Fish holding deep? Try a downrigger...

djsulli · Jul-20-2006, 08:12 AM

... I know this might sound nutty to some, but i have a buddy who has had a bit of luck using a downrigger with a feather for Tuna holding deep.

Been reading alot about deep meter marks and fish that dive on the slide, it would be worth a try on the troll to run 2 deep lines in addition to your surface lines.

Also, dont hesitate to slow troll a big live sardine or a smaller green back over a high spot ( but dont get too deep/close to the hump or you'll get picked up by something else ).

This technique has also been rumored to be effective on big eye tuna who tend to dwell deep and rarely come up (hence the reason they are rarely caught).

Just thoughts, good luck!

//Dj Sulli

SALTYDAWG · Jul-20-2006, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djsulli

... I know this might sound nutty to some, but i have a buddy who has had a bit of luck using a downrigger with a feather for Tuna holding deep.

Been reading alot about deep meter marks and fish that dive on the slide, it would be worth a try on the troll to run 2 deep lines in addition to your surface lines.

Also, dont hesitate to slow troll a big live sardine or a smaller green back over a high spot ( but dont get too deep/close to the hump or you'll get picked up by something else ).

This technique has also been rumored to be effective on big eye tuna who tend to dwell deep and rarely come up (hence the reason they are rarely caught).

Just thoughts, good luck!

//Dj Sulli

I've done it and had success doing it, But not yet this year. The areas that I've seen with the kind of meter marks it takes for me to hassle with the downriggers have all been piled on by the sieners, Dont really want to bob & weave through those guys dragging the riggers

aclemieux · Jul-20-2006, 08:30 AM

After just getting a new set this year, I've pondered using them for tuna just because I wanted to maybe get more out of them than just the thresher season. On a charter one time out of Sebastian, Florida, they used one downrigger and one diving planer to cover the water column, along with the umpteen other lines they put out. We were fishing for Kingfish and the deep rigger always was the first bit. I always wondered if the same techniques could be used for tuna. Thanks. Gonna have to try it.

**Smudge** · Jul-20-2006, 08:57 AM

Yup we use them for kings all the time. If I had my way I'd be in Jax right now dragging a bait-o-matic with a ribbon fish at 40ft looking for that $25,000 smoker king....

fishin4fun · Jul-20-2006, 09:07 AM

I've been pondering the same thing, back home they troll deep for amberjack. It'll be interesting to see what develops since it was brought up.

tattooedfreak36 · Jul-20-2006, 10:36 AM

They have been trolling deep on the East Coast for tuna for years and years. I always wondered why it didn't catch on out here more. I would think it would be at least moderately successful especially when fish are holding deep like this year.

Have fun out there.

neatnick · Jul-20-2006, 11:56 AM

deep tuna on the mooch...
dye thread dye

big eye r the make a wish jackpot

FishingSloth · Jul-20-2006, 12:17 PM

I feel the reason downrigging tuna never caught on is it much to fun to fire an iron straight into a boil!!!! gunzgunzgunzGood Idea though, great way to get my next BET!

EL CAPITAN · Jul-20-2006, 12:33 PM

Use a butterfly jig on a patty

sushiboy67 · Jul-20-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL CAPITAN

Use a butterfly jig on a patty

have you tried this? how did you do?