Report - Picture Report of Blue marlin in Venezuela

[Squidnation]

Originally Posted by Patudo

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.

Hey Dustin - Those Ilander express baits were just teaser baits. We used what I would consider medium ballyhoo. The idea of the quick dropback is because of the high number of blue marlin opportunities. They felt that theses fish attack much more aggressive then a white or sail so there is no need for a long dropback. Also since the attack is much more aggressive these fish are probably hooking themselves more then we care to believe.

We never used anything bigger then a medium ballyhoo. I would think that they would recommend a longer dropback on a bigger bait.

[Current Affair]

Hey Bill,

When do you think you will have the rigging videos up? I bought 6 of your chuggers this weekend from alltackle.

Rob

[Squidnation]

tonight or tomorrow. At least the chuggers.

The mackeral with the surprise ending will most likely be tomorrow.

[Current Affair]

Hey Bill,

What size circle hook would Butch recomend for the Blues up here? I know the 8/0 was what you were using in Venezuela but i think the heavy drag of and 80 would bend it out. I saw some 12/0 heavy wire eagle claw non offsets at alltackle that would problaby be a good choice for the chugger/select/horse for using the chuggers up here for the bigger blues on heavier tackle.

[Patudo]

Bill, I forgot to ask - those sails you did catch on the chugger rigs, did you give them more dropback, and if so did they end up being hooked in the corner?

[jbones11]

Great trip, reports and pics. Thanks for bringing them !

Its nice seeing Ron get a dose of his own medicine that he occasionally enjoys giving out while he sits all dry in the upper deck

[perfectscore]

thanks for the picture, they are amazing

[Seaker]

Nothng else can be said

Simply awe inspiring...magnificient work Bill