Newbie Skunked Again

[N2theBlue]

dink baits are small bally's wired with monel, often split billed. Lots of good videos on youtube on how to do that. I like the Matzuo 6/0 O'shaghnessy's for my dink bait hooks.

I use a pin rig with a copper tag, I don't like the springs at all. Some people use rubber bands, and they can be easier for a beginner. Troll at whatever speed gets your baits to swim well and not skip.

[seapower]

Where are you from, if you don't mind me asking? The important thing is to fish another day, "The Point" is a long way from the Inlet if the weather turn's crappy. First thing that struck me was the same that was pointed out, too much stuff out back. Blue/white are good, as are pink/white, as are naked. I'd much rather have 5 good fishing bait's than a train of "not so good". Terr hit it right, spend some buck's with a good charter, it'll save you money in the long run. We've got several good Capt's in the area that are member's here as well. Frank

[sstaylor]

Seapower I am from Plymouth, NC. I normally watch the wave cast at fryingpantower.com all week and read fishing reports then I make my decision whether it is to go in boat or fish the pier. I am normally fishing at least one day every weakend. I am not sure about this weekend cause my wife is working saturday and I will have my daughter.

[N2theBlue]

another option if you don't have the money to book a charter is to go with somebody from here who knows what they are doing. there are some good people here who I am sure would love to take you if you split costs on ice/bait/fuel

[Capt Lindsay]

The advice given by posters is good. I would add, SLOW DOWN. The idea when you are in the area where you know there are fish is to present your baits as slowly as you can while still letting the baits work properly. For your size boat, 3.5 to 4 knots should be about right.

Learn to rig ballyhoo so you can drag a naked and it works RIGHT. Leave the plastic in your truck. OI fish want meat but the meat has to look great!

[Big Jay]

Once again i'll reiterate what was said. KISS. Seawitch with hoo's are good. Take your time rigging the hoo's so they swim right. You want everything to be in the center of the hoo running vertical. Hook, chin weight, pin (which i recommend for newbies). Run an equal opportunity spread until you really know how to target a particular species on the troll.

Islander with a bally is always a shoe in. Daisy chains, jets, all will catch fish.

I've been doing this for 10 years. One thing i've learned: It's fishing, NOT catching. I am having one of the most humbling seasons of my life. Just have fun, be safe, and just enjoy time on the water.

[captnemo]

Once again i'll reiterate what was said. KISS. Seawitch with hoo's are good. Take your time rigging the hoo's so they swim right. You want everything to be in the center of the hoo running vertical. Hook, chin weight, pin (which i recommend for newbies). Run an equal opportunity spread until you really know how to target a particular species on the troll.

Islander with a bally is always a shoe in. Daisy chains, jets, all will catch fish.

I've been doing this for 10 years. One thing i've learned: It's fishing, NOT catching. I am having one of the most humbling seasons of my life. Just have fun, be safe, and just enjoy time on the water.

Second the Ilander, it will forgive a lot of imperfections in your ballyhoo rigging, or any lure with a heavy head will be forgiving until your rigging skills progress.

Try the heavy weight ilander too, the 4oz one, that thing will swim good in anything.

[Zummie]

You really need to consider a bigger boat. I have found that weather reports are NEVER right. I have been out there when they called for 4 foot seas and it's dead flat and when they called for 2 foot seas and I'm in 6 to 8 footers. Here in Florida boaters die every year and usually their boat was too small. Those football players that died not too long ago were in a 21 foot boat 30 miles offshore in an area I fish all the time. A single engine outboard on 21 feet had no business out there.

I live on the water, have 2 boats and own a business that almost runs itself so I can take off and fish whenever I want. I'm too old to get beat up so I ONLY go when the conditions are calm according to the weather reports yet, there have been several times when it was scary enough for me to put on my life jacket and attach the cut off switch.

[N2theBlue]

not all of us can afford a bigger boat but we still like to fish offshore. Most of the time i stay within 35 miles, but on good days I will make the run 60 miles off in my 21'. But then I have a 101 gallon tank and always go with a buddy boat also.

[Captain Michael Buffington]

Thanks for all the help guys. I am determined to learn how to fish offshore. My only offshore fishing experience is from 14years ago, at the age of 17, fishing with my uncle out of Beaufort Inlet and that has been too long ago. Since then I have fished live bait riggs on piers. TunaTeaser1, yes that was me in the bay boat and yes I have heard a few comments over the radio about beeing out there in such a small boat. One guy even said we were a bunch of lunatics. I am just working with what I have cause I love fishing too much not too. I will definately listen and use the advise I have been given especially the advise about keeping it simple. Oh yeah, what are dink baits? Something else. I have been rigging my ballyhoo w/ pin rigs and springs but a few videos I have seen on rigging they tie the ballyhoo and I have tried that with copper but am not good at it at all. I am not sure about trolling speeds either. I have trolled 5 to 8 mph trying to get a bite. Thanks again guys.

lunatics...haha...dinks are small ballyhoo. The springs work fine, you can also use a rubber band wrapped tight around the bill and pin. You will get it. I also think you would learn the most by chartering a boat a couple of times and asking the mate 10,000 questions. Just remember to tip him

Mike