Report - Picture Report of Blue marlin in Venezuela - Page 4

Squidnation · 05-09-2008, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilinov

Bill

When you look at the lure box the chuggers look like they are set behind the hook. I was assuming that the chugger was sacrificed during the hookup, but in all the pics the chuggers are still attached to the leader. Am I missing something? How do they get in front of the hook after hookup?

Can you show how they are rigged?

Thanks

Yes I have video of how they are rigged. The chugger is sacrificed after a catch. But we know where to get more

I will be uploading the video this weekend

The chugger is set behind the hook.

#1Gaffman · 05-09-2008, 10:18 AM

Keep the pics coming squid man.

GREAT SHOTS !!!!!!!!

SeaBiscuit · 05-09-2008, 10:47 AM

Outstanding as usual Bill! Do you have more?

Regarding the circle hooks not being in the corner of the mouth, I too noticed that in the photos you posted. I remember you mentioning that the captain instructed the anglers to keep the dropback very short and that most bites were on chugger covered baits. Certainly different from the traditional naked bait, long dropback & always at the corner of the mouth circle hook history.

It would be interesting to find out if the new regulation which requires the use of circle hooks on combo baits is actually contributing to NOT corner hooking the bills! Is anybody collecting data on this?

SeaBiscuit

Bite Me · 05-09-2008, 11:14 AM

THAT, is some world class stuff. The location, the crew, the results, pics all of it as good as any TV producer could ever put together.

No where is the VIDEO.............

frabbie · 05-09-2008, 11:19 AM

Damn Son, absolutely phenomenal camera work! Amazing!

fish4bills · 05-09-2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squidnation

Very good observation Fish4bills. The answer is close to zero. I have an opinion on this but am waiting until I speak to the capt about my thoughts. No one noticed this until we all viewed the pictures and then it became glaringly obvious. I will tell you that our total percentage was about 50% which is less then what it is with nakeds and about even to what it is with j hooks. what really screwed our percentage was a terrible day on the sails on the first day. had this been the fall where it is more whites and sails then blues we would have been trolling all nakeds.

But from my understanding from talking to the fleet at the marina, they all use the chuggers in the spring because they generate more blue marlin bites.

I am interested to see what the captian says about this. I have several thoughts as well...

Several of the boats in Casa de Campo are using the mini chuggers with the skirts clipped for their pitch baits. I was told that when the marlin comes off the teaser, the chugger is acting similar to the teaser that she was just trying to inhale and it helps the fish find the bait easier once the teaser is gone.

Thanks again for sharing your photos and information.

Captn Joe · 05-09-2008, 04:53 PM

Squidnation,
they are some of the best picures I have seen, pretty work Cap.

Whitey,

That a good shot of you and your dad, that is a heck of a fishing trip you guys had, really enjoyed the long list of photo's

Captn Joe

Capt. Michael Mata · 05-10-2008, 09:13 AM

Great shots guys. Wish I could have been there. Its nice to see Capt. Ron in the cockpit putting some heat on them.

Squidnation · 05-10-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaBiscuit

Outstanding as usual Bill! Do you have more?

Regarding the circle hooks not being in the corner of the mouth, I too noticed that in the photos you posted. I remember you mentioning that the captain instructed the anglers to keep the dropback very short and that most bites were on chugger covered baits. Certainly different from the traditional naked bait, long dropback & always at the corner of the mouth circle hook history.

It would be interesting to find out if the new regulation which requires the use of circle hooks on combo baits is actually contributing to NOT corner hooking the bills! Is anybody collecting data on this?

SeaBiscuit

Spoke to Butch about this this morning and his feeling is that the chuggers don't interfere with the hookup. Blue Marlin bites are usually so aggressive that they probably hook themselves before any of our dropback stuff. That is why they suggest such short dropbacks during the blue marlin bite. Matter of fact we kept our drags inched up a bit more then normal incase we were late to the rod the fish would hang himself (I think I just saw fred archer smile

)

He went 4/4 a couple of days ago on a fun day using the same rig.

