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NETTING FLUKE
Fluke should be landed with a net. Fluke have a bony mouth and very often the hook will not penetrate or encircle a bony area but be lightly embedded in soft tissue. If you try to lift the fish into the boat, the hook will surely pull out. A net is therefore a must when trying to boat a large fish. The trick to netting a fluke is to net it headfirst. A fluke looks like a clumsy fish but is capable of a great burst of speed. If you try to net it from the tail end it will rapidly swim away from the net and probably pull the hook. To net it properly, the angler should steer the fish toward the boat allowing it to stay submerged about 1 to 2 feet below the surface. The net should be kept at ready just above the surface of the water. As the fish is pulled headfirst toward the boat the person with the net should quickly thrust it into the water and scoop the fish headfirst. Do not put the net into the water as the fish is approaching or it will see the net and dart to the side to avoid capture. When the net is in the water it produces so much drag that it cannot be moved quickly enough to catch up to the fluke. Next time you hook a big one remember, a quick scoop headfirst will put it in the boat.