Report - Picture Report of Blue marlin in Venezuela

[Squidnation]

We finally made it back after some airline hell. But it was well worth it. We had our 4th leg of the World Circle Hook Tour in Venezuela this past week with Capt Butch Cox on the Prime Time as our host. What a great time. We learned quite a bit about fishing techniques in general but also quite a bit about rigging Circle Baits both large and small.

We caught 5 Blues and a bunch of sails and missed quite a few as well. I have a ton a pics so keep checking back. Thought I would post one to get things started but I should get a bunch more up tonight. Also got some great video of both angling and rigging baits.

Here's one of the pics to wet your appetite

[Current Affair]

Nice shot Bill. Got any pics of boats?

Rob

[Shortfin]

Good Stuff Bill

Looking forward to some how to Circle Hook Rigging demo's

[Squidnation]

Originally Posted by Current Affair

Nice shot Bill. Got any pics of boats?

Rob

Yes - I was invited on the Coral to take shots inside and out. pretty impressive boat. I will try to get some stuff tonight

[Squidnation]

Here are a few more. We trolled 4 baits. Three had our squidnation chuggers and one was naked. All were small/medium ballyhoo. We used a variety of Green Moldcraft, tandem Ilander express, and black Bart Braziliano on the right teaser and we used a squidnation 9 inch tuna candy straight daisy chain with a variety spanish mackerals and large ballyhoo on ildanders on the trailer of the chain on the left teaser. All baits on the longs were trolled pretty far back, the teaser were trolled pretty far back and the flatlines were right next to the teasers. most bites came on the long or left teaser. Had one good bite on the brazilano but few other teasers on the right. Fishing with Capt Butch is always a learning experiece. He suggested very short drop back (3-4 seconds) because most bites were blue marlin except for the first day. He also preferred us to hold the rod out to the side or straight up but not in the direction of the fish. when we would see a fish we were instructed to dump prior to feeling the bite. if we felt the bite we would be too late! but we needed to really be able to see the fish because if we dumped to early we would drop it back behind the fish. The other suggestion he made was to almost alway hold the bait in position when a fish came in the spread.

our rigs were 100lb wind-ons with 5 ft 80lb leaders on a small swivel. 8/0 eagle claw circle hooks were snelled to the leader. Got lots of video of the rigging but probably won't to that until the weekend.

























More to come tomorrow

[gradywhite273]

world class stuff bill, seen the red chugger on the one pic.

[Squidnation]

not sure why these didn't copy last night. trying again

[Swami]

Awesome job Bill, congrats on another successful Venezuelan adventure! I'm guessing you had no problems rigging the circles in front of the chuggers so I'm also looking forward to the video--the last time I fished down there with Bubba we pulled all naked baits and I was really wishing for a chugger rig.

Quick technical question: the captain calls out a fish up on the teaser, the angler grabs the flat and holds it out perpendicular to the side of the boat while the teaser gets ripped in. Does Butch like the angler to keep the rod tip up so the bait is on the surface or down to keep it swimming? Just curious to see his preference. I was taught to keep it low, level with the horizon, so the bait keeps swimming naturally until my last trip south where our captain wanted the rod tip up and the bait skipping--just curious to see which way Butch prefers on his boat.

Thanks,

Sam

[Squidnation]

up or to the side - for him it does not matter. What does matter is that you are not pointing the rod at the fish prior to the bite. His instruction and discription is that there is no way anyone can free spool a bait to a fired up billfish without some sort of lag before line starts ripping off the reel directly. pointing the rod to the fish without some sort of buffer line will cause A. a backlas or B. a burnt thumb while you are trying to prevent a backlash. He showed us on the dock exactly what he meant. We pointed the rod directly at him and he pulled on the line in free spool. you can imagine what happen. instant backlash. but when the rod was held to the side or directly up and he pull as we simultanously dropped or whipped the rod towards him gave of a line buffer equal to the length of the rod. that allowed us to manage the line coming off the real much better.

Check your PM

[Persistence]

Awesome...I think I need to go there some day.

Great pics and instructions on dropping back.

[Robja]

Great shots Bill,

We are always looking for places to fish and I was wondering how safe was it where you were fishing and how were the seas.

[Squidnation]

I enjoy fishing in venezuela quite a bit. I had a rare layday due to a schedule screw up and went sightseeing up the mountain to a german village. It was a 3 hr car ride and an incredible place to visit. along the way we stopped in a couple towns for breaks and drinks. The people are friendly and easy going. We did go with a local guide and that made it much easier. we went out to dinner a couple of times and had a good time. Each time we went to dinner - we walked instead of taking a cab.

I have been told the seas can be rough. I have been twice a year for the last 3 years and have NEVER had a rough day. the captain says I have been lucky. The blue marlin bite is on fire now. One boat went 9/20 on blues two days ago. We saw no less then 5 blues per day and more sails.

This is one place you don't want to miss. PM me for contact information on some boats down there.

[#1Gaffman]

Great shots so far bill. Looking forward to the rest of them.

How fast were you guys Trolling?

[Wild Life Management]

Bill, holy crap, amazing photos and amazing info. As always thanks for the report and lesson.

[Bert Rodgers]

Spectacular! Thanks Bill.

Bert

[Dave Sikorski]

Yet another great report. Thanks Bill.

Amazing pics...My desktop background thanks you.

-D

[FINRAZOR RODS]

Bill, just amazing!!

[flatbottom]

very nice bill pino !!!!!!!!!!!

[Captn Joe]

Great pictures, very nice trip, good job, and yes I am jealous!

Captn Joe

[slip slidin]

Awesome report, information, and incredible pics as always Bill. You set the bar pretty high. Thanks for bringing it to us.