How to Choose a Party Boat Fluke Rod

Like any form of fishing, chasing the fluke -- known in some regions of the county as a summer flounder -- from a party boat has both drawbacks and rewards. These flatfish, like their cousin, the winter flounder, lie on the bottom, watching for movement and waiting for their prey. This means keeping your bait in motion and getting it near enough to the fluke that it will stray into the flatfish's grasp. Catching fluke also means using a well-built rod that you can hold and move comfortably. There are other specific qualities you should look for when selecting a rod for use on a party boat.

Things You'll Need

  • 5-lb. weight
  • String
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ask the salesperson whether the rod is made from graphite or fiberglass, if there is no obvious indication. Note the rod's modulus, revealed either in the sales material or on the rod itself -- a reference to the stiffness of the material from which the rod is made.

    • 2

      Grip the tip of the rod and the handle, and bend the tip of the rod so that it is at a 90-degree angle to the rest of the rod -- it points down while the rod is level. Rods with a higher modulus are stiffer, faster and more sensitive, but more brittle. For fluke fishing on a party boat, a mid-range rod, with a modulus at or below 30 million will handle the fish's weight at most depths. It's also less likely to break if another person fishing from the boat steps on it.

    • 3

      Move the rod up and down at least 30 times with one hand. Asses your overall comfort, both with the weight of the rod and the size of the grip. Squeeze the grip -- grips can be wood, cork or foam -- and select a material that will let you hold the rod securely.

    • 4

      Inspect the rod's reel seat, where the reel is attached. The reel seat should be sturdily constructed and, just as important, fit the reel you use when fluke fishing.

    • 5

      Inspect the line guides. The guides through which the the line travels should be stainless steel, with a low profile. The ceramic rings through which the line travels should have a rounded surface. If each guide has two "feet" -- attachment points -- the guide is stronger.

    • 6

      Tie a string to a 5-lb. weight and tie the string to the tip of the rod. See how the rod feels when you have a 5-lb. weight on it. If you're fishing in 50 feet of water or less, you won't need as sturdy a rod. If you will be fishing in more than 50 feet of water, you'll need a sturdy rod to bear the weight of the fluke and the rig.