Flounder and Fluke Fishing Lures: An Angler's Guide

Jan 30, 2025 | 7 minute read
Reading Time: 7 minutes

Whether you’re an experienced angler or you’re just getting started, you’ll want to go after some delicious Flatfish at some point. These cool species will put up a fun fight and provide some dinner to the table! Fluke, also known as Summer Flounder, is a common inshore species that’s plenty fun. And some of the best tools for landing them are specially designed Fluke fishing lures. 

A young boy in a white t-shirt and baseball cap holds his fishing rod in one hand and his line in the other as he looks at a Flounder on the end of the line in amazement on a sunny day
Photo courtesy of Let It Fly LLC

These fish aren’t picky and enjoy striking on various types of lures. But just chucking them out there simply won’t do. In this guide, we’ll dive into all the different types of fishing lures for Flounder and touch upon the best ways to utilize them. Let’s get started!

Understanding Fluke

Summer Flounder – aka Fluke – is a Flatfish composed of a brownish tone with dark and light spots scattered across their scales. Their dorsal and anal fins stick out along their bodies, followed by a decent-sized tail fin. These unique fins help them to maneuver around, bury in the sand, and sense when prey or threats may be near.

An angler in a baseball cap, sunglasses, and face bluff standing close to the camera and holding a large Flounder in each hand while standing aboard a fishing charter
Photo courtesy of Capitol Fleet Wreck Fishing

Fluke spend most of their time camouflaging along the bottoms where they wait for prey to pass by before unleashing a quick attack. While they may have flat bodies and only reach maximum sizes of around 20 pounds, they have large mouths paired with sharp teeth. This is essential for striking and ripping up prey. 

When you get the chance to hook up to one, you’ll notice the fight they put up. While they aren’t the biggest fish in the sea, they still have a strong fight, doing everything in their power to get off the hook. They’re notorious for shaking off, even at the end of the fight, so it’ll take some patience and skill to bring them in.

Best Fluke Fishing Lures

As already mentioned, Flounder aren’t picky eaters, therefore they’ll strike on plenty of different artificial baits. However, some lures will work best in certain environments and conditions compared to others. Let’s dive into the meat of this article and discover the best Fluke fishing lures out there…

Soft Plastics

A large, record-like Fluke lying flat on the surface of the water, with the lure it was caught on dangling from its mouth

I’m a big fan of these myself… Soft plastics do a great job at imitating real prey. You have the option of using swimbaits paired with jig heads, or you can even use an imitation plastic, such as Berkley’s Gulp shrimp. These lures often look realistic and appetizing, so Fluke have no problem striking on them. You can use soft plastics pretty much anytime and anywhere. You also always have the option of weighted jig heads or sinkers if you need your lure to reach the bottom. 

Jigs

Another great fishing lure for Fluke is the trusted jig. Feather jigs, flipping jigs, and bucktail jigs are all popular when Flounder fishing. Brands like Gulfstream and SPRO are excellent examples. 

Jigs are best used in areas where there may be a bit of a drop-off or some structure. Their main use is to create a disturbance that catches the attention of Fluke. The shininess, sound, and movement of jigs, especially when paired with colorful shades, do a great job of enticing these fish. 

Spoons

A Fluke in a net with soft plastic and spoon lure hanging out of its mouth

Spoons are similar to jigs, except they have a unique look. They’re flat, oblong lures designed to imitate real prey. They often have flashy colors and designs, including fake eyes to represent bait. A treble hook or two is attached, allowing more chances at a good hookset. 

The Rapala Rattlin minnow is a superb option and the many spoon choices at Bass Pro shops are known to work great, too. Spoons are best used in shallow areas with little vegetation or structure to avoid getting snagged. 

Weedless Baits

Another great set of tools for Flounder fishing is weedless baits. Fluke like to stay on the ocean floor and often swim around structure or grassy areas. That poses a lot more risk of getting stuck. A weedless bait allows you to maneuver more easily around obstacles. In turn, this provides more opportunities for the fish to end up on the hook instead of a rock or weed. Savage Gear, Z-Man, and FishLab are all popular fishing brands that make a lot of reliable weedless baits. 

Jerkbaits

Three colorful jerkbaits laid out on a rock, ready to be used in saltwater fishing

To end our list of Fluke fishing lures, we’ll dive into the world of jerkbaits. Surprise, surprise, you’ll want to jerk these lures underneath the surface. The purpose is to produce a realistic-looking lure mimicking the actions of traveling bait. Typically, when your lure approaches the Flounder’s territory, you’ll want to use a jerk-and-pause continuation until they strike. 

