Thoughts on downriggers when trolling tuna

TunaBully · May-08-2008, 08:08 PM

Fred - I would love to get your thoughts on using downriggers when trolling tunas. Many of experts I have spoken with on the east coast are opposed to them, as they may prevent a school of tuna from rising to the surface and seeing the full array of spreader bars, jets and ballyhoos running just below the surface; possibly preventing multiple hookups.

Conversely, there are many times where we see the fish hanging at 2-300 feet and can't get them to come up and bite. I can't help but think that having a deep bait at 50-100 feet may entice those fish to the surface and possibly to the point where they can see the spread just below the surface.

We are going to experiment with it this season, but would love to hear where you stand on the matter

Catch em up - TunaBully

swordswizzle · May-08-2008, 08:16 PM

Jess,
Don't want to butt in but that sounds like a "sound" decision, never think that what you read about is a be all/end all. Go for it, and good luck

1bigfisch · May-08-2008, 08:46 PM

Your thinking is sound. Give it a try and let us know. Ive used downriggers for MANY fish types, and have found most to respond well. That includes tuna.
That being said, there are a lot or lures out that will enable you to target depths to 50' without the use/ hassel of a downrigger.

**Fred Archer** · May-09-2008, 01:22 AM

A really good question. But first, downriggers are not a hassle to those who use them frequently. Instead, they are an invaluable, easy-to-use (after you use them for a while - just like most other things), super important fishing tool. And considering the fact that virtually all fish and the bait spend the vast majority of their time down deep, where they aren't going to see or sense a surface trolling spread, especially the kind of "bare bones" ones like many run that don't represent enough food to feed one fish in a deep school of fish, let alone be attractive to the school if they do happen to notice it.

It's cool to troll that kind of spread, though, and the way, according to some and there is little chance of ever finding out about new techniques, lures, etc. or at least certain ones, on some fishing sites because of heavy handed and very selective censorship that somehow doesn't happen if the subject isn't, say, a new jig by Shimano, or a new Avet reel, or a particular boat that did a great job, or many other things. Of course, no one associated with those kinds of products would ever be among those shouting their praises and talking prices and sources and so-on.

Anyway, there are favored species of bait, including of course squid, that are rarely found near the surface during the day unless driven there by tuna, other fish, or dolphins. So there are many wide open bites that go on down deep that pure surface scratchers don't know are going on in the first place and don't have a prayer of catching those feeders during in the the second. If you don't think that cuts into the daily catch of the typical skinny spread surface scratcher, you have another think coming.

This applies to tuna, of course, but it's the same with a lot of other fish too. Wahoo, for instance, are notorious for going down deep during daylight hours. So, guess what? "Experts" will spew out the nonsensical traditionalist pfallderall that "wahoos bite early and late". That is utter nonsense and we proved that time after time down in Cabo by putting baits, especially squid immitations (don't ask me what kind), down where the squid and wahoo were interreacting and we stone slayed them and caught plenty of tuna, marlin and even dorado on days when the rest of the fleet didn't catch a single 'hoo, including the Dawn Patrol.

And all of those times when there are tailers and sleepers all over the place down there, "but they just won't bite"? They are eating squid. The squid are deep, where they usually are in the daytime. Those marlin up top have filled their bellies with squid and have come up to the sun-warmed upper layer to snooze and let the warmer water help digest their food. Hell, throwing a bait at those fish is just like offering Uncle Charley a fat cheeseburger after he's just finished stuffing himself with a huge steak, potato's, veggies and bread - no thanks. Put the right lure or bait down there where they are feeding and you tell me what happens! (If you can't figure that one out for yourself, go find a post on how to choose and hook a bait tank anchovey.)

There is actually way too much to talk about when it comes to deep fishing, which is actually a combination of using downriggers and planers to even begin to discuss here. Plus, I have been spanked publicly enough and have learned NEVER to post ANYTHING that might - perish the thought - mention something that I make or wrote here ever again. And so that means that I won't be posting the excerpt from a you-know-what that I was going to post here. No more of that foolishness for me! I have learned my lesson. Let all of those other book authors and magazine writers try THAT stuff.

I guess all that I can say is, there are some good books around that go into all of this deep fishing stuff and a lot of other things that will help others catch more fish.

Say, did you fellows know that I have the ability to delete any posts I choose to here? I suppose that would include those of other visiting mods, but I wouldn't do that. A matter of respect, don'tyaknow? And that is an important thing to me.

So, that's it for tonight, guys. You know where to find me if you'd like.

coryellk · May-09-2008, 01:41 AM

Thanks Fred. I don't know you from Adam, but you're off to a good start. Best regards, Kevin

**MikeyLikesIt** · May-09-2008, 07:25 AM

.

FishAbility · May-09-2008, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coryellk

Thanks Fred. I don't know you from Adam, but you're off to a good start. Best regards, Kevin

hes a legend, put it that way.

Double Z · May-09-2008, 10:56 AM

Downriggers are gay, damage your boat, and might do other unknown harm to you or others around you. Don't get them, fish the surface where it's safe.

shinerunner · May-09-2008, 11:33 AM

I've tried it for tunas, but it gets to be a problem at "normal" tuna trolling speeds.
The tuna can see the surface where the outrigger runs in my opinion, so probably best to come up with the best spread on the surface. If you find em hanging deep. stop and dropper loop a dean.
or something

Pescador Paul · May-09-2008, 11:45 AM

Slow trolling a sardine on a downrigger can be absolutely deadly on tuna if you mark them deep on your sounder. At normal tuna trolling speeds you will get "blowback" and your downrigger weight will plane up and run near the surface.

newunamas · May-09-2008, 12:02 PM

Does anyone still pull boatlines anymore? Im guessing the ones I use with a pound of lead are usually down about 40 feet.

**MikeyLikesIt** · May-09-2008, 12:09 PM

I read some time ago over at fullspeedfishing.com that they pull what they call "meatlines" which were really short parachute cord lines with a weight and a jig. They also talk about pulling short lengths of chain, to imitate the sound of bait schools in the water.