Planers versus Downriggers (giant bft)

[bennie]

Hey Guys

What is the benefit of a planer over a downrigger when trolling horse ballys for Giant Bluefin Tuna?

[tunatamer4]

bennie,
What you ask is kind of simple to answer. With the planer there is no downrigger to clear upon hook-up. All the fight is done with the rod and when the planer gets within reach, unclip it and continue the fight till the death.
Watch Marty's vids and see how easy it can be.

[Glenn W]

Let's make a correction before someone gets hurt--- no one, I mean NO ONE, uses a bridle system for Giant's. Unclipping a planer bridle on a slob Wahoo or even up to a medium BFT is one thing, but trying to unhook a planer from a bridle with a 400-600 lb fish on the other end is asking for big trouble.
Advantages / disavantanges of using a down rigger vs. planer for Giants? I'm not going to get into this debate that always gets someone pissed off regarding the technical this, that and the others.
I will simply say I have never seen a commercial Giant BFT boat pulling a downrigger--- period.

[bennie]

First of All, I am not trying to ruffle any feathers.

I am a "lurker" that is posting purely for opinons from those in the know. I have a HUGE respect for this site and value the opinions from those who have caught a lot more than me.

Specifically, i am asking about the benefits of a planer (not bridled to the hook bait) versus a downrigger.


i understand that all of the pros use planers and this is why i am asking.

it seems to me that as long as you get the bait down in the strike zone, that a downrigger would do the job.

So, pls enlighten me to the reasons WHY planers are used 100% by the commercial guys.

[Admin]

http://www.sportfishermen.com/movies...gory.php?cID=7

I have uploaded 2 planer vids today to the riggin section of the site.
Im sure some others can also bring up some archives about the planer.

I was brought up with penn down riggers and i have not ventured into the planer market for tuna yet but as alot i read this site and i have found that they are very effective.

I will search for some more links !

Rock on man !

[jdderosier]

Bennie, There are many guys and gals here that can answer your questions. Don't let that one post run you off. Me just being a rookie i would have to say that the differance would have to be trolling speed. you can't troll as fast with a down rigger.

Top

[Bluewater Lady Charters]

During this last season my boat had a down day and I had a opportunity to fish with a greenstick boat from Mass. He fished 2 downriggers, spooled with Battleline if I remember correctly. The ball ran almost straight down. less diameter line, less drag. Adjusted depth with bait readings. Here in NC most of the fish are usually caught in 60' or less. Planer lines are 40-60' long and can be cleared pretty quickly. If you are fishing in deep water for them electric downriggers might be the ticket, but I have no personal experience with them.

[Sea Draggin]

Here is what I use.

Penn Downrigger(or you can use a planer rod) with 24" boom loaded with 200lb spectra(some use up to #500 specta, but not me). I can pull a #32 planer off it at trolling speed.

I will say that with BFT, you want some kind of release regardless of the method you use to pull your planer(rod or downrigger). When you get him on you want to be able to clear every thing else. The DFA planer works effectively on fish under 100lbs. When you go over that, you want something that lets go.

I was just talking the other day about one day when I got into 80lb YFT tunas and they took two of my planer rigs from me. They were hot and there was just too much pressure. Now compare that to a hot 400lb BFT. No comparison.

Best of luck.

[Glenn W]

Have I been taking asshole pills or something lately that I don't know about? Sorry guys.

All I can say is READ what is written.
Hell yea, I guarandamntee you, a down rigger will catch a giant sometimes. and if you want to do that technique, go for it and it will probabally work very well for you if you have confidence in it.
My post was simply one of safety for the "new to Giant BFT" that want to tangle with one of these brutes. I don't want anyone to get hurt by trying to unhook a bridled planer with a 400+ lb fish on the other end. I don't care if you run a Green Machine Spreader bar on your WWWWWWFB, doesn't hurt my feelings any. Please simply read what is written before ta'll respond thinking I'm fussing, busing, bitching, etc.

READ PEOPLE, READ--- then ***** as warranted
Thank you

[gottaflylee]

What is the benefit of a planer over a downrigger when trolling horse ballys for Giant Bluefin Tuna?

Ok maybe I have miss understood what you are asking or maybe others have but my 2 cents for what it is worth is this. If you use a downrigger with 10 pound ball with release clip and are looking get it down, say 50' you will need to almost slow troll to do it. With the planer system that most or at least the one I use it allows us- me to troll faster say 6 to 8 knots.