outrigger length question 15 or 18'?

[AT Grimaldi]

I am a newbie to offshore, but a quick study. I have been walking the docks and am rerigging my new 24' Romarine.

She is a hardtop with furuno NN3D, Icom m504s etc. I am pretty sure I have the electronics down. I am working on my outriggers next. Due to finances, I have to do things in stages.

I have been looking at the Taco GS350 with either 15' or 18' 1.5" outriggers. For rigging I was leaning towards black clips all around, 400# mono halyards, Hal locks to prevent creep and maybe a set of glass eyes for teasers.

Why do I get the feeling I am trying to cram too much on this boat?

Since this is my first year for BFT around Cape Cod and east of Block Island, RI, I figured I'd work a 7 rod spread.

2 flatlines
1 Center rigger
2 long lines
2 short lines

Any suggestions on weather this is a good outrigger setup and do you have any input for either 15' or 18' 1.5" outriggers.

I will be trolling stuff from bars, chains, hoos and maybe a teaser so my buddies can fly cast if that works out.

I am grateful for any help and wanted to thank everyone for all their posts, questions, thoughtful answers. What a wonderful resource.

BTW - here are some pics of the Jenny Lee out of Barrington, RI.
- ATG

[Charl]

Well come Buddy, you’ve found the best site on the net and you would find just about anything you need on it. Hay congrats on the new Rig, Good looking, I hope you spill lots of fish blood on it. And don’t for get to post pict of your catches.

On that size boat I would stick to a come rule of about one boat length on either side. Or less, I would go with the 18 your probably gonna run 6 rods. 1 on each rigger 1 on each stern corner 1 down the middle on the stern and 1 from the roof. Well that is how I would lay them out. If your really mad like me you could stick some flat lines off the transom.
The problem with heaps of gear in the water is when you get a hook up, can you afford to have 3 or 4 guy’s in the pit working all that gear.

Read all the advice you can gather and then take a walk down to the marina and look at other boats, chat to some guy’s and find out what works for them. It’s a bummer to have stuff fitted and you don’t use it.

Center riggers on small boats are almost a waist, I had a rod holder fitted to the roof and ran a the rod strait from that, just make sure that your safety line is long so that you could get it down to the angler.

Good luck

[WAHOONBOX]

Well come Buddy, you’ve found the best site on the net and you would find just about anything you need on it. Hay congrats on the new Rig, Good looking, I hope you spill lots of fish blood on it. And don’t for get to post pict of your catches.

On that size boat I would stick to a come rule of about one boat length on either side. Or less, I would go with the 18 your probably gonna run 6 rods. 1 on each rigger 1 on each stern corner 1 down the middle on the stern and 1 from the roof. Well that is how I would lay them out. If your really mad like me you could stick some flat lines off the transom.
The problem with heaps of gear in the water is when you get a hook up, can you afford to have 3 or 4 guy’s in the pit working all that gear.

Read all the advice you can gather and then take a walk down to the marina and look at other boats, chat to some guy’s and find out what works for them. It’s a bummer to have stuff fitted and you don’t use it.

Center riggers on small boats are almost a waist, I had a rod holder fitted to the roof and ran a the rod strait from that, just make sure that your safety line is long so that you could get it down to the angler.

Good luck

GREAT ADVICE FROM CHARL...........

KEEP IT SIMPLE BRO...& NICE TO HAVE YOU IN THE WORLD ....WELCOME ABOARD!!!

[DropinBack]

Those tacos will and can handle 2 baits on each rigger... a short and long... with no problem. I have fished 3 on each before.. but 2 works perfect...

[WAHOONBOX]

Those tacos will and can handle 2 baits on each rigger... a short and long... with no problem. I have fished 3 on each before.. but 2 works perfect...

THANKS FOR BRING US FIRST HAND INFO ON THE TACOS BRO!! I WAS WONDERING IF THEY COULD HANDLE IT.....

[dolphinfrenzi]

I have 15' tacos and rigged for 2 each with no problem. Keep them clean and maintained and they will last you a while. I have very good success with Taco tech support. The center caps came out of mine, the tech guy sent me 2 brand new ones along with replacement clips for the insides. Every off season take them off take some 3M oil and LIGHTLY wipe them down and keep the clean, that was the maintenance tip from Taco. I also replace my rigging line every year.

[On The Edge]

The 15' are probably about as long as you want to go on a 24'er but just FYI, we run the 18' on a 27'er and can pull a 7 rod spread without a problem. The 18's can handle 2 36" bars each with no problem.

[AT Grimaldi]

You guys are just great!!!!

Thank you so much for the advice on outrigger length and nixing the center rigger and fishing right from the rod. I wouldn't have guessed that one.

Hope to post some cool pics in June.

- ATG