The New York herald., 1922-08-06
PLUKB FISHING IN
NEAR BY WATERS
Excellent Food Fish Sought by
Large Number Of Local
Anglers.
ny WILL WILDWOOD.

At this time fishing for fluke prob
ably attracts larger number Of local
anglers than any other branch Of sea
fishing. There Is something substantial.
Fdependable. In fluke fishing, as no other
species Of fish frequenting the waters
along the coasts convenient to Manhat-
tanites can be relied on during mid
summer TO throng about the well known
fishing banks so Regularly as does this
plain member. OF the founder family
Whatever may be lacking in form
and game qualities. the nulxe Is an ex-
cellent food fish, and II Is by no means
stale. flat and Improbable" as a con-
testant when hooked: therefore thou
sands OF rodsters improve every oppor-
tunity to 60 fluling with the fishing
fleet from Sheepshead Bay and other
starting points during August and Sep
tembcr.
In siss an well as in fighting qualities
the fuke excels the founder specimens
OF five TO ten pounds being Compare
lively common. while the catching OF a
fifteen FOUNDER Ia not a remarkably rare
occurrence. The larger size and greater
activity combine 10 make the summer
visitor far more popular than his small
cousin. the founder, equally abundant
In the fall and often during the winter
season.
Fishing for fiuke is not perbans 40
much the game OF the lone fisherman as
OF tho genial anglers fond of conpan-
ionship In studying their lines among the
schools OF sea fishes. For these Jolly
fishers--and their name Is legion-the
armada OF fishing vessels will always
nave greater attraction than the small
boat, anchored In some promising place.
yet there are many equally enthusiastic
In playing>the fiuke In sort OF solitary.
single handed fashion. Still fishing from
an anchored boat requires somewhat
heavier sinker than in either drifting or
trolling. but IL is necessary TO keen the
bait moving slightly along the bottom.
Early Run in May.
The early run OF fuke Is usually late
In May, and from that time until the
latter part OF October fair numbers may
generally be found in the large bays
and at the various fishing banks along
the coast Having large Jaws and
strong, sharp teeth. the fiuke seeks live
prey. and az a rule prefers killies and
| spearing. Although bottom feeder. the
fish will sometimes feed on the surface
az early dawn or In the dusk of even
Ing. Ordinarily the feeding grounds are
In waters at least eight to ten feet in
| depth at low tide. but at night tho fuke
viii work its way into shadows of not
more than six inches. finding its fayortte
prey In such places at that time.
The huke Is not a fast swimmer, yet at
times, whens biting eagerly. will strike
savaeely, and the first rush under such
conditions may give the angler the i'm
preston of having hooked one of the
more highly priced game fishes. In
rather shallow water the fluke Is liable
n mi s.1s ~
specimen will give quite battle royal
for so sluggish fish.
The fact that the fluke is a very
i feavy feeder, not at all shy or afraid
Of commotion In the waters. makes IL
comparatively easy for the novice
with an experienced companion--to
catch fair number with less practical
knowledge than is required for success
In taking more wary species OF sea
iishes. This has tendency to make
the fiuke favorite with the tyro, and
even the seasoned fisher does not by
any means object TO q reasonable cer-
tainty OF catching at least a few fish
on each trip--fine game fishes by pre-
ference. commoners II need be- Pos
! sibly some anglers good fortune in
landing Few OF these when hope had
almost given place to despair may have
originated the expression. "won by n
fluke." IL judged on form alone, the
fluke would be declared incapable Of
resistance when hooked. in fact even
the swimming powers OF the fish. II
estimated by its awkward appearance.
might seem to be hardly on a par with
the turtle. but the vim, vigor and ac-
tivity of this food fish combine to make
IL marvel OF the finny tribe: in real
-ty a sturdy fighter when hooked. and
| displaying a speed quite astounding.