BTW - The weather roughed up again but the fishing is still hot. 2 boats went yesterday. One was 5/12 and the other 3 for 8 on blues. A couple of days ago Jimmy Grant caught 9 blues!!!!! out of umpteen bites.

Patudo · 05-11-2008, 08:39 PM

Great report Bill. Terrific action shots and detailed photos of the rigs and baits that you used with such success. If you counted in a bunch of missed bites from sailfish for your 50% ratio your percentages on blue marlin must have been much higher.

I have occasionally wished to put a hook in front of a lure when they were in that "leader scuffing" mode (more frequently with spearfish and whites than with blues, to be fair). I'll do that next time! Given that you're fishing with very little dropback, do you think the circle hook positioning in front of the chugger would work as well with bigger lure/bait combinations ie horse ballyhoo? I see a couple of larger rigs with what looks like Ilander Expresses in the bait box, but cannot see the hooks. Were these rigged with circles in the same way as the chuggers, or with J-hooks, or are these teaser rigs? What would be the largest bait normally used there?

Thanks for the report again

Best regards

P.

05-09-2008, 11:14 AM	#34
Bite Me I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 1,942 Credits: 5,835.6 Occupation: Living Life	THAT, is some world class stuff. The location, the crew, the results, pics all of it as good as any TV producer could ever put together. No where is the VIDEO............. __________________ Why Play Nintendo when you can live it???

05-09-2008, 04:53 PM	#37
Captn Joe Just bought a 65' hat! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Chester PA Posts: 76 Credits: 1,193.4 Occupation: Insurance	Squidnation, they are some of the best picures I have seen, pretty work Cap. Whitey, That a good shot of you and your dad, that is a heck of a fishing trip you guys had, really enjoyed the long list of photo's Captn Joe __________________ For instant boat insurance quotes:

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05-09-2008, 10:18 AM	#32
#1Gaffman I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 1,237 Credits: 1,494.9 Home Port: OCEAN CITY Occupation: MATE	Keep the pics coming squid man. GREAT SHOTS !!!!!!!!

05-09-2008, 10:47 AM	#33
SeaBiscuit I think Admin is going to let me have this space Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 3,063 Credits: 6,198.5	Outstanding as usual Bill! Do you have more? Regarding the circle hooks not being in the corner of the mouth, I too noticed that in the photos you posted. I remember you mentioning that the captain instructed the anglers to keep the dropback very short and that most bites were on chugger covered baits. Certainly different from the traditional naked bait, long dropback & always at the corner of the mouth circle hook history. It would be interesting to find out if the new regulation which requires the use of circle hooks on combo baits is actually contributing to NOT corner hooking the bills! Is anybody collecting data on this? SeaBiscuit

05-09-2008, 11:19 AM	#35
frabbie Newbie on board Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11 Credits: 1,209.2	Damn Son, absolutely phenomenal camera work! Amazing!

05-10-2008, 09:13 AM	#38
Capt. Michael Mata Hide- My Wifes Logged On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Red Bank NJ Posts: 163 Credits: 1,405.4 Occupation: Financial Advisor	Great shots guys. Wish I could have been there. Its nice to see Capt. Ron in the cockpit putting some heat on them.

05-11-2008, 08:39 PM	#40
Patudo Anthony's Ark is a blowboater Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 329 Credits: 1,560.8	Great report Bill. Terrific action shots and detailed photos of the rigs and baits that you used with such success. If you counted in a bunch of missed bites from sailfish for your 50% ratio your percentages on blue marlin must have been much higher. I have occasionally wished to put a hook in front of a lure when they were in that "leader scuffing" mode (more frequently with spearfish and whites than with blues, to be fair). I'll do that next time! Given that you're fishing with very little dropback, do you think the circle hook positioning in front of the chugger would work as well with bigger lure/bait combinations ie horse ballyhoo? I see a couple of larger rigs with what looks like Ilander Expresses in the bait box, but cannot see the hooks. Were these rigged with circles in the same way as the chuggers, or with J-hooks, or are these teaser rigs? What would be the largest bait normally used there? Thanks for the report again Best regards P.