Newbie Skunked Again

[sstaylor]

Well yesterday was my second trip to the stream out of Oregon Inlet and I have been skunked again.I saw fish and heard people on radio catching fish and I had two bites and missed both times. This is my first year offshore and and I have a small boat so I have done a ton of reading on here and other forums trying to make sure I am not out there just wasting gas. Earlier this year I went out of hatteras and was able to catch Dolphin and King. I went to The Point out of Oregon Inlet this saterday and last saterday in hopes of a tuna, wahoo, or maybe a billfish. I was realy hoping for yellowfin or blackfin tuna and have caught nothing. I do not have outriggers or downriggers. I was pulling two chains of squid off my cleats one green and the other yellow, a red and black seawitch w/ballyhoo on a #3 planner, a spreader bar w/ green squid and seawitch w/ballhoo, a blue and white daisy chain w/ seawitch and ballyhoo, and a green machine with bird. Did a little switching around and changing up baits pluss addded 2 more rods to spread. one w/ blue and white seawitch w/ballyhoo. the other a orange and green illander w/ballyhoo. I have trolled anywhere from 5 to 8 mph. I re-rigged most of my baits from 200 lb mono to 100 lb yozuri pink flourocarbon. I guess what i am saying is I need someones help cause I am lost.

[Reel life]

Try to keep it simple scale it down a bit
blue/white pink/white sea witchs, naked ballyhoo, 1 daisy chain what size boat?
how far behind the planner are you putting your baits?

check your pm

[calebw]

Use the K.I.S.S principle (Keep it simple son).
Pull a total of five lines, all blue / white. On the right flat, right long, left flat, and the left long use a simple blue / white sea witch, on 18 ft of 100lb ande mono. On the fifth line use a blue / white ilander jr. , but this on #9 wire, and pull it way way back down the middle of your spread. On a small boat with no outriggers I would not pull teasers, atleast until you get comfortable with your spread.

[sstaylor]

Both of you are probally right and I should keep it simple. simple is what worked for me when catching dolphin. I figured if I put a little of everything out something would work. I have a 24ft bay boat bought for all around fishing but have come to conclusion I like offshore more and wanna upgrade. what about the green machine w/bird. I have read so many times to put one out center way back. If I put out all blue and white seawitches will wahoo and billfish still bite. I'm shore dolphin will. my leaders are only around 12 ft long so i need to make em longer. Also is it better to use mono or flouro.

[Reel life]

Both of you are probally right and I should keep it simple. simple is what worked for me when catching dolphin. I figured if I put a little of everything out something would work. I have a 24ft bay boat bought for all around fishing but have come to conclusion I like offshore more and wanna upgrade. what about the green machine w/bird. I have read so many times to put one out center way back. If I put out all blue and white seawitches will wahoo and billfish still bite. I'm shore dolphin will. my leaders are only around 12 ft long so i need to make em longer. Also is it better to use mono or flouro.

nothing wrong with the green machine but I would loose the bird
blue/white will catch anything that swims

[N2theBlue]

you need to remember that your spread is supposed to simulate a school of baitfish...therefore when you put out a little of everything you kind of hurt that effect. Everything needs to work together to catch fish. I would do like the above poster said and run all blue white's, but instead of the blue white Ilaner Jr. I would run something dark and heavy on the way back.

[TunaTeaser1]

I think I saw you out there yesterday in the bay boat w/ trolling motor, no t-top?

This time of year I would pull all naked dink baits and one or two daisy chains.

Pull on 60-80# Jinkai.

[terr]

The meat fishing out of O.I. is tough right now. Lots of sails east of the inlet. The best way for you to learn would be to charter one of the boats out of the Fishing Center or Pirates Cove. If you want tunas wait till mid Oct. If you want to start to learn to target sails and whites go now. Chartering a local boat will not teach you everything, but it will give you a good base. Remember, being new to the game and on a small boat you will not be able to pull as many rods or as complex a spread as a charter boat.

It is a big expense, but you will learn more in a shorter period of time. It can be hard to pick things up online if you do not have a good knowledge base.

You can PM me for some charter boat suggestions, or, walk the dock and talk to some of the crews at the end of the day. Try to find someone who seems helpful and willing to talk with you. On a charter you will be dealing and learning from the mate as much as the Capt. Don't expect to much info when walking the dock, you are interviewing potential teachers, rather than gathering info on methods.

[captnemo]

you need to remember that your spread is supposed to simulate a school of baitfish...therefore when you put out a little of everything you kind of hurt that effect. Everything needs to work together to catch fish. I would do like the above poster said and run all blue white's, but instead of the blue white Ilaner Jr. I would run something dark and heavy on the way back.

Agreed sounds like you have too much plastic for OI right now. With all the bills, lose the plastic and rig some ballyhoo's, leave the squid chains in your spread, but take the stinger out, use them just as a teaser and put a naked right behind it.

[sstaylor]

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.