small boat trolling spread

[crispy167]

wondering what a typical trolling spread is for DE/MD region, targeting dolphin/tuna/mixed bag ... i'm on a 24' striper with single outboard and i've been picking up lures/tackle/etc over the last two years. i've equipped the Bone Man with 15 outriggers and an extra set of rodholders in the gunnels for a total of 6 not including the 4 launchers on the hardtop and am looking for advice on placement and content of a mixed bag trolling spread ... ideas? i've got several squid daisy chains, numerous trolling heads/spoons/plugs, chin weighted 'hoo pin rigs with and without seawitch heads, greenies and greenie chains ...

[crispy167]

forgot to mention a handline planer setup and several bulb squid spreader bars also ...

[92 feet down]

I'll take a crack at this. In a single engine, 24' Striper, I'll assume you're trolling along the 20-30fa. lumps. Anything more is asking for trouble.

With a little practice, you can run a 7 line spread; however, start with 5 lines, for practice. I'll start with the 5 line spread: Run 1 flat line down deep, a skirted hoo (preferrably an Ilander) or spoon on that planer, or run a Mann Stretch lure if you're feeling lazy . I like a 3 lure daisy chain on the other flat (some squid skirts with an egg sinker in the head works fine), or go with a cedar plug. The outriggers should be skirted hoos or the spreader bars. The shotty should be a big hoo, or a bird/3-Green Machine chain. If you're running 7 lines, just add skirted hoos or GMs or a small Wide Range on the extra outrigger lines.

A little tip: learn to prep & rig strip baits. They're very easy, & great inshore with a feather. All the trash fish you catch inshore make great strip baits (False Albicore, bluefish, mackerel, etc...). Also, if you're not that experienced, take someone who is along with you. Going on a few charter trips is a whole different ballgame than heading our there yourself.

Good luck & be careful.

[crispy167]

Thanks for the input and yes, I'm only planning to troll the 20/30 line/lumps and only on the nicest of weather days. I also have several experienced partners in crime with varying levels of experience going along. That spread sounds about like what I had in mind and I do have a cedar plug daisy to run on the other short flat line. The bars I have are small w/8-10 squid on them so that sounds good on putting them on the riggers, and I've got a SWEET looking GM chain to run on the shotgun spot(btw, I won the 3 pro chains I have on this site from offshore innov - good looking stuff! THANKS SFC!) thanks again for responding - tight lines!

[Anthony of the ARK]

Flat Lines: Plane/skirted ballyhoo on one side, and a spreader on the other

Short Riggers: A daisy chain with a hooked bait, and a sea witch/hoo on the other.

Long Riggers: These are the most important along with the planer.

Two Islanders or Big Heavy's with horse ballyhoos. With a small boat it is probably best to pull one in the traditional long rigger position and the other, pull it way way back. Probably half a spool of an 80w.

If you don't think your rigger can hold that kind of strain pull the WWB in the shotgun position.

[lsider]

I'll add my $.02 and say that, IMO, is more important for whatever lure you put out to run properly than the lure itself.
A lure is considered to run properly when it comes up, grabs air and dives leaving a bubble trail behind it. At the end of the bubble trail the lure comes up again and repeats the process. The cycle typically runs 5 to 10 secs depending on the lure design. The idea is for the lure not to run submerged w/o a bubble trail behind it.
I would suggest starting with a 5 rod spread (SC,LC, SR, LR and SH); keep the larger and darker lures closer to the boat (SC, LC), smallest at the SH position where the prop wash ends. Stagger them a wave apart.
Experiment with your trolling speed until you make the lures work right. Typically 5.5 kts to 9 kts; skirted ballys will be slower than a no meat slanted lure.
Schoolie Bluefin trolling may even be slower than that.
Trolling off OC for the larger bluefin will undoubtly expose you to the WWWWB crowd because most boats do it. If you do that then run a 3 rod patten, one from each rigger and one down deep; all with skirted ballys. Stay out of the fleet if you can manage it.
Good luck.

[KAISER]

Please explane WWWWB

Thanks

[lsider]

WWWWB=way way way way back
some believe that running your baits 200 to 300 yds back increases the chances of hooking a larger size bluefin.
Sometimes it does work but more often it is missapplied and creates a lot of "controversy".

[blckbart]

Couple quick things in a small boat- think safety - that's a long way to go - before you run out, post that you are going here and find someone else who is running out. Its real nice to have a buddy boat that you can talk to in the event things get hairy.

Where will you be fishing out of OC, IR, LE?

IMHO - Forget the planers until you get comfortable with trolling period - then add in stuff like planers and WWBs- I am assuming you are targeting Bluefin and Mahi. The easiest thing you are will do is get a bite - clearing the line, leadering the fish, gaffing and resetting is where I wish I would have asked more questions the first time.

Anthony of the Ark describes a nice spread that give you a shot at everything you'll run across. Play with your trolling speed (4-7kts) so that your wake is as clean as possible and the boat runs nice.

Just like in football, have a plan of who does what and when. The first bite will be a cluster f&^k, embrace it and have fun with it!

Good luck and I can't wait for the first report and photos!

[crispy167]

Couple quick things in a small boat- think safety - that's a long way to go - before you run out, post that you are going here and find someone else who is running out. Its real nice to have a buddy boat that you can talk to in the event things get hairy.

Where will you be fishing out of OC, IR, LE?

IMHO - Forget the planers until you get comfortable with trolling period - then add in stuff like planers and WWBs- I am assuming you are targeting Bluefin and Mahi. The easiest thing you are will do is get a bite - clearing the line, leadering the fish, gaffing and resetting is where I wish I would have asked more questions the first time.

Anthony of the Ark describes a nice spread that give you a shot at everything you'll run across. Play with your trolling speed (4-7kts) so that your wake is as clean as possible and the boat runs nice.

Just like in football, have a plan of who does what and when. The first bite will be a cluster f&^k, embrace it and have fun with it!

Good luck and I can't wait for the first report and photos!

Thanks for the well wishes! We'll be fishing out of IR. I've been out several times on charters and on a cousins 28` boat numerous times so i have a good start on the wiring/gaffing/landing/rigging parts(though by no means am i done learning!) good advice on the buddy boat, we did that last year and it worked well. i think reading the wake and setting the spread in good locations is where i'll need to be focusing ... thanks to all for your suggestions!!!