Learning to billfish on small boats

[Captain Fred Archer]

Thank you, Boxter. Your praise counts a lot, at least to me.

Now, if we could only get you aboard the WallyCopter with Wally himself, I can't even begin to imagine the kind of videos that would result! Oh, mercy, they would be fine!

Carla D, I suspect that you have made a good point as far as choosing daisychain teasers down south is concerned, especially from the cost standpoint. It can really add up when you consider the cost of the typical dredge in the first place, plus an electric teaser reel (if required), the cost and rigging hassles of the baits if naturals are used and then add the conglomertion of stuff once you retrieve it...and you better get it out of the water in venues with lots of billfish! That's mucho dinero and probably muchas problemas. No gracias para mi!

The constant is teasing the fish. That simply has to be done if you are fly fishing and is the best way of zeroing in on sails and marlin and not the other fish in residence, regardless of the tackle used or even where you are fishing. I have made no secret that teasing fish and bait and switch fishing is my hands-down favorite way of trolling, no matter where I'm fishing. The simple reason for that is, it works great.

I know that it sounds like a sales pitch and I suppose in a way that it is, but the fact is, if I don't mention it, few will know about it, so here goes. I strongly suggest that those who would like to fish lightweight, easy trolling and easy handling dredges that eliminate the need for electric reels or even dedicated outfits in the first place, take a hard look at our Spider dredges. They weren't originally designed to sell, but instead around eliminating the negatives of traditional dredges aboard a charterboat that did a helluva lot of bait & switch fishing in order to eliminate the hassles and cost of the "regular" way. In the process, since cost truly is a big factor on both the charter and privateer side, we addressed that and they are also vastly less expensive than the other way.

And hey, take the trolling sinker or planer or downrigger off and Spiders make terrific surface spreaderbars for either fishing as teasers or armed to actually catch fish. To my way of thinking, that's a true "best of both worlds" thing.

All good, I think. Those who use them, love them.

Now, Boxter, hop on that WallyCopter and do your magic! "Holy shit...looka that!!!"

[sanchoco]

cool stuff fred. thanks. let me add that we only troll teaser chains in Guatemala because they made a decision long ago to not allow dredges of any kind. the reasoning behind this is that hamlin thought that one could condition a fish to only raise to dredges and that would eliminate the more exciting teaser chain bite. not sure if I agree how one could train 50,000 sailfish but hey, when in rome.

If you are going to give reasons for things in Guatemala please get your facts straight. Ron Hamlin had nothing to do with that decision and it was to protect the local boats who did not use dredges from Traveling boats coming in to Guatemala and changing the fishing. The local fleet has a high percentage of fly fishing charters and that had more to do with it than anything.

As for training fish, all you have to look at is Cancun, MX. 20 years ago all you needed was skipping baits and a squid chain to catch sailfish there. dredges came along and if you go there now with skipping baits and chains your chances of raising fish are dismal. what else changed in Cancun to "train" those fish??

[Carla Dee]

sancocho, i don't know much about the fishing in mexico, but the idea of training fish is ludicrous.

i would imagine that 20 years ago 3-5 sailfish was a good day. now 3-5 is a slow day. that is your difference.

it still cracks me up to think that someone would think that by pulling dredges it would train fish to come to them. IF fish were trainable in that way, it would train them to stay away from dredges! you think they like being hooked and tugged on??

[Squidnation]

If you are going to give reasons for things in Guatemala please get your facts straight. Ron Hamlin had nothing to do with that decision and it was to protect the local boats who did not use dredges from Traveling boats coming in to Guatemala and changing the fishing. The local fleet has a high percentage of fly fishing charters and that had more to do with it than anything.

As for training fish, all you have to look at is Cancun, MX. 20 years ago all you needed was skipping baits and a squid chain to catch sailfish there. dredges came along and if you go there now with skipping baits and chains your chances of raising fish are dismal. what else changed in Cancun to "train" those fish??

thanks for the clairfication. Appreciate it. From what I have always been told and actually read was the hamlin theory.

[Squidnation]

Better late than never
Thanks for the write up Bill. I think you and Fred should come down and fish at the same time. One side of the boat for each of you. I wonder if boxing gloves would be a hinderance in hooking fish? To set the record straight about spreader bars here in Guat they are allowed. Dredges are not. Ronny is still alive and herding fish as good as always but has nothing to do with fishing regulations here. There is no enforcement of the no dredge rule other than pissing off all of us that fish here daily.

Who is Sanchoco? I see you post here alot and would like to meet you. Please id yourself one day on the dock

Captain Jody Elswick

Jody - there are two Sancocho's here. Sancocho is Jose. I am sure you know him from the dock. He often runs a private boat that i think is called teaser. Don't know Sanchoco. but he has some informative post here on the board.

[sancocho]

To set the record straight about spreader bars here in Guat they are allowed. Dredges are not.

There is no enforcement of the no dredge rule other than pissing off all of us that fish here daily.

MAGA
UNIPESCA (dependencia del MAGA)
Acuerdo gubernativo No.223-2005
Guatemala 27-junio-2005
TITULO VI
CAPITULO II
ARTICULO 60



suerte,

[Squidnation]

MAGA
UNIPESCA (dependencia del MAGA)
Acuerdo gubernativo No.223-2005
Guatemala 27-junio-2005
TITULO VI
CAPITULO II
ARTICULO 60



suerte,

Thanks Jose - translated I think that is no multi teasers and the sentance above is circle hooks only for sportfishing with the intent of catching billfish.

[BuenaVista Sportfishing Lodge]

Hey swing and a miss
I stand corrected. The rules read teasers strung from clothes hanger type wire may not be used. I was under the impression that spreader bars were ok but this clearly says they are not.
Is this a new revision to the regs? The last time i read this phamplet it was not so clear?

Jody

[Squidnation]

Hey swing and a miss
I stand corrected. The rules read teasers strung from clothes hanger type wire may not be used. I was under the impression that spreader bars were ok but this clearly says they are not.
Is this a new revision to the regs? The last time i read this phamplet it was not so clear?

Jody

Jody the rules reads that spreader bar type teasers are not allowed for billfishing only. They are fine for meatfishing