*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: You can run, you can hide, but it just means you will die tired
i am gonna try tuna fishing this year at stellwagen and mudhole. looking for trolling advice. i don't have outriggers. currently i have 2 30" jethead spreader bars,2 green machine daisy chains,i cedar plug daisy chain. i have 2 okuma titus gold 50 2spd reels with pinnacle rods. what is the minimum number of rods out to troll and what layout would be best and not get line all tangled for a new fishermen??
thanks scott
__________________
06 coastal 290 'sydneyrose'
04 21' sailfish wa 'sold'
02 26' seaswirl wa 'sold'
Troll the maximum number of lines that you can troll effectively.... with the "effectively" being the optimum word. For years I only trolled 4 rods, all with squid bars. My crew have reached the old age of 10 and 12, so now I troll 6 lines...
One line, trolled correctly beats a cluster of a mis-shapen spread. Start small and add more as you get more experience.
pony up for a private charter, tell the capt what you want to do and he/she will show you the tip/tricks.
The $$ you will spend on a charter or two will be peanuts to the $$ you will spend trying to figure it out. But if your like me - you will go trial and error.
Good luck
i am gonna try tuna fishing this year at stellwagen and mudhole. looking for trolling advice. i don't have outriggers. currently i have 2 30" jethead spreader bars,2 green machine daisy chains,i cedar plug daisy chain. i have 2 okuma titus gold 50 2spd reels with pinnacle rods. what is the minimum number of rods out to troll and what layout would be best and not get line all tangled for a new fishermen??
thanks scott
Just as important as how many rods is were and how they are running in the spread and how to handle the boat propertly while the spread is in the water to prevent tangles and crossing lines. 3 rods would be the absolute minimum i would put out for a trolling spread.
Another thing to consider is the bait used in different locations. The bite on the bank and the bite in the mud hole are a little different and the baits used are different as well. If you are going to fish stellwagon and are going to be trolling you will want to include spreader bars with shell/bulb squids in the 11" range. Productive colors can change from year to year and even from season to season but the orange/black (Trick or treat), and black with a white stinger have been pretty productive the past few years. Also plan on the tuna you encounter in the mud hole to be smaller then what you will likey encounter out on the bank. The tuna you will encounter on the bank in 2010 should be mostly in the upper 100 to lower 200 pound class and in the upper 60" class in CFL. Thats a serious fish for a newbe (No offence)
Don't forget your permit, and the other gear you will need fight and harvest a 150 to 200lb tuna. A good fighting belt is an absolute must, a poon or flying gaff is also a must, strait gaff and tail rope are both needed as well. Also some mussle to get a 150+ pound fish in the boat. And the most important is the camera you will only have one first.
thanks guys i still have a few months to aquire the rest of the gear. then the learning curve!! i will be happy with one tuna.(easy to say in january).
scott
__________________
06 coastal 290 'sydneyrose'
04 21' sailfish wa 'sold'
02 26' seaswirl wa 'sold'
pony up for a private charter, tell the capt what you want to do and he/she will show you the tip/tricks.
The $$ you will spend on a charter or two will be peanuts to the $$ you will spend trying to figure it out. But if your like me - you will go trial and error.
Good luck
On a small boat without outriggers, I would go with 5 rods - three accross the transom plus two off the sides. Realistically, the bigger the pattern, the more likely you are to hook a fish when you pass over them. The big guys, 50' boats with 30' outriggers, will troll as many as 13 lines (3 off each rigger, 1 per side off the gunnel, 2 off each side of the centerline of the transom and 1 off the center rigger).
Set up your 5 rods in a W pattern: with the spreader bars on the outside long (4-5 wake); chains, single lures, Ballyhoo in the transom corner positions (3-4 wakes astern) and either a spreader bar or daisy chain in the center as your longest lure (6-7 wakes astern).
Crew size and conditons dictate how many we troll on my 32' boat, but it is never less than 7 rods, and usually 9 or 11 (two off each outrigger)
If you are still thinking you may want to deside by Friday Feb.5th so you will have a chance at winning the $5000 Grand Door Prize, which is a fishing trip to Panama on the Coral Star. I was going but the admairal has made other plans for that weekend. I have a few friends that are going and knowing Capt Eric, along with Capt Damon and Capt Terry and all the sponsers it should be a killer event.
Also try to work in some X-Raps they can be very effective. Last season live bait was key. Get live macks, pogies, or bluefish. Float them under a balloon. You WILL hook up.
__________________ **************************
22 Shamrock Warrior WA
Gloucester
Invest in some spreader bars.... great for small spread, creates some commotion and looks like a school.
As well, consider a couple of birds in fromt of the green machines, they will give you good visibility of the location of spread and also create the commotion you need for a narrow spread.
Bob
Location: Monmouth County, NJ / Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 908
Quote:
Originally Posted by LI32
On a small boat without outriggers, I would go with 5 rods - three accross the transom plus two off the sides. Realistically, the bigger the pattern, the more likely you are to hook a fish when you pass over them. The big guys, 50' boats with 30' outriggers, will troll as many as 13 lines (3 off each rigger, 1 per side off the gunnel, 2 off each side of the centerline of the transom and 1 off the center rigger).
Set up your 5 rods in a W pattern: with the spreader bars on the outside long (4-5 wake); chains, single lures, Ballyhoo in the transom corner positions (3-4 wakes astern) and either a spreader bar or daisy chain in the center as your longest lure (6-7 wakes astern).
Crew size and conditons dictate how many we troll on my 32' boat, but it is never less than 7 rods, and usually 9 or 11 (two off each outrigger)
Sounds like he will be trolling for bluefin. Most do not use big spreads at all when targeting BFT given that your lures tend to be much farther back then when trolling Yellowfin. 5 would be more than sufficient. Get those skirted ballyhoo way back, practice your troll speed and you will be happy
tuna advice 
