Yep, that's the one... I think you may have suggested a few trolling plugs earlier in the thread. Can you refresh? Here's the stack I'm thinking... 400yds 50# braid> 100yds 60#mono>swivel> 10yds 60#flouro>payload
Yes. it really depends on trolling speed / spread... Deep divers: Nomad "DTX minnow" 165/200, 2nd choice Rapala "x-rap magnum" 30/40 (if fish are holding deeper when sun's up... may find a wahoo too) fast plugs: Nomad "Madmacs" (mackerel or sardine color) 160/200 (these will be HARD to find online without getting raped, so check the shops in person), you can pull these FAST & These lures may be good as they track pretty straight which will be important in your case "Yo-zuri High speed vibe" is a cool little lure (theyre pretty small, but elephants do eat peanuts... plus you can use it to cast out to them as well). Colors I'd go naturals blues/silvers or pinks.... they love sardines and flying fish so.... but they also love pink colors too. Of course it's hard to beat skirted lures, especially with a natural ballyhoo.... but you'd troll these guys quite a bit slower, and may not be convenient given the circumstances This guy has some sweet deals on these: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ss...tionlures&_oac=1&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562 C&H "Tuna Tango" would probably fill this role well also, as theyre a bit weighted which would probably help https://www.tackledirect.com/c-and-h-tuna-tango-lures-unrigged.html Also a smaller "Islander" is a good one (blue and white kills the mahi).... plenty of offbrand copies for half the price and old faithful and cheap, is a blue/white/silver cedar plug waaaay back, but will probably dance around too much for a boat like this (alot of lines) but I think the plugs may be best bet for you, but I'd shoot them an email to see how their trolling operation works before throwing down another hundo on lures I'm a proponent of finding them on ebay also, I'd bump your leader up to at least 80#.... you can always downsize if you're not getting bites, but you can't get a $30 lure back
These guys have good prices on the trolling plugs https://charkbait.com/product-category/lures/hard-baits/?orderby=popularity
Okay!! I now have my Tuna Gear all set. All I need going further is some rubber bands and weights just in case. I'll be pickup up some trolling lures as well.. Chunking: Reel: AVET HXW 5/2 Raptor 2spd Rod: Daiwa Win Proteus XHF 70-130 braid Line: 100# 8 strand braid, 60# mono, 40-60# fluorocarbon leader Tackle: BKK 2X 6/0 Circle hooks Trolling: Reel: Shimano TLDII 30A Rod: Phenix Axix MH 7' line: 50# 8 strand braid, 50# fluorocarbon Leader Tackle: Gamakatsu 2/0 or 3/0 Circle hooks Mahi: Reel: Shimano Twin Power 6000 Rod: Shimano Terez 7' M line: 30# 8 strand braid, 30# fluorocarbon leader Tackle: 100-150g slow pitch jigs, 3oz white Spro bucktails, I'm loaded for Bear!! Tight Lines!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's a sexy beast.... but you're gonna need to beef up the leaders / terminal tackle on 2nd 2 setups.... 2/0 hooks?!? You fishing for porgies? Circle hooks only gonna work on natural baits too and I think we nedd to adjust that TLD 30 set up if you havent spooled it yet...
Had a senior moment on the hook size.. More like 6/0 circles for the Butterfish baits. I'll go with the hooks on the lures for trolling. Hopefully they won't be trebles. if they are, I'll change them out with larger 5/0 single assist hooks. Leaders too light? What do you recommend? I could bump up the Mahi to a 50/50 without any problem. Trolling I can go 60/50.
80# for the tunas, especially on the lures.... even heavier if you're expecting some big dogs. Those Nomad come with single inline hooks.... the rapalas come with trebles, but you can swap them with 4x 6/0 vmc singles. have you spooled those reels yet?
I'm thinking lighter on the avet (80#) and heavier on the trolling rod (65# (dont think they make 60).... but you'll want a long mono topshot on the tld or you'll pull hooks, then use a fluro leader you can wind on. you bringing a jigging setup?
Thinking bout it. I do have a SPJ rod that can handle up to 700g (power assist reel). Got a slightly lighter Proteus HF and can pair that up with an Ocea Jigger 2000 F Custom or a AVET JX 6/3 Raptor 2 spd.
LOL... damn dude...I think you have it covered, but if you wanted a more "speed jig" rod for vertical knife type jigs, TD has had these on sale: https://www.tackledirect.com/shimano-trevala-jigging-casting-rods.html I still think if you go braid on the TLD may as well go 65. Otherwise you'll have a mile of line on there, plus on head boat trolling I think it's more muscling them in than finesese
Great reviews.. Trying to remember what colors are natural up here in the Canyon.. Looks like all the mackerel shapes are sold out atm. I saw two but for the life of me, I don't remember ever seeing a pink mackerel.
Pink Mackerel works great on the wahoos From what I read "sardine" has been great on the bluefin.... there were some available when I posted that link
Ha, no. Never caught a Bluefin (or a yellowfin for that matter).... just Blackfins here, and they run on the small side (an 20lber is a NICE one)
Picked up 2 MadCads today at Cabelas. Chunk Rig: AVET HXW 5/2 Raptor, 400yds/100# braid, 200yds/80# mono topshot, 10ft/60lb flourocarbon leader, 178# swivel, BKK 6/0 2X circle hooks.
