Backing down with outboards

[hotshot1]

I might be going back to a boat with outboards, and it's been along time since a ran one , and never anything large. Can you back down on a fish with outboards or do you need to just bring it up on a side moving the boat around and chasing? Might be a dumb question but I was looking at some of those trip and quad boats and couldn't imagine backing down other then in my slip.

[Capt. kapoc]

It really depends on your setup ..... I will back on a fish in the parker that i run because it has a closed transom and a bracket. But here is the kicker if I get a hot fish that is smokin the spool it is actually easier to spin around and chase bow on till we get straight up and down on the fish.

[jawz12]

boats with trip and quads-notice they're center consoles ??? no backing down here...fight the fish from the bow...backing up isn't a factor...

[Sea Draggin]

Yes, you can back down on a fish, but it helps if you trim the motors up a little so they are pulling upwards some, instead of pulling them down into the sea.

The inevitable sea water intrusion is not good for outboards and will shorten the life.

My buddies have a cabin style boat and have caught a lot of big marlin from it. They can't get to the front to chase them down, so they have to back on them. The only thing that helps a little is a Yamaha sponsorship to replace them

[jawz12]

Yes, you can back down on a fish, but it helps if you trim the motors up a little so they are pulling upwards some, instead of pulling them down into the sea

good point about triming up...idea to trim the engines up before hitting reverse is,on either boats with a bracket or euro transom,the engines actually are not below the hull's bottom,the prop wash is forced against the transom,this is why these style boats act a little squirrley in reverse...standard notched transom boats are not effected like this...don't forget to put the trim tabs up too,these can and will snap off at the plastic joint...
backing up with a cuddy cabin boat is a bit of a treat,egines sticking out the back of the boat-not an easy feat...

[hotshot1]

Thanks kind of what I was thinking

[Questsportfishing]

it holds the transome up a bunch and backs up great but we run down big fish. Not worth 'what can happen' in the long run.

[JUST RELEASED 34]

I own a 33T Contender with trip 250 and it has no problem going backwards...

[gradyfish265]

You can back down, but I would only for as long as you absolutely need to. I've done it before, but only long enough to clear the lines directly down the middle. We work the flat lines and anything down the middle in first so you can back down, let the outrigger lines go to the front of the boat troll them backwards, might result in anothet hook up, if not this allows you to back down before getting them in and retrieve them as you back down. Once they are all in fight the fish off the bow if it is a CC, if getting to the bow is tough like on an aexpress, fight it from the side and circle in on the fist. Fight it on a 45 and keep cutting to the fish slightly, just not any faster then the angler can crank, you don't want slack.

Yes you can back down, but following a fish is faster and easier honestly, it just requires quickerr action to get your lures out of the way where backing down takes less time.

[wide open]

a lot depnds on the hull itself. a nice closed euro transom boat will allow you to break some water with those motors trimmed up a litte. i was never excited about backing down in my old 28 mako, just relying on the transom splash well door. in my current boat i can def move her well due to the transom design

your best bet, fight from the bow and them come along side for the kill or release!!