch and release, do they all survive after you release them? Seems like they do. Love your videos. Keep up the good work.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I'm quite confident that the vast majority do fine, especially because the waters are relatively shallow. I also think it helps that I jig rather than drag bait, which leads to much more gut hooking (bait).

[@zachpiller2580]

How fast does your boat go with that 40 merc ?

[@gm1937]

Hallelujah you didn’t say this supports my book in the intro!

[@kensleylin]

Very nice video as always. John, do you always anchor or drift?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Drift for these and fluke.

[@Roadrunner2574]

Gotta love when your girl catches bigger fish then you!

[@kennydavis3949]

Hey John wandering if you can give me information on charters out of cape cod or New Bedford thanks enjoy watching your fishing

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I don't do those. So I don't know much about it.

[@joem4370]

Nice fish! Just a point of interest here but at about 12:00, you mention the bumps that the big ones get. The black sea bass exhibits sexual dimorphism in that the male fish develop the large fatty bump on their head in front of their dorsal fin and tend to be the more blue hued whereas the females tend to be more black or brown with no bump... I BELIEVE that is the case anyhow!

[@quarterkid1113]

Can u post how big each fish is

[@MrMeme-vt9qf]

Hey john I don't fish the sound much and I only fish the western end at that but we are seeing the same effect in that the commercial boats are ALL over the good wrecks and it's been getting worse little by little and like you said it's not a population situation it's just a matter of the fish trying to avoid the trawlers or in other words the problem is in the way the fish are dispersed around the water. I'm from NJ btw

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I wouldn't say the fish know how to avoid trawlers, but sometimes they just distribute differently. For example last year the Sound was horrid but our South Shore bays were better for fluke than the two previous years.

[@MrMeme-vt9qf]

@@JohnSkinnerFishing thanks for the explanation:)

[@Teach_1ne]

Mr Skinner what’s a good pocket for Bucktail weights? I have a few 3/4 oz and 6 oz. for deep heavy currents. I think it’s overkill for my trip Saturday. Can u recommend an appropriate weight for drifting on party boats. Fishing outta Belmar NJ

[@josephrera4751]

Mike Barbee well if ts deep water id recommend 3 ounce weights

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I fish between 2 and 6 ounces in the ocean.

[@jono999s]

Thumbs down.= take up golf This channel is really informative and helps you catch fish Keep up the nice work 😎

[@russb296]

Too bad dinner wasn't an option with some of those monster Sea Bass!! I actually prefer to eat them more often than Fluke although they're both amazing table fair!!! Can't wait for the Sea Bass season to start in RI because the Fluke fishing has been hit or miss....

[@captainscottlum2371]

We call those big sea bass green heads.

[@bobbyrex4640]

trawler came on all the gps marks

[@maximusfiya]

What was the depth of this water? Wonder if this technique is suitable for deep water/ party boat fishing.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

40 feet and yes.

[@maximusfiya]

@@JohnSkinnerFishing thanks. Luv your informative videos.

[@stryder0151]

Hi Mr Skinner. I'm a long island fisherman too. Enjoy ur videos. I do have to say something on ur comment about the fluking. U sd it was off. Nobody wants to say it but it's true. The commercial fishing on the long island sound has been I big issue the past sev years. The long island sound is not able to handle massive amounts of over harvesting. When they hit there limit. They throw the rest over board. N alot of small fish go over board dead. Bc temp is not the problem. I use to catch my limit in 55 degree water. N its way above that. I keep logs on temp n tide n I can notice the trend. I know the need to mk a living as well. But if ur gonna do alot of harvesting. Do it in the ocean. Something needs to be done about that. N stop putting the blame on recreational fisherman. On a diff subject I really enjoy ur underwater content. I changed alot of my approach bc of those videos. So thanks keep making videos n doing what u love

[@LkyLindy1]

Agreed

[@richardherzog6336]

Picture

[@kylebryer1111]

“Fat ass sea bass” I love it when you talk dirty

[@Tony-ge2hj]

how deep were you?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

30

[@markcarson1844]

Two doctors, dad and daughter.

[@crispychris9492]

The fluke fishing everywhere has been complete garbage. I fish the sandy hook NJ area and it’s been horrible. We have to go into the rivers to find the warmer water, and the guys I’ve been talking to have been getting like 2 keepers to 20 shorts. Not good. Most of the people who have big enough boats are tuna fishing. If I had a big enough boat and the gear I would be tuna fishing too

[@termite122]

Sweeny is a pisser...june and hes dressed like its november......yeah i think its two sea bass cause i can feel the line grinding...lololol..i gotta fish with him one day,,laugh all day..great sea biscuits..

[@FirearmHobbyist]

Barely any Striper Vids from you this Spring.. what gives ?

[@josephrera4751]

Tim the lack of fish

[@FirearmHobbyist]

@@josephrera4751 Has it really got that bad. I was out yesterday and did really good but no size to them

[@BStavFishing]

After 25 years of law enforcement and being raised right, I'd like to think I'm a pretty good judge of character. I get teased on a regular basis for paying homage to you John Skinner and always making reference to trying my hardest to emulate your flounder fishing techniques. I even cut "a few" inches off of the tip of my new Lews rod because I believe in what you say and found that it held true to moment I dropped a bucktail into the water. But, I've gotta say this: that John Sweeney seems like one of the most affable and friendly guys out of the whole lot of you fellas. I pay close attention to everything everyone is saying on your and Halk's videos and Sweeney seems like the salt of the earth! Don't get me wrong, I'd belly up to the bow rail with any of you "northerners" to include Doc, Rick, Halk, John, John, John, John (did I get them all?), but that Sweeney is the type of guy I loved having on my platoon when I was a street lieutenant. Quietly poignant, modest, humble and all business with a rod and reel in his mitts! You and Sweeney make a great combination on the water and I know an all around good day out fishing when I see one and it certainly starts with the company that is kept!! My best to you and all the fellas up there!

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

No argument here regarding Sweeney. He spent 14 hours installing the trolling motor and fishfinder on my boat! If I had done the job it would have looked like Homer's grill.

[@BStavFishing]

John Skinner Fishing Hahahahahaha!!!

[@edgendron3793]

Why would not sea bass it's good eating

[@fairvue1510]

girls catch bigger fish.

[@bradenpomponi8103]

It annoys me that he doesn’t keep big flounder and sea bass