Crazy Eyes for Fluke

The 2000 fluke season on Long Island has been red hot all along the north and south shore and the east end. Schools of spearing and sand eels have been present in large quantities since the opening of the season. While many people continue to fish the traditional bait rig of spearing and squid strips, more and more anglers are switching over to fishing bucktails and fluke bullets with teasers.

I recently spent a week in Montauk fishing for striped bass and fluke. Our standard charter drill is to chunk bass at first light at Great Eastern Rip, catch our limit and then spend the rest of the day chasing fluke. I really like to bucktail for fluke with light tackle. Dragging a bait rig along the bottom just doesn't do it for me anymore. On the five trips we made that week we all limited out with fluke to nine pounds all caught on a new style chrome bullet called the "Crazy Eyes".

I have been using Skip's Original Chrome Bullet for three years now. However, the new "Crazy Eyes" Chrome Bullet, made by Skip Snyder of Custom Lures in Edison, New Jersey, has green glass eyes inlaid in the ball and it is even more effective than the original.

Fluke are predator fish that constantly lay in ambush hunting for an easy meal. One way predator fish target pray is by focusing in on the eye of the baitfish. The large green eyes on the lure really trigger the fluke to strike and the hits are ferocious. In addition, the lure also attracts bluefish, striped bass, sea bass and weakfish, so be prepared for anything when you get the hit.

Here are some rigging and fishing tips to effectively fish the "Crazy Eyes" Chrome Bullet:

- Use 1 and 2 ounce bullets for the bay and 3-5 ounces for the ocean.

- Take a three-foot piece of 30 lb mono line and tie a 4-inch dropper loop 24 inches from one end. Attach the "Crazy Eyes" with an improved clinch knot to the long end and a small black barrel swivel to the other end. Attach a 4/0 bucktail teaser to the dropper loop.

- Use a rod with a relatively firm tip. I like to use a 6.5 foot composite or all graphite rod like the Seeker CBW658 or the Loomis MB784C. Match this with a small reel having a smooth drag. I like the Newell 220-3.6, Shimano Calcutta 250 or TRN 100G, or the Abu 6500 Big Game.

- Buy yourself a good hook sharpener and keep your hooks razor sharp. If you cannot snag your thumbnail with the hook point, then the hook is not sharp enough. Constantly check your hooks to make sure they are sharp.

- Put a top shot of 100 yards of 30 lb Fireline or any one of the spectra lines on your reel. The no stretch spectra line will give you better bite detection and a higher hook up ratio.

- Attach a six to ten-foot shock leader of 30 lb mono to the spectra line with a double uni-knot. Then attach your terminal rigging to the shock leader.

- Bait both the bucktail and teaser with spearing and a short strip of squid or fluke belly.

- Try to fish the bucktail relatively close to the boat with little scope in the line. Keep your rod tip low to the water and slowly bounce the jig about six inches off the bottom.

- The fluke strike usually is very hard. However, sometimes the larger fluke tend to just lie on the bait and you will only feel extra weight. Then drop your rod tip and let the line come tight. Slowly raise your rod tip and feel for the weight. If no weight is felt than drop back again since the fish will usually come back. If you feel the weight then strike the fish and reel up the fish slow and steady. Do not try to reel it up fast or pump the rod. A slow and steady retrieve is most effective.

The "Crazy Eyes" Chrome Bullet is sold in many of the better tackle shops throughout New York City, New Jersey and Long Island.

As a final suggestion, when you purchase the "Crazy Eyes" also buy some green chartreuse sparkle 4-inch plastic baits like Fin S Fish or Twin Tail Power Grubs. Thread one about a ½ inch over the hook and then put on your bait. Work it slowly on the bottom and hold on to your rod firmly. You will be pleasantly surprised. Good Fishing.

(More from Al Golberg)