cedar plug, cigar shaped.

[Kahi]

I have never used cedar plugs for tuna or any other offshore species. I hear it's the go to for Tuna. We currently have a nice Black Fin tuna run in Miami, and I was wondering if.....

1. Blackfin will hit a cedar plug?

2. Where to fish it in my spread (mixed in with Ballyoo)?

3. If other species, like mahi or wahoo will eat it?

Thanks for the advice..

Kahi
Miami, FL.

[Shortfin]

The only place i ever run it is flat line tight to the transom

They work unbelievable for what it is

[clt_capt]

1. Blackfin will hit a cedar plug?
Yes
2. Where to fish it in my spread (mixed in with Ballyoo)?
I've run them in all positions. More effective for me on the long riggers or bridge pole

3. If other species, like mahi or wahoo will eat it?
Yes - maybe not as consistently as tuna will though

[FINRAZOR RODS]

Cedar plugs have been around for a looooooonnnnggggg time. Run as singles, most fish them on the flat lines. In a chain, you might move them around, keeping them close to the prop wash. That's where I've seen a number of them work. If you buy them pre-rigged, change out the crimps!!

Oh, and anything hungry will eat them...

[hattrickll]

I run mine close to the wash and have done well, however as Finrazor says, change the crimps if you buy them pre-rigged.

I had two hook ups at one time and lost both fish due to crimps.

A hard lesson learned for me.

[Kahi]

......on the crimps. Starting to think I need to change all terminal tackle on mass produced gear.

Kahi

[puttputt]

blue/white cedar plugs have landed its share of meat for us on the long corners and the flats. simple they work. and the natural cedar colors do fine. having some magic markers to color the natural ones to match a hot bite color helps too.

[whowantstoknow]

In SC and up here in the Canyons we always through a plug or two in to the spread.

I usally fish em off the flat lines right in front of the mouse trap...Got to say im a firm believe in having a set on the boat at all times...we had a good hit with the pink and white and the red and whites last year....But lets just say if its brown its down

[ancient mariner]

HI:
I love 'em. I've used them down in Florida and up in the Noreast and down into the "ISLANDS" and off S.America.
Where to run 'em?
I run them just about anywhere in the spread.
UP CLOSE:
Anywhere from just behind the transome to back in the 1st and 2nd wake wave.
HINT...HINT...HINT... Take the line from the rod tip and CLIP IT AS CLOSE TO THE WATERLINE AS YOU CAN. Your CEDAR will run as it's supposed to. I use a lifting ring . If you don't have anything low, then Rubberband the line to your REEL HANDLE.
Mid spread:
Run off mid section of o/rigger back in the 3rd,4th wake wave. If you don't have multiple clips on your O/rigger then use a drop back clip on it's own tag line.
HINT...HINT...HINT.. Use a three(3) T'ZER setup on your LEADER. When you do make sure the T'ZER closest to the Cedar stays in the water, while the other two(2) can come up out of the water as if there trying to escape.
SEE my website for how they look.
From rod tip:
Again rubberband the mainline as low as you can. This really improves the CEDARS action. Again, I always use a three(3) T'ZER setup in front of the CEDAR.
Further back:
Here I put a 7 inch TURBO TAILED BIRD out in front of the three(3) T'ZER,CEDAR setup. This really makes your spread COME ALIVE. It should appear as a WHOLE school under ATTACK and will turn on ANY TUNA.
W.W.W.BACK:
Some guys use a small three BIRD setup (use the small 4 or 5 inch birds seperated by 12 inches between birds). I like to use 4-5 birds of this size. Again, a small paid pod running from your CEDAR.
I like to use just one of my 7-9 inch TUBO TUNA BIRDS, that has it's own tail(see what they look like) out in front of my three(3) T'ZER setup and CEDAR.
Some guys drop this back( dump 1/2 half of a 50). I DON'T. Y? I have been cut off too many times down here in godd ol FLORIDA! AARRGGHH.
I'll put my w.w.w. back about 50 yards. My records show that I did pretty darn good and I didn't loose the rig to smoeone who A.>Wasn't paying attention or,2)>For whatever reason .................. I still had to get on the radio and warn people away.
HINT...HINT...HINT...:
When the ocean is smoother than a spanked baby BUTT and the Tuna are very touchy about taking a lure( read Blackfin 1st,other Tuna 2nd) RAISE your o/rigger UPRIGHT. YEAH,,,,UPRIGHT,,,UPRIGHT. That will take most of the line to your BIRD(IHOPE) THREE T'ZER, CEDAR SETUP out of the water and get those SHY TUNA to come up and suck that rig right off the o/rigger. the absence of all that line in the water does at times make a difference.
WACKM 'N STACKM
Joseph B...aka...Ancient Mariner
www.ancientmarinertackle.com

[Capt_John]

I've used cedar plugs for as long as I can remember. I like the plain ole' natural cedar plug pulled off my WWB line and maybe one in close. I used to commercial fish with a spread of all cedar plugs trolling @8 knots and would load the boat up when the bite was hot. Also caught numerous mahis and a few wahoo as well.