Need Some Off Shore Fishing TIP'S.

[Whodie305]

Well guy's I'm some what of a newbie going off shore fishing trolling for dolphin & Ect. Ect. Can anyone give me some tip's on trolling??? I went this year down to the Florida Keys stayed down in the Marathon Location. I was going about 20-25 Miles out. I caught a couple of fish out their, But all the Big ones either came off, Or they broke my beeded Chain Rig. I just dont know why its like im reeling them in and next thing you know they come off. Please can someone give me some advice please what am i doing wrong? Help.lol

[N2theBlue]

beaded chain rig? first off i wouldn't use that. simple is best. hundred pound mono leader to a 7/0 mustad 7692 with a medium ballyhoo rigged on a pin with rubber bands or monel. troll with a blue/white or pink/white 1 oz seawith. in the keys they also chum a lot.

make sure you keep your line tight. then keep the boat moving after you hook up.

[BlueH20Boss]

Whoodie, welcome to the site. I always find that KISS comes into play when it comes to beginner trolling. Keep it simple and less things can go wrong. I assume you fish in Miami waters, where the mahi are so thick they are considered junk fish, so you do not need anything too fancy to catch one. If you have trolling outfits, i would recommend at least 50 lb line, but we do not fish with anything less than 80 lb. From the 80lb mainline, i most often use a wind on swivel, crimped one side to the mainline and the other side to a 20 foot leader of 150 lb test line. (All of which can wind right onto the reel) *Also, i use larger than normal loops on my crimp connections usually around 1-1.5inch as i believe it helps for a softer wind on** As far as a rig you can't go wrong with an islander, or any skirted ballyhoo rig. I crimp my hooks on as well. Use quality stuff, test and trust your crimps, and you won't have problems. That is my simplest description on how you can stick the gaff in some dolphin. Good luck

[Captain Michael Buffington]

and buy some of Fred Archers composite bars for flavorMy biggest tip would be to pay attention to this forum. There are some talented fisherpeople on here.

Mike

[Whodie305]

Well as far as using chain beeded rigs, i used them cause someone told me they are easier to rigg ballyhoo. I found it rigging through the anal vent on the bait better. I used to rig them through the stomach but i was geeting alot of misses. They would only hit the back end. I would slow down the boat a bit more and the same thing. Thanks Blueh20boss i will look into that.

[N2theBlue]

you can always drop back on a fish that "sancochos" )leaves the front part of the bally). most often dolphin will come back for the rest and get hooked. If they are breaking the bead chain I would quit using it.

[calebw]

SHARP HOOKS CATCH FISH
Medium Ballyhoo with a 8/0 7961 with a 3/8 chin weight tucked neatly under the eyes tipped with a hand tied 1/4 ounce pink / crystal sea witch = Dolphin in da box

[BlueH20Boss]

Like mike said, listen to people on here, they know what they are talking about. I do not preach many of my fishing methods on here, but i sure do absorb what others are saying, even if I do not use it every trip. Maybe one day you will be offshore and you go to your memory bank on some different way a guy on here is fishing something, and hell maybe that small change will entice the fish on that particular day.

I agree with cale that sharp hooks are a must. A sharp file sits right next to my pliers and crimpers on any boat i fish on. Also, use a sharpie marker on freshly sharpened hooks, because the fresh metal will quickly rust and hinder the sharpness of it. As far as rigging ballys through the anal vent and bead rigs and blah blah,...simply Take a 7 or 8/0 mustad, crimp it on your 150lb leader, use a small piece of chafe tube for extra strength against bite offs... lay the hook down on top of the bally (to see where you need to poke through), feed the hook under the gill plate, slide it down through the center of the bally and poke it through your premeasured spot...next push the hook eye and crimp loop up under the chin, being careful to seat the hook straight....Next straighten your rigging wire (which is wrapped to the eye of the hook) and then loop the rigging wire up over the head of the bally, sliding it tightly behind each gill plate. Next come back under the hook, make two passes through the eye sockets and back around the bottom, then one poke up under the chin, through the top of the mouth, wrapping the excess tightly around the leader line and beak. Snap of the beak, slide your islander or witch down, and you have a perfect swimming bally. I empty the stomach of all my baits, makes them more limber and life like. Sorry for the long drawn out description of rigging a bally, but after a while, you will be able to do it blindfolded. Again, good luck.

[Whodie305]

No no thank you for the tips i greatly appreciate it.