ok,
baybuster is venturing out to the ocean. we will be leaving from va beach out of either lynhaven or rudee, not sure which one. Wednesday(27th) is the day. I thought that I would write a post to see if anyone is going to be fishing that day, maybe we can get up on the radio and work together. planning on trolling ballys with skirts and a traditional cedar plug. hopefully beginners luck will come into play. as for location thinking about the fingers or somewhere thereabouts.
If anyone has any advice on location and tactics it would be greatly appreciated and incorporated into "The Plan"

fishing on The Knucklelhead

Ya probally know about trolling at eight knots for tuna,huh? And maybe thinking about adding a planer with a drone spoon in the mix? Don White, premo local offshore charter captain aboard Four-O, fishes four drone spoons and planers in his spread,or used too.Used 50 foot leaders, and was often the yellowfin/bluefin top hook. Also, Dr Wright would not THINK of tuna fishing without a bird and "Green Machine" way back. Still,a good ballyhoo spread is the purist way to do it.However, if the hits don't happen, have the back-up stuff like artificials ready to jump in.GOD KNOWS, when I have been tuna fishing with Dr W in years past, we hardly had the eight rods out before he was ready to start changing up.That is pretty nutsy, but still having pre-rigged stuff will keep you in the game.Hopefully, you will be covered up with fish and run through your ballyhoo before ya have to think about artificials!

Use wind on leaders and Flourocarbon.

Please explain what you mean by a wind on leader?
And what is a "spreader bar" and how is it used?

In my limited offhore tuna experience, I have only used crimp loop leaders with snap swivels (rigged ballyhoo with a pink or green flash skirt and green machines).
Worked like a champ, but I'd like to know how to use someof the artificials which I have been accumulating.

Additionally, I'm quite sure that we were not trolling that fast...it it really necessary?

Thanks in advance.

[quote=guido,Jul 26 2005, 12:41 PM][quote=Mega Bite,Jul 26 2005, 10:14 AM]Use wind on leaders and Flourocarbon.
[/quote]
Please explain what you mean by a wind on leader?
And what is a "spreader bar" and how is it used?

[/quote]
Go to any tackle shop and ask for wind on leaders. They are kind of like a barrel swivel but thin. Crimp one end on your main line and the other end on your leader. Then when you get that whale-o-gator, you will not have to hand leader the fish, you just "wind him on" to the side of the boat and gaff him. Flouro is a lot of money but you need it and use a long leader at least 12 to 15ft. We sometimes even go up to 20 to 25 ft leaders.
Now the spreader bar is a bar with a bunch of squid bodies on it. Best way to explain it is 5 daisy chains hooked to a bar on one rig. The hook is in the center daisy chain in the last squid. Use a swivel in the last squid body and run a 3 foot leader with a green machine behind it. I always make my own for about 80 bucks but if you were to go buy one it would cost around 130.

Many thanks for the tutorial.

I was aware of the small swivels and the ability to crank em right up through the rod guides. I just thought that they were called something else.

As far as the bar rig, not quite sure I'm willing to spend the dough and drag that big mess through the water! Sounds like a parachute striper rig.

At any rate, I'm out of town and champing at the bit to get offshore and try and pick up some fresh tuna. Best of luck to all who make the venture and thanks again for the information and advice.

Steve

Just my two cents. DO NOT give up on the spreader bar because it is to big/to much hassle - to drag. The spreader bar with the green machine - rigged exactly as Impulse described is probably the best rig to catch a fish on. Take my word for it, after bearing the cost and trouble to get 60 miles offshore to get to the 30 fathom curve you will want every fish catching-resource you can get on the boat. Spend the 100 bucks -- you will use the bar for 10 seasons.

thanks for the advise, look forward to fishing tomorrow. we will be on the radio, knucklehead

any suggestions on location, 33 fathom,??

thanks for the advice, we trolled across the fingers from the 20 fathom tho the 31 fathom. no luck this time. I was probally a little late for the fingers.