Here's the deal...

[jwalker]

Box,

Prepping for a couple So.Cal Striped Marlin tournaments and working on a spread where I can get one bait subsurface and one bait with some meat in it..
Background:
First of all it's hard to convince local's on the effectiveness of a subsurface bait and it's like pulling teeth to get a piece of bait(meat) in the trolling spread.
Trolling is an afterthought out here as everyone wants to pull up and toss livies to stripeys. This is a blast and deadly for sure but prior to seeing them and the day's when they don't want a tossed bait one lure strike can make the difference in these tournaments.

Here's my basic spread:
2 teasers
One tropic star set-up off one corner and one subsurface flasher style teaser off the other corner.
5 hook baits in the spread.
2 Eal's (sevenstrand) they do actually work!
2 7-9" swimming lures, Magic Marlin Striker, Coggins small slant, Sevenstrand Kona, etc.. behind small birds
1 medium/small jet shotgun, sometimes behind a bird.

I would like to get one bait down subsurface but can't use a planer or downrigger as we have to be ready to run to sleepers/feeders etc and get on the fish: we use Giro binoculars and can find a fin/fish over a mile away and need to run, so the spread has to be lean and easy to pull in, and when we get to fish our casters toss baits off the bow and slide down the rail and anything clunky (planer/rigger ball) sub-surface can cause a major mess.
Maybe one of those mini planer set-ups with a hoo?

I plan on also running one of the baits as a meat bait (ballyhoo) behind a witch etc. If you could only put one piece of meat into this spread where would you place it and how?
We troll between 5-7 knots, average 6.2...
The boat is a 43 Riviera (Bali-Ann), fairly clean wash
Thanks in advance..

[WAHOONBOX]

JOHNNY............BILLFISH.....MMMMM....I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM PLANERS AND BALLS....ESPECIALLY BALLS.............

THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT NEEDED IN MY OPINION ....ONE QEWICK BURST IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND IT IS LIGHTS OUT....CUT OFF TIME ON THE PLANER

I LIKE YOUR LURE BAITS AND I AM HAPPY TO HEAR YOU WANT SOME MEAT IN THE SPREAD...

SHORT RIGGER ...LEFT SHORT RIGGER......SEA WITCH OR ILANDER BULLET HEAD HORSE BALLYHOO IN THE SHORT RIGGER

GREAT STORYLINE HEAR AND I HOPE THE REST OF THE TROOPS WILL ADD SOME THOUGHTS


ROCK ON MELTON....ROCK ON

[Squidnation]

What tournaments are you fishing?

[POON MAN]

How about a Mack or spilt tail mullet ?

Good luck John

[fishskipper]

[B][SIZE="2"]I agree with box on the short rigger, but I would definitely use a blue and white islander and I would use a pink pig on my flat. As box also said forget about the sub surface.

[jwalker]

What tournaments are you fishing?

Riviera Zane Grey Invitational
circle hook bait single j-hook lure tournament

Hatteras Catalina Classic


Both on Catalina Island (28 miles of So. Cal)
Stripeys are caught within a mile of the island and beyond..

[jwalker]

How about a Mack or spilt tail mullet ?

Good luck John

plenty of macks to be had, split tail have to be brought in but possibility

fyi..the poons are moving nice, NE guys are getting ready for the fall run...

[jwalker]

[B][SIZE="2"]I agree with box on the short rigger, but I would definitely use a blue and white islander and I would use a pink pig on my flat. As box also said forget about the sub surface.

Tell me about this Pink pig!

[deadbaiter]

Naked split bill mouse trap, in between flats and shorts.

[jwalker]

Naked split bill mouse trap, in between flats and shorts.

That explains it, the ole naked split bill mouse trap...now I got it!