Fishing out of oregon inlet

["The Double D"]

I have been wanting to start fishing for some time now and my kids are old enough to tag along. I caught a break with my father-in-laws boat (25' trophy walk around cuddy) and would like to get into some dophin. I have very little gear 4 set ups with penn 320's and two spinners with penn 650's. I am interested in getting some tackle for some dolphin-trollingn and casting but mostly trolling. I would like to know how to set up a small spread and what to use. Ill be going out of oregon inlet or I could go out of Lynhaven inlet, kinda in the middle of the two. Thanks for any advice!

[Golden Dog]

In my experience, dolphin seem to really like the pink stuff we pull. Ilandr's (mistress, Jr, etc.), daisy chains, spreader bars, etc...they seem to hit it all. I think it'll be more important for you to learn how to find where they're at vs. what specific lure to pull. I would also suggest that you try running out of Hatteras if you're really set on dolphin. The dolphin come in close this time of year (15 miles off and sometimes closer) and there are usually plenty of bailers to keep you busy. I have noticed nice weedlines often set-up offshore of the rockpile that hold fish. Good luck!

["The Double D"]

Thanks, I agree with trying to locate them. I have been getting my feet wet by trolling up and down the coast to the right out of the inlet for taylors and mackerel....kids had a blast! what would be a good sign to look for besides birds and weedlines? I dont have a tower to get up on to spot much....

[MattH]

Look for anything floating in the water, temp break where belnded water meets blue water, bait (usually flying fish), etc. Anything a little out of the ordinary, but sometimes you catch fish in the middle of nowhere too so cover some ground.

In years past 80% of our dolphin have been caught on pink daisy chains or pink rattle jets. This year I've seen more fish on green/yellow islander tracker, B/W ilanders, etc. Color isn't terrible important when dolphin fishing most days. Also keep a naked small ballyhoo in the spread at all times for dolphon as well as sailfish and white marlin which may be around. Have a spinning rod rigged up with a small circle hook and be ready to cut some bally or squid up to throw to a school that follows up a hooked fish....or a school that is following your baits and not hitting.

Best of luck, I love dolphin fishing and I'm sure you and your kids will as well! If there is anything else that I can help you with shoot me a PM

[hunt0035]

they have been close out of OI 12-15 miles the best advice I can give you is troll a couple No-Alibis with squid pieces and keep the two spinners rigged with small circle hooks, and a bag of cut squid ready to go. Once located (cruising or on structure) We have been slaying them just casting at them with the light tackle spinners while trolling and looking. (then the bailing starts, keep tossing out a few pieces to get them close to the boat and knock em all out with the light tackle baited hooks)

[saltydawgrods]

Look, save yourself years of frustration and trial by fire and hire a capt. to go out on your boat with your gear. It will open your eyes to a whole new world and will help you be productive...not to mention safe. I fished that inlet for a long time and it's no joke. You don't want to be "figgering it out" on the fly in that inlet. The guys there are great and would love to go with you because it's a change of pace for them.

[Prop Blast]

It's hard for folks to show you what they've learned over the years, but you've gotten some good advice here. Dolphin are great fish to target when you're new to offshore fishing -- you don't need a lot of expensive equipment and when you find the fish, they usually are agressive and will hit almost anything.

Simple tackle will work fine. For trolling, 20lb and 30lb gear spooled with mono will work fine. Reels such as the Penn 113H, 45GLS (no longer in production, but a great 20/30lb trolling reel), Shimano TLD 20 and 25's are all great for trolling. For spinning, 15lb gear is fine. Penn 650's are perfect. For trolling rods, 6'6" long rods rated for 20-40lbs and ring guides are fine. For spinning, 7' rods rated for 15-25lbs.

Leaders. 80lbs mono is fine from my experience -- though some folks like heavier stuff. The nice thing about 80lbs is that you can still tie knots -- once you get to 100lbs mono, you should go with crimps.

Terminal tackle. When trolling, make sure you DON'T use barrel snap swivels -- use the more expensive ball bearing snap swivels. Under the pressure of trolling, barrel snaps won't spin and the line will twist, the ball bearing ones will make sure things swivel properly.

Hooks. Match the hooks to the lure/bait you're using, not the fish you hope to catch. 5/0 to 7/0 hooks should be fine for any trolling lures you'll use.

Lures. Lots of personal preferences in this area. No need to spend a fortune. Moldcraft lures are excellent. Try their Super Chugger (small size), Hooker, and small Wide Range rigged with 6/0 or 7/0 hooks. Here in Florida, no captain leaves the dock to target dolphin without a blue and white Iland Lure -- they are that good!!! Rig them over a medium ballyhoo and hang on!. My other "go to" dolphin lure is a Mini Green Machine.

I'm assuming you have four rod holders in the gunnwales. The two furthest aft should be pointing straight back. They are your "Flat Lines". You'll run those straight back on plain lures, say a Wide Range on the starboard and a Mini Green Machine on the portside. Place one 20-30' back and the other 10' further back from the first.

The next two rodholders should be angle out at approximately a 45 degree angle. You can run ballyhoo off these, either "naked" or with "skirts" over them.

Finally, I'd reccommend you buying a DVD or two that will go into great detail on tackle, bait rigging & fishing for dolphin. George Poveromo has two: They are, "Dolphin" and "Offshore Bait Rigging". Both are well worth the $$.

http://georgepoveromo.com/showstore.htm#Bait

Here are some other tips:

http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/ar...sp?ID=21013128

http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/ar...sp?ID=21012616

Tightlines!

PB

[stressrelief 28.5]

I would listen to Saltydogrods dont play around in the Orgen inlet, not with your childrens in the boat.Im speaking from experince.