Xmas list

[pbusanga]

Hi guys

I live in Ghana and have just bought a 25 foot Osprey Pilothouse for offshore fishing and here is the rub..apart from 2 custom fully rolled 5'6" 50 - 80lb rods with 50# Pro Avet 2 sp spooled with 130# JB Hollow and 80# Suffix top shot i have nothing else and i mean nothing. i would like a list of stuff i should get (starters list please, dont go wild) this includes terminal tackle tools etc. i have fished inshore for Yellow Tail Red Sanapper Tarpon etc but this will be my first foray into deep sea fishing. Will be fishing standup for YFT, Wahoo, Dorado and if i am lucky (or unlucky depending on how you look at it ..might freak out and get pulled off boat ) may hook into Marlin. Any and all advice appreciated and interested to see Xmas list. Bear in mind there are no fishing shops here so have to order everything i need in one go to get me started..will add stuff later as i learn what i need for my particular circumstances..Thanks everyone

[mythosbeer]

I guess its hard to answer because everyone will probably answer a little different and have different opinions. Shimano makes a great reel! I would grab a couple shimano tiagra 50's. you don't HAVE to have all rollers but at least get rollers on the tip and first guide. If you want a great reel for smaller game, under 50 lbs I'd say...look into the Shimano TLD25's They are hard to beat for the money. As far as terminal tackle goes...I love Blue Water Candy lures and Cape lookout Lures...both local here in North Carolina. I would grab some 80-130lb leader...depending on size of target species...and some heavy duty crimpers and rig up your own lures. That way you can put a wire tracer if there's a chance of some hoo's biting you off...or larger/smaller hooks and chin weights. Hope this helps at least a little.

mitch

[Agitated88]

www.meltontackle.com

If they don't have it...you probably don't need it.

[livetofishnj]

is the fishing done by trolling lures or live bait? It'll definitely make a difference as far as the shopping list goes

[gradyfish265]

First you will need leader, crimps, and a good pair of crimpers. If your going to fish offshore you need to be able to rerig your lures, and over time rig your own, it saves money too. Use quality crimps, I've seen cheaper ones break. SS won't rust quickly and will last longer. I'd recommend using the same brand line, crimper and crimps to make everything work right, I prefer momoi products personally. Jinkai has their line of stuff as well but I've had issues with their crimps before. Depending on the species in your area, you may troll from 130-250lb leader for tuna, and 200-300lb leader for small marlin and 300+lb leader for bigger fish. I carry 100,130,150,200 and 300 with me at all times, anything large I will have rigged at a shop since I don't rig them enough. Use SS hooks on expensive lures, they last longer and will not ruin your lure skirts. The only time I don't use SS hooks for rigging are for a ballyhoo rig since they get replaced and rerigged often. I'd recommend a good quality ball bearing snap swivel to connect your lures to your main line from your rods. Ball bearings are worth the money, they will keep your line from tangling in a fight and if the fish jumps or twists your line wont.

For tuna you will likely want a 7-9" lure, but they will hit lures up to 14" or larger if they are large fish. I typically troll 8"-12" lures for 60-80lb class tuna in my area. Since you are limited on lures, you may want to add teasers off the corner of your boat, I'd suggest daisy chains of squids maybe just to add splash and color to your spread. To troll offshore you really need 5 rods min, and depending on your crew and expereince it can go up from there. Five rods would be a good start but 4 would be ok. Two is going to make things tough and you might need to get creative. I'd recommend running a jet lure somewhere in the spread, not in the prop wash. A melton jet would be my recommendation. I'd run a Marlin Magic Ahi Pussy lure, this will attract both yellowfin and marlin and bigger dorado. Your furthest bacl lure should be larger and for targeting a marlin, I'd recommend a lure around 12-14". My recommendation.....buy quality lures, not quantity. When I first started I bought everything and everything...over the past two years I've been clearing it out and have sold hundreds of lures off. I bring out only what works and what I use...it's still a big collection but its very specific and what works in my area, just I carry multiples of them and in many colors. There are some lure builders on ebay who sell some great lures for reasonable prices $15-25 if you search around. You can talk to them and ask what would suit you well, they will help you if they own a shop. The guys at Melton would help as well, they have good quality gear and can set you up well.