D.O.A and Zoom are definitely near the top of the list when it comes to the best jerkbait manufacturers. With these two leaders and a number of other companies, there are endless options when it comes to sizing and colors.

How to Present Fluke Fishing Lures

A young boy in a green shirt holds up a Fluke by a fishing line and holds a fishing rod in his other hand aboard a boat on a clear day
Photo courtesy of AW Fishing

Now that you know what types of lures to use, you need to know how to use them! While each lure design may have a specific technique tailored to it, the overall idea is the same. The best way to attract Fluke is by dropping your lure near them and then dragging, jerking, or retrieving it in their direction. Whether you’re just slowly retrieving it, jerking and pausing, or bouncing it along the bottom, the fish will strike as long as the lure is in their reach. 

Once you feel the bite, don’t immediately set the hook. Because of their sideways mouths, the hookset is very delicate and can be easily pulled out. It’s best to wait for the fish to bite, give them a couple of seconds, then give a smooth but stern hookset. You don’t want to yank your rod up too high as it will most likely pull the hook – just a light upward jerk is good. When you have one on the line, keep it tight with no slack and be ready to scoop it up quickly with a net.

Best Spots for Fluke Lure Fishing

Before you go, we’ll just run through some of the best spots for Fluke fishing. For starters, you can find Fluke in areas where it’s not too deep, there’s plenty of bait present, and where there may be a flowing current. Key areas include grassy flats, rocky bottoms, estuaries, docks, piers, sand bars, drop-offs, and reefs – to name a few.

In addition to these key areas, consider planning a trip to some of the following locations where Fluke lure fishing is always a hit:

New York

An aerial view of Montauk’s most famous landmark Montauk Point Lighthouse as seen on a bright day posing against greenery on one side and blue water on the other during summer

New York is a great location to go Fluke fishing. The Fluke population is heavy up here, especially during the summer when the temperatures are warmer. As a matter of fact, New York not only has a big abundance of Fluke, but they’re often on the larger side, too! Try fishing in areas such as Montauk, wich is a very popular Flounder region. 

North Carolina

An aerial photo of the Outer Banks near Nags Head in North Carolina with afishing pier visible in the foreground and the sounds visible in the distance on a clear day

Next up, North Carolina is also is known for producing good Fluke lure fishing. The waters here are booming with wildlife including Fluke during the warmer months. Hotspots like the Outer Banks and Cape Lookout are especially popular, offering prime conditions for your next Fluke adventure.

Florida

An arial view of Destin, FL, with some high-rise buildings visible in the foreground, and the town splitting the bay and Gulf of Mexico on a clear day

As the fishing capital of the world, Florida boasts thousands of marine species in its coastal waters. Fluke are most common along the northern coast, but they can be found far south as well. They’re on the smaller side down here but, as mentioned before, they’ll still provide a mighty challenge!  

Louisiana 

An aerial shot of Grand Isle, Louisiana, on a clear day, with the shallow waters visible in the foreground and houses of the town in the distance

If you haven’t thought about a fishing trip to Louisiana yet, you really should! LA is a prime fishing state with tons of options to hook up to large game fish such as Redfish and Tarpon. Fluke are another species you can expect to come across when fishing along the gorgeous Louisiana coast. The bayous, backwaters, and estuaries are prime habitats for Fluke in the aptly-nicknamed Bayou State.

Fluke Fishing: Which Lure Will You Choose?

I hope you’ve taken away some insights on Fluke lure fishing from this article. Whether you live near Fluke-filled waters or you need to plan a getaway to target some, you now know all the tips and tricks! 

Two older men and one teenager pose on a fishing charter in front of a bridge in Wanchese, proudly presenting a Fluke they caught to the camera on a clear day, with a number of lures visible
Photo courtesy of Reel Lucky OBX Charters

Fluke fishing can be challenging, especially if you’re just starting out. Just remember to be patient and keep all their sneaky tricks in mind. If you can outsmart them, you may be lucky enough to have some delicious dinner to take home. Good luck on your next adventure!

What’s the biggest Fluke you’ve ever caught?  Did you use any of the mentioned lures to drag ’em in? If not, share which one you used in the comments below!

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Hi! My name is Caitlyn Gatrell and I'm an outdoor writer and inshore saltwater angler based in Naples, Florida. My fishing is typically done in the Ten Thousand Islands region, as well as the Estero, Naples, and Marco Island areas, along with some Florida Keys trips here and there. I typically target game fish such as Tarpon, Snook, and Redfish, as well as some Jack Crevalle, Seatrout, Goliath Grouper, and Sharks. I have been involved in the fishing field since I was a little girl, and my passion has only grown since I’ve gotten older.

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