"Daisy Chaining"

Small boaters don't always have the space in a trolling spread to run a dredge or teaser. Pulling a daisy chain is a great alternative to a teaser when space is limited. A daisy chain is a line of small teasers, generally three to four, followed by a slightly larger hooked lure. 

Predators see what appears to be a small school of baitfish being chased by a unsuspecting easy meal...that slightly larger lure becomes the immediate target!

Pictured are some Daisy Chains from Tormenter Tackle, swing by JUNO BAIT and check them out!

"Driftfishing 101"

Today's Catch 365 Tip comes from Capt. Eric.  Check out his good quick read on drift fishing Palm Beach County here:
http://www.freighttrainfishing.com/2/post/2014/03/drift-fishing.html

"The bottom structure off of Palm Beach County consists of large areas of patchy reef along with ledges that run south to north along the coast.  This large area of structure coupled with strong currents, make drift fishing a great way to cover water, and have a chance at catching a wide variety of fish."

"Keep it down"

Having at least one deep bait is always a good idea when setting up a trolling spread. Often times the "down" rod is the only one that gets hit; especially on calm days. A planer or inline trolling sinker is a great way to get your baits down. If the planer or sinker doesn't for in your spread, a large lipped plug is a great way to get a bait down.

"Knock-knock"

A knocker rig, as mentioned yesterday, is a great rig for fishing the entire water column. A knocker rig is easy to make and easy to use. A small sinker is placed directly on the leader, and will only slide between the swivel and hook. Continue to let line out and the bait will slowly sink through the entire water column. This rig puts your bait in front of fish at all levels, from top to bottom.

"Ilander Style"

"Ilanders" are a must have lure for anybody who trolls offshore. Few lures have the time honored tradition of catching fish like Ilanders can and do. Fished in front of a ballyhoo, squid, bonita strip, or even plain an Ilander will help put more fish in the box!

"Put a Bonnet on it"

A G-Fly "Bait Bonnet" is a easy great way to add some flash and/or color to your trolling spread. Slide one in front of a ballyhoo, squid, or Bonita strip and watch the dolphin come running!

"Jig and Bait Combo"

An effective way to trick yellowtail snapper is the jig and bait combo. Use a jig from 1/8-3/4 oz depending on the current. Color is a personnel preference; but, yellow and chartreuse are always good. Tip the jig with small strips of squid, Bonita, or sardines. The jig allows for presentation throughout the water column, and is often the ticket for catching suspended snapper.

PRO TIP- Use the lightest weight jig that conditions allow to get down. The slower fall is less likely to spook any weary snapper.

"High Speed Hoo's"

Here is some HIGH quality artwork to show off the highly effective high speed wahoo rig. High speed trolling for wahoo is effective because it allows you to cover a lot of water and helps to keep less desirable species off your lures. Here is the typical rig (It can vary depending on your personal preference).

-Rod/Reel needs to handle heavy line and heavy drag. My choice is a JUNO BAIT Bent Butt Rod, Shimano Tiagra 50, and completed with 80lb wire.
-Snap swivel from the wire is clipped onto an inline trolling sinker. I prefer trolling sinkers rigged on cable.
-The Sinker is followed by an 20-100' Shock cord of 150-250' Mono. This provides some shock/stretch when a wahoo hits at high speeds. Length varies depending on conditions, but at least twenty feet keeps the lure away from the sinker and helps to keep the Hoos from hitting the sinker.
-Last is a 3-6' of cable and the rigged lure of your choice. YO-Zuri Bonita and Heavy Skirted Lures are a good choice!

Catch 43/365

"Want a Wahoo?"

The Yo-Zuri Bonita is a must have for anyone serious about catching wahoo. It is a lure that has the ability to draw the strikes when other lures just aren't working. It is best rigged on cable. And, if you are pulling it at higher speeds add an inline sinker and a shock cord. More wahoo tips coming next week.

"Rigged and Ready"

As a tackle shop owner I would love to tell all my offshore customers  that they should have eight conventional combos, four spinning combos, and two kite setups like our friend Capt. James Knox (http://fishcastings.com/) routinely carries during sailfish tournaments and charters.  Of course for most of us that is unrealistic and in some cases a little overkill.  BUT... being prepared for the day, rigged, and ready (with a backup to a backup) is one of the things that makes Captain James successful on the water.  

If possible it is always a good idea to try and carry twice as many rods as you plan to fish with, and have extra rigs tied and ready to go.  This allows for maximum productivity and less down time after a catch, a broken line, or anyone of the other hundreds of things that can go wrong.  No fish is being caught when you don't have baits in the water.

"Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.” Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea


Thanks For Reading,
Todd