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Random Quote: I know I fish too much so from now on I will only fish on days ending with Y
I'm new to tuna fishing and I've heard a lot about the use of spreader bars. I'll be fishing mostly south of Montauk and Block Is. After looking at a number of bars from Melton's, Ballyhood, Finestkind etc. it is obvious they come in all price ranges, materials, colors, types of lures etc.
I not looking to buy a $300-400 bar but I don't want to waste $$$ on one that won't work.
Would running one or more daisy chains have the same effect? Do you guys like to drag spreader bars? What brand bars and types of lures do you like? Where in your pattern do you drag them? Do you run a rigged lure in back? Anybody try Ballyhoods recommended release setup on the rigged trailer so you don't have to fight the bar on a hook up?
That's alot of questions, let's see if I can help:
The Reel Seat in Brielle NJ makes bars used by most everyone in this area. They start under $100, and definitely work. I was trolling their Zuker bars last weekend, 2/3 of the fish hit on them. I usually run them off the short rigger on both sides. I also have some of their squid bars.
Their website gives alot of info on how to run them, etc. Call the shop and they will answer any questions.
I have had more strikes on the bars than on daisy chains. I don't really like dragging all that hardware, but since they do put fish in the boat...
That said, I did catch a few fish on daisy chains this week, mainly zukers and aliens
I made some of my own squid bar teasers this winter, with the intention of running a rigged trailer close behind. Have not used them yet, but my fingers are crossed.
try this link.. my suggestion would be to buy one bar, and buy all the crap to build a few more.. Look at the one you bought closely and duplicate it as best you can, key to building one that trolls properly is to make sure it is balanced, so hang it when your building it and balance it. If you ever need help with building one, PM me.. It's fun to build different bars and then see themcatch fish. Any way here is a link to Fisherman's Outfitter, They are the local squid bar connection, they build em sweet and affordable too.. http://www.fishermansoutfitter.com/ You definitely do not need to spend $300-$400 per bar. However, some of the more expensive Titianium splash bars are super nice...
Spreader bars have been the bomb here off VA so far this year. Green has been a very hot color and they have made a believer out of me...the prices at Fisherman's look good but I don't think those are titanium bars. We used one that was not titanium this weekend and it was not as smooth running as the titanium bars. It seemed to flex way too much and walked all over the place. The titanium bar stayed flat and ran true. I like Stalkers bars as well...
I have good luck with daisy chains and run them often from all positions. I like small sevenstrand chuggers (4 of them) then a ballyhoo hook bait either naked or with a sea witch.
Here is the Hatteras Lures website: http://www.eyecatcherlures.com/ . I have used a green squid bar for many years now from him and it still catches and catches fish! All his stuff is excellent though. Give Dave a call at 252-995-7744. Here is a direct link to his squid spreader bar: (looks like he has switched to a fiberglass bar): http://www.eyecatcherlures.com/ultimatespreaderbar.html .
The one that works for me and a lot of other boats around here is made with 18" blue and white squids on a 36" bar. 2 on the outside about a foot apart, a single on the inside and 3 down the middle. Use a green machine 60" behind the last squid. Too close or too long and you get a lot of missed strikes before you get a hook up, make it 60" exactly. Use a couple of the styrofoam fireball floats inside each squid and if you break off the bar or a squid chain you can retreive it. Also, it will make the bar float and you will get drifter bites while fighting other fish. This time of year, I pull it long. Behind everything else so I can turn and not get tangles. Sometimes, I pull it just in front of my short rigger baits. I pull it every day and it works. You can call Whalebone Tackle in Nags Head (252-441-7413) and tell him you need the parts to make a Blue & White Bar like Capt. PegLeg's. I think it runs about $100 and maybe some more to ship it.
The Blue & White Squids look like the bonita, I think, that we often catch the tuna around. The Green squids will work also but I pull the Blue & White bar every day and it works every day. I use a 80 Tiagra to pull it and I wouldn't try it with a 50. The big squids are the ticket but pulling 9 of them is a lot of weight. Good Luck with The Bar.
OK...you guys convinced me to get a spreader bar ...thanks for all the tips, links and offers to help with suggestions to build one...now I have some work to do.
Hey CaptPegLeg....when you run that last lure 60" back...do you run it off a release or is it tied directly to the bar? Ballyhood has a setup where behind the last bar lure they attach a release that you can hook to a rigged lure tied directly to the main line of a rod...that way you don't have to fight the fish and the bar.
Have any of you guys tried that setup...sounds like a good way to go but doesit really work with minimal problems???
I usually run in 5 to 7 foot seas in Hawaii. Will the spreader bars work okay in this type of water or would I just be asking for a big mess? I don't see very many here so just wondering...
You have to have the 60" leader snap swiveled to the bar. Also, have the main line attached to both the center line and the bar so the bar does not take the strain, it gets enough pressure. The bar does flop around some and a release clip would be instant disaster. The way mine is rigged is fool proof, if you do get a tangle, it only takes a minute to get it back in the water. You can check out my site at http://forplayn.com/log/ and see yesterday's catch. 4 out of 10 were on the bar.
CaptPegLeg...thanks for the tips...great pics on your website....really gets my blood going If I'm ever down that way I'd sure like to book a trip with you.
Can you explain how you attach the main line to both the center line and the bar? Do you have to use a three way or two swivel with 2 leads off of them?
well..I narrowed it down to the Realseat, Stalker and Ballyhood bars...I went with the Ballyhood with green/yellow softhead hootchies...$115 w/case. I'll let you know what I think of them in a month or so. A real close second(next one I will get) was the RealSeat with the Zukers. Thanks for all the advice.
I'll second Fishermans outfitters. Virtually all the people here use them. They build good stuff. They will know what is working by you because they ship everywhere.
I highly recommend the Stalker Outfitters bars. I've been using and buidling bars for about 6 years fishing for giant bluefin as well as canyon and Dump area. Their bars use little swivels on the bar for each chain so they are really easy to get ready and launch. Their 6" and 9" shell squid bars are a must, and their green machine bar is also great. Their bars are 40" wide which is a nice spread. Don't leave home without them. No affilitation disclaimer.
The best spreader bars out there are from www.tournamentcable.com
. I've tried a couple of other brands and had bad luck with them holding up. Poor swivels, cheap leader, and bars that bend. A titanium bar tracks straight and lasts a heck of a lot longer. I had a 4 yellowfin and a white all crash a green spreader last weekend at the baltimore. I was amazed that they kept hitting the same green spreader. I have also heard of the rainbow colors getting rave reviews. I tried to order one and they said they can't keep them in stock.
I run 2 spreaders off my 28' center console and have no problems.
Spreader Bars for Tuna in the Northeast 
If I'm ever down that way I'd sure like to book a trip with you.
