Fluke
ABOUT SUMMER FLOUNDER/FLUKE:
Summer Flounder or Fluke are one of the most popular recreational fish on the Atlantic coast and highly valued commercially for their lean, white, and delicate meat. Fluke are found in the Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia to Florida. They migrate inshore and offshore seasonally with changes in water temperature. In the winter and early spring, they're found offshore along the outer edge of the continental shelf. In late spring and early summer, they move inshore into shallow coastal waters and estuaries.
Fluke have flat bodies with white undersides or bellies and a shade of brown, gray, or drab above. They are nicknamed "chameleons of the sea" because they're able to change their coloring to blend in with the texture and color of the bottom where they live. They also have spots on their back and can be distinguished because at least five of these dark spots are arranged in an "X" pattern. Fluke are a left-eyed flatfish (both eyes are on the left side of its body when viewed from above with the top fin facing up). When larvae develop into juveniles, their right eye moves across the top of the head to the left side. Adult Fluke spend most of their life on or near the sea floor burrowing in the sand. Concealed, partly by sand and partly by their coloration, they wait for their prey to swim by. When suitable prey appears, summer Fluke ambushes it. Males can grow to over 2 feet and females can grow up to 3 feet.
HOW TO CATCH FLUKE:
We drift for Fluke; that means the boat does not anchor but floats along with the current and/or wind over the sea floor. To catch Fluke, the angler's sinker (weight) needs to touch the sea floor so that it can be gently dragged along the bottom as the boat drifts. The sinker causes the sand floor to be gently disturbed - as if prey is moving about. The baited hook floats at the end of a long "leader" just above the sea floor about 30" from the sinker. A Fluke nestled in the sand notices the disturbance, sees the bait floating near it, and begins to eat. Feeling the nibble, a patient angler lets the Fluke eat a bit, so that it can suck the bait in, before hooking with a long steady raise of the rod. The best method for reeling in a hooked Fluke is with a consistent pace (no jerking or pumping the rod). The Dorothy B. Crew will use a net to scoop all keeper-sized fish from the surface, but the little guys can be brought right into the boat. Our Crew will assist in gently removing the hook and returning the little ones to the ocean to be caught another day.
Using just the right size sinker (depending upon the speed of the drift) is very important to ensuring that the sinker stays on the bottom and allows the bait to float behind it just above the bottom. Our standard Fluke rig uses a sinker clip for ease of changing out the sinker as conditions warrant. The Captain and Crew of the Dorothy B. are constantly monitoring drift conditions to ensure our anglers are optimizing their tackle for best catching conditions. Our rental rods come equipped with the right tackle, but if you prefer to bring your own gear, a light to medium rod with a conventional or spinning reel filled with 10 to 30 pound test monofilament is all you need.
GOOD FOR YOU:
Fluke is a good low-fat source of B vitamins and an excellent source of niacin. Just about a four-ounce serving (100 g) raw has about 90 calories, 19 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat, 0 carbohydrates and 0 sugars. On the ride back to the dock at the end of the trip, our crew is available to fillet your catch so you can enjoy the freshest seafood meal you'll ever have! Check out the recipes section for some preparation suggestions.