As for your other gear, you will need 2 gaffs...going with one is a bad idea, I've seen them break or get pulled in by green frisky fish. Carry one good quality gaff and buy one cheaper one as a spare, or to use on anything over 80lbs...anything over that will need 2 gaffs to get in the boat unless you wish to bend and ruin your gaffs. You will want a pair of gloves for leadering a fish, a good pair of leather gloves will work, but leadering gloves are more comfortable imho...see what fits your budget and what you feel more comfortable wearing. I hate wet leather gloves though. An arc de hooker might be a good idea to get at some point to aid in releasing billfish, I know it isn't your main target but when you encounter one they are great to have for a crew that has not handled a big fish before and may be a little weary of sticking their hand near a bill.

I might recommnend walking the docks near where you will fish and see who caught fish and see if the captains will tell you what they caught it on, or show you the lures. That way you buy what works in your waters, and use the colors that will get the strikes.

I agree with the comments below, roller guides are recommended, full rollers are good but not requires. As for reels, if you wish to match yours, avets are good reels, I've used them for 5 seasons now, had the 4/0's which were just ok, but the new 30's and 50's are great and have been flawless for 3 seasons now and have landed and faught 200+lb without problems. Shimano makes good reals too, personally I'm not a penn fan, too much maintenance. I've owned them and try them every time they come out with new reels and always have the same outcome...they get rebuilt and sold off after, just my personally pref, I know guys who love em also. Honestly its all good gear now...well except for maybe okuma. If your budget is tight, Shimano TLD's are great reels, but I'd recommend not straping them in in a belt...I've seen them break before from doing so, their graphite frames don;t handle this well and since you have marlin in your waters you may or may not do this, depends on what you physically can handle stand up and how you plan to fish. Used gear is not bad either, it will save you some cash and can allow you to get in the water for less, but I'd recommend having them sent to the manufacturer for a rebuild unless they have papers proving they have been serviced recently. I also agree that melton's is a great website and they carry top quality gear and carry all you will need, I buy most of my gear locally or through them, I've had nothing but good experiences buying lures from them and having them skirted and lured how I want. Good luck out there!!

As for reel size. A 30W is plenty for most of your rigs and using hollowcore will increase your line capacity. My Avet 30W's have about 560yards of 80lb on them, 400yards of jerry brown hollowcore and the rest is 80lb momoi top shot. I perfer having similar sized holowcore and top shot, why go lighter in the middle of your line where you will fish most of the battle...makes nos ense to me. i know lots of guys do it but why do you want your backing stronger then your main line that will stretch and take the brunt of the fight. Thwe only need for 50W are for your furthest back rods, maybe your 3 furthest back, and should be used to fish behind all your other lures when they are staggered in the spread, and will also be the rod and reels you plan to run larger lures off that might see marlin or large tuna.

[austin ensor]

a gun!!! theres big stuff out there!!!

[pbusanga]

Hi Gradyfish...great advice ..just what i needed..i will most prob get in touch with Melton and as them to put a 'package' together for me. I will ask CAptain Clay Hensley of the Hooker as he is very experienced in fishing the waters of Ghana (and is a really nice guy).

thanks again for taking the time.

i will be trolling mostly but will do some live bait andI would actually like to learn kite fishing but that is another whole ball game

[Patudo]

Clay and Bo, if he is there, will be able to advise you on exactly what you need to tackle that fishery. They are extremely experienced and you will not go wrong following their advice. Good luck. You might want to try getting in contact with Marco who is one of their clients and also owns his own vessel (Bayliner Trophy). Marco is relatively new to game fishing but has lots of enthusiasm.

[Gettinwet]

i have to agree 1000% with the comment on having more them one gaff on board.....can be the differance between a dream fish and a broken heart lol....a flying gaff may not be a bad investment either.....a few good knives and a sharpener as well....maybe a few lines pre tied up for tail ropes and securing the fish to the back of te boat if needed.....