Downriggers and tuna?

triton2486 · Jul-17-2007, 09:42 AM

When the tuna don't come up why not use a downrigger to take the lure to them? Have any of you tried it? I hardly see any boats with downriggers on them.

Az.monkey · Jul-17-2007, 09:48 AM

Been there done that and yes sometimes it works and the school will follow the the troll fish up

iclypso · Jul-17-2007, 09:53 AM

I was just asking my father the same thing. It seems like once the thresher shark bite slows down, everyone puts the downriggers away for the summer. It's worth a shot if nothing else is working.

triton2486 · Jul-17-2007, 10:44 AM

I'm going to buy some and give it a shot.

TAPOUT · Jul-17-2007, 01:58 PM

I use one with a Z-Wing and they work. Also, planers work and they are pretty cheap,(35.00), and will get your bait down about 25ft. If you get the downrigger, switch out the cable to Spectra which provides even less resistance in the water. If you're going to mount the base plate to the gunnel, make sure and use a heavy duty backing plate. When you're trolling at 6.5kts. there is some serious strain being put on the base. Good luck, you will get bit.

triton2486 · Jul-17-2007, 08:46 PM

Right on Tapout. You have a crazy nice boat! I just ordered a pair of Scotty's.

BiggestT · Jul-17-2007, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAPOUT

I use one with a Z-Wing and they work. Also, planers work and they are pretty cheap,(35.00), and will get your bait down about 25ft. If you get the downrigger, switch out the cable to Spectra which provides even less resistance in the water. If you're going to mount the base plate to the gunnel, make sure and use a heavy duty backing plate. When you're trolling at 6.5kts. there is some serious strain being put on the base. Good luck, you will get bit.

Like tapout said. 200 lb spectra and the high speed Z-wing. I found that trolling plugs such as the Yo-Zuri or the X-rap work best. It's almost impossible to keep the line in a release clip at 6.5 knots. Maybe up to 6.0 knots, definitely at 5.0 knots. I'd recommend a #64 rubber band wrapped 5x around the main line and both ends tied to a piece of 130# black dacron tied to the Z-wing. You best find an area showing lots of marks down deep as you're going to cover less ground with the downrigger out vs surface lures. Downriggers require a lot more effort, but definitely worth it when the normal stuff is not working and you are certain that you're over tuna. Good luck.

bassnet · Jul-17-2007, 10:23 PM

downriggers will work for sure, gotta love that X-Rap 30, it's been bit well for us this season, even though it's a big plug it's gotten bit when the little feathers haven't, and the fish had the little tiny baits in them.

Darylfw · Jul-17-2007, 10:26 PM

I was using my downrigger for the first time about 3 weeks ago and had major issues keeping the lure on the clip at 6 to 8kts. I'll give the rubber band and Z-wing tips a shot. Thanks.

BiggestT · Jul-17-2007, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darylfw

I was using my downrigger for the first time about 3 weeks ago and had major issues keeping the lure on the clip at 6 to 8kts. I'll give the rubber band and Z-wing tips a shot. Thanks.

I had to post that to save you guys on the learning curve. I've tried every clip imaginable and above 6 knots, it's very tough to keep anything in the clip. #64 rubberband yes, but it too will eventually wear through. Best bet is find the area where they're concentrated, then 4.5 to 5.0 knots with the Xraps.

Wild West · Jul-17-2007, 10:50 PM

Fishing out of Morro on a plunker deep live bait bite people where joking on the radio about using downriggers since they are all salmon fishers as well up there.

You could slow troll a straight nose-hooked sardine slow if you had good meter marks - seems like it would work but I never tried it. for that matter a chrome spoon going slow might work.

TAPOUT · Jul-18-2007, 07:48 AM

biggestT; try a floss loop 15-20ft up the main line, take a flat line clip,(roller troller with 8-10in of wire and a swivel) and attach the clip to the downrigger line and the swivel to the floss loop. When you get a strike, the clip releases off the DR line and stays with the main line. You can set the clip release as heavy as you want. It's a Fred Archer trick for planers and it works.

Slow trolling Sardines/Mackeral at 50-150ft works real good too. Many guys catch Marlin on the Mackeral this way.

Remember, most fish spend most of their time at depth, they usually only come up if there is a good reason. May as well fish where they live.