Fishing for some Spanish

[Wild Cat]

I am fairly new to the fishing life, however I am getting pretty deep into it. I tried fishing for spanish mackeral with a gold clark spoon. The only problem that I encountered was that the spoon was skipping on top every now and again. I am not to sure if it would be due to the waves and chop or if I was rigged wrong. When I went out it was a bit choppy with occasional 3 footers. Also how much fishing line should I have out? I have heard a lot about hand lines but do not know to much about them. Can anybody help me out?

[offshore]

There are a few ways to get the spoon down. You can use a small trolling weight or a small planer in front of the leader. We normally just use 20-25ft of 20lb mono for a leader with no wire between the trolling weight,planer and Clarkspoon. Make sure you put a swivel on the leader near the weight or planer because the spoons will put twists your line. You should be able to run them back any distance with the planers or trolling weights. You only need a 3oz trolling weight to get the spoon down.....Mark

[Wild Cat]

I appreciate the tips, that will definitely be helpful for me.

[reel retreat]

we use small planers with about 15 to 20 feet of leader to the spoon with a bearing swivel in the middle of the leader as well as a snap swivel at the planer. silver clarke spoon with the pink or green stripe have been real productive here in virginia

[clt_capt]

I normally use a 5 line spread for spanish. A #0 Planer with a silver/pink #00 clark spoon, a #1 planer with a silver #00 clarkspoon, and 3 sea striker birds on top with a mix of gold and silver, silver/pink #00 clark spoons.

You pretty much cover the water column this way.

Right now they seem to be hanging in 38 - 45 ft of water - find the schools of bait and you'll get hit.

We got 30 - 40 with 15 in the 3 lb range yesterday. Just turn left when you clear the inlet and find your depth.

[Captain Michael Buffington]

I can remember as a kid my uncles "super secret " spanish bat was a Mc's straw cut into three sections a put over 3/0 hooks, three of them and then a clark spoon, kinda like a daisy chain...I have to say they worked

Mike

[Robja]

I like a small birdie with the Clark spoon about 4 ft behind it.

[brandon558]

The straws are hell on the macks when they want hit a gold or silver spoon!

To keep your spoons from skipping try like mentioned above small planers or trolling weights. I use about 30' of leader and always use a ballbearing swivel to prevent line twist.

And if your like alot of people and dont feeling like screwing with planers go get a couple yo-zuri deep divers, red head silver body, throw some single hooks on them and your in business!

Good luck

Brandon