I heard the spanish mack bite was on last week, if anybody out there knows the how, when and where I would much appriciate it. I've never targeted them before and thought I would give it a try. Thanks in advance.
Matt

Try around Cape Henry, Cape Charles, inshore wrecks or around the CBBT. Troll clark spoons on #1 and #2 planers or inline sinkers. I like to use about 25'-30' of 30# line. If you tie the line to the planer then you will need a barrel swivel somewhere on your leader to reduce twist, or you can attach a snap swivel to the planer. If you are only catching bluefish then you need to speed up. If you can find a small color change then try working that.

Brian

Matt my boat also won the spanish mack $ this week. it isnt rocket science but there are a few things to know.
* clark spoons size 0,00
* gold has been better than silver
* 20ft of either 30lb florocarbon or 20lb mono
*inline trolling weights 1oz and 3oz
*tie leader directly to the spoon and the other end to a barrel snap swivel to your weight
* trolling speed about 5 knots
if your are catching more blues than spanish speed up a little
*i usaully put my 3oz weights just behind the prop wash and the 1oz 30ft back
fishing has been good from damneck-capehenry..just try and stay away from the comercial guys.
*early in the am or evenings when the sun is not to high
good luck
Todd

All of the other advice here is dead on the money.
The shallow water between the High Rise and the Fourth Island has been good to us this year so far. Try in between the bridges in the late afternoon until dusk. The blues and macs are pretty reliable there.

Thanks for all the info I'll give it a try, and let you know how it goes.
Matt

Todd is the cobia/spanish mackeral MAN!

Thanks George ...ill take luck over skill anyday !
good seeing you always
Todd

One thing about the barrel swivel. Keep it tn the middle of the leader materal between the planer-trolling sinker and the spoon. Use a 20 ft section of leader materal and cut it in half and tie the barrel swivel there to reduce line twist which can be a mess.

How deep do you want your clark spoons when trolling

If you can find a depth that works then switch everything to that depth. It's kind of like trolling for rockfish. I think a #2 planer will go about 20' down, I've had them hit bottom that deep. I prefer a #1 planer.

[quote=fordbjr,Aug 22 2007, 10:04 AM][quote=FredTaylorfan289,Aug 22 2007, 09:56 AM]How deep do you want your clark spoons when trolling

[/quote]
If you can find a depth that works then switch everything to that depth. It's kind of like trolling for rockfish. I think a #2 planer will go about 20' down, I've had them hit bottom that deep. I prefer a #1 planer.

[/quote]

Thanks for the help

Hey Brian what type of rods/reels lb test are you using with the planers ?
Todd

Whats a good rod/reel combo to use for spanish macs

anyone use birds? I have been running one this year and I am not sure if it has just been that the spanish bite has been fantastic this year or is the bird is making a huge difference.
I ran 2 one day and the spanish were knocking them out of the water. It was just as fun watching even though we only caught a few on the birds.

Ive heard and thought of using small birds. Two things have kept me from doing so.
1 concerned like you said blue/spanish hitting the bird and cutting line losing bird ,weight, lure, floro, $$$$

2 the same reason i dont like planers is that heavier taclke neded. im using very light rods/reels
Todd

What do you do with spanish mackerel? Are they good to eat?

Yes people eat them and they are great blue marlin baits. I use the same set ups as rockfish trolling.

I have tried the birds and did fine with them. I like to use 2 planers, 2 with inline sinkers, and a bird or something lighter down the middle. If you can find the daisy chains of the small trolling tubes trailed by a clark spoon, they are good rigs. Or a single clark spoon works fine.

Have there been any reports of the Spanish biting off of any of the piers recently?

we were all oalong sandbridge trolln little gold spoons about 4 knots if u get a lot of blues go faster they were all over there friday we got like 10 of them nice size we even won the bluewater classic with one of them had a great time

y athats what we were doen todd just like to say i had a blast man u got my number if your around the area u call me well get up ya todd just want to thank u agian tell your wife i said hello give me a call M.Proffitt