Massachusetts · Cape & Islands
FLUKE FISHING
IN NANTUCKET
Nantucket is a solid destination for fluke fishing, with good fishing in June, July, August. Book a charter and target fluke with local experts.
About Fluke Fishing in Nantucket
Also called Summer Flounder, fluke are prized flatfish found from the Carolinas to Massachusetts. Distinguished from Gulf flounder by their larger size and left-facing orientation, fluke are ambush predators that lie camouflaged on sandy bottoms near structure.
Fluke — properly called Summer Flounder — are the premier flatfish of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Distinguished from Gulf/Southern Flounder by their larger size, left-facing orientation (both eyes on the left side), and distinct spot patterns with 5 large ocelli (eye spots) on the upper body. Fluke are ambush predators that lie buried in sand with only their eyes exposed, launching upward to grab prey. Their camouflage ability is remarkable — they can change color to match the bottom within minutes. Excellent table fare with sweet, firm white flesh.
Scientific name: Paralichthys dentatus
Fluke Seasonal Calendar — Nantucket
Month-by-month availability for fluke in Nantucket, MA.
How to Catch Fluke in Nantucket
Techniques & Bait
Drifting with bucktails (white, chartreuse, or pink) tipped with a strip of squid, fluke belly, or Gulp! Swimming Mullet along sandy bottom in 20-80 feet of water is the standard technique. "Fluke rigs" (a sliding sinker rig with a long fluorocarbon leader and wide-gap hook) baited with a live minnow and strip bait combination is deadly. Drifting over structure transitions — where sand meets rocks, mud, or wrecks — concentrates fish. Slow your drift with a drift sock for better bottom contact.
Recommended Tackle
Medium spinning rod (6'6"-7 ft), 3000-4000 reel, 15-20 lb braid, 20-30 lb fluorocarbon leader, bucktail jigs (1/2-2 oz depending on depth/current), wide-gap hooks (3/0-5/0).
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in Nantucket
Top spots where local captains target fluke and other inshore species.
Great Point Flats
Great Point at the northern tip of Nantucket is a remote sand spit surrounded by shallow flats where striped bass, bluefish, and bonito feed in gin-clear water. The flats warm quickly in spring and hold baitfish concentrations that draw fish within sight-casting range for wade-fishers and kayak anglers. Accessing Great Point requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle on the beach, and the journey is rewarded with some of the finest inshore fishing in the Northeast.
Nantucket Harbor
Nantucket Harbor is a large, sheltered harbor on the island's north side where striped bass, bluefish, scup, and tautog hold around docks, jetties, and the harbor's eelgrass beds. The harbor channel's tidal currents sweep baitfish past structure that attracts feeding fish on every tide change. Shore anglers fish the Brant Point jetties and Children's Beach while boat anglers work the deeper channel and harbor basin for consistent catches.
Madaket Harbor
Madaket Harbor on Nantucket's western end is a shallow tidal harbor surrounded by salt marsh where striped bass and bluefish enter on flooding tides to feed on silversides and juvenile menhaden. The harbor's narrow entrance creates a strong current funnel that concentrates fish at the inlet mouth, especially during outgoing tides. Anglers wade the harbor flats or cast from the bridge for school-sized stripers in one of Nantucket's most scenic inshore settings.
Polpis Harbor
Polpis Harbor is a quiet, marshy estuary on Nantucket's eastern side that connects to Nantucket Harbor through a winding channel. The harbor's shallow, warm waters hold striped bass, scup, and white perch that feed along grass edges and oyster beds on rising tides. Its secluded location and limited boat traffic make it a peaceful inshore destination for kayak anglers and light-tackle enthusiasts seeking solitude on the island.
Other Species in Nantucket
More fish you can target while visiting Nantucket.
Fluke Fishing in Nantucket — FAQ
Fluke fishing in Nantucket is productive during June, July, August.
Fluke fishing charters in Nantucket are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Drifting with bucktails (white, chartreuse, or pink) tipped with a strip of squid, fluke belly, or Gulp! Swimming Mullet along sandy bottom in 20-80 feet of water is the standard technique. "Fluke rigs" (a sliding sinker rig with a long fluorocarbon leader and wide-gap hook) baited with a live minnow and strip bait combination is deadly. Drifting over structure transitions — where sand meets rocks, mud, or wrecks — concentrates fish. Slow your drift with a drift sock for better bottom contact.
No — when you book a charter in Nantucket, your captain provides all required Massachusetts fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Fluke regulations in Massachusetts include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Fluke in Nantucket, you may also catch Striped Bass, Bluefin Tuna, Bluefish, Black Sea Bass, Tautog. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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