Wave Worms makes a fluke type bait called a SHADICK. I have a few bags and they seem pretty heavy. I dont know about the buoyancy,havent tried em out. Looks  sorta like a large version of a Yamamoto Shad Shape worm.

http://www.wavefishing.com/6-Shadick--Black-Blue-Sapphire_p_286.html

I'll probably get frowned on for saying this but I still have a few components of the original 1996 Banjo minnow set and previously owned some from 2001 set. Now, The newer versions plastic are even more versatile.

Comparing a Zoom super fluke and the Banjo Minnow: I can fish the banjo minnow more ways and can catch better numbers on average across the different seasons of the year.

I agree Op, That some days the fluke is killer, Especially, in early-mid summer. Though, I find it's action is so limited and there's not enough versatility in that soft-plastics make/action. So, I too perfer better soft-plastics that can be fish more ways.

The dying crippled minnow retrieve on the BJM was one of the most dynamite, deep water/suspending tactics that had ever came to my knowledge. It was so cool to be able to fish a soft plastic weightless and yet, still be able to fish it at mid-deep depths efficiently.

Granted, It needed to be fished on a sensitive, fast-action rod for the best results but it's was worth paying the $$ for a Loomis.

Though, I haven't fished them for two years or so. But when/if I go fishing next, I need to break what I have out.

Some people say its a gimmick and overly hyped but I've caught fish on it when nothing else was producing numbers. Try it.

Maybe this is comparable to senko fishing. Some have a great amount of success with it, others have yet to experience why it's so special.

I've never tried the Banjo minnow. I'm sure they work.  But, really, what won't work if it imitates a dying shad when fish want something that looks like a dying shad??