Blue Marlin Circle Hook Rig

[Squidnation]

Hey Bill, what is the theory about the skirt being so radically short?

Hey Glenn - spoke to a couple guys down there about your question last night. The answer I got was that the whole idea of the chugger is to present a bigger bait Not really a flashy bait but just bigger. That being said Butch said why try and cover up a perfect bait with a skirt. You just want to make the bait look bigger but you don't want to cover it up. Simple enough huh?

[Glenn W]

Hey Glenn - spoke to a couple guys down there about your question last night. The answer I got was that the whole idea of the chugger is to present a bigger bait Not really a flashy bait but just bigger. That being said Butch said why try and cover up a perfect bait with a skirt. You just want to make the bait look bigger but you don't want to cover it up. Simple enough huh?

Works for me.

[Bert Rodgers]

Not to change the subject but, Bill I love the color of the red chugger you have, any chance of Mauler squids that shade?

Bert

[Squidnation]

Not to change the subject but, Bill I love the color of the red chugger you have, any chance of Mauler squids that shade?

Bert

Here you go Bert. It is called Red Natural and is available in 9 inch on the site. It is the same dye as the chugger. This may satisfy both of your needs concerning the white squid as well. It is white on the bottom. So when it flips back and forth on the dropper chain it flips from red to white giving off a great contrast. BTW- the 9 inchers are on sale this week for $1 off each squid.

[Bert Rodgers]

Thanks Bill .

Bert

[Sterling]

Hey Bill, nice work here.
I understand the theory of having the circle free to do it's thing but it seems having the hook that far from the bait might result in short bites when trolled (as opposed to pitched) or even the whole bait being taken but not the hook.

Do you compensate for this with a long drop back, or is it just not an issue because they are swallowing the bait quickly rather than mouthing it a lot?

[Squidnation]

sterling we are taught to drop it back a bit longer but I personally have noticed that Short bites are not really a problem with blue marlin.

[Wild Life Management]

Great thread Bill, really cool rig, I even think I can figure out how to do that.

You could use that same rig for any other blue marlin bait also, right? Macs, squid, etc?

[000's]

What about the drag on circle hook rigs.Back off like a dink,put up to strike,feed him a little ?

[Squidnation]

What about the drag on circle hook rigs.Back off like a dink,put up to strike,feed him a little ?

Hey 000's check out this thread. It describes how we have been taught by just about all the pro's we have fished with.

The Circle Hook Up

BTW- did anybody watch offshore adventure this morning. They were fishing on El Banco off of Punta Mita for Giant Yellowfin and Marlin. At one point the mate got bit on a live bait. The mate was all about slamming the drag up to strike and reeling as fast as he could. Capt Bret reminded him that it was a circle hook and to inch it up slowly. Mate did not listen and slammed the reel to strike and reeled as fast as he could. Fish did not come tight. Just thought it was a good video of how not to attempt to hook a fish on a circle hook.