So I have to help a sailboater

[Hroonk]

My buddy and his wife live on a 40' sailboat. They are preparing for an extended sail (1 year) to the Caribbean next spring. He's got some rods and decent clamp on holders and intends to do some extended trolling. The emphasis is that the fishing part can't take up too much space.

My job is to outfit him with a bunch of lures/rigs. My initial plan was to make him a large box of seawitches and several wind-on rigs....the problem is, bait and bait storage on his sailboat my not always be available. I figured that the old calcutta bonita strips would be perfect - simple, not messy and resilient to attacks by the toothy critters. Problem is, I can't find them or anything like it anywhere. I thought about slugg-o's, etc, but they'll just get torn up.

Anyone have any other simple alternatives to bait for this guy....he's not interested in feeding a bunch of black barts to cudas.

Thanks,
Larry

[snowranger]

Larry,
I used to fish off of a sailboat a bunch. The problem you have is that it is very hard to turn on or chase a fish so you want to keep the lures pretty small and load the lines with braid. One time crossing the stream I hooked a 200+lb blue on a tiny chugger and didn't have a chance. He will definitely get his share of cuda bites over there so wire is a must. It is a pain to unhook a cuda from 5 feet above the water line and get your lure back though. Little knock off chuggers, feathers and jets worked well for me (chech the bargain bin at the Fishing Center). They are cheap and will run forever. I would skip the meat but artificial strips might help. He is going to need a long gaff too! Hope this helps.
Eric

[clt_capt]

Small feather jigs or the like will work well - don't forget the cedar plug and drone spoons - all are great and don't take up much space - and work great without meat...

If you are going to suggest meat, uncle Josh pork rinds work well and will hold up a long time - just put them back in the jar when done fishing.

[Mako22]

I second the above - - I did alot of ocean passages in a prior life. The focus is on putting meat in the boat - usually Mahi or small tuna (and adding a little excitement to the day).

Forget about using meat - - too much of a pain in the neck to find and store on board, and too messy to keep rigging.

Feathers, small green machines, or really just about any pre-rigged lures will work fine. The easier the better. I used a couple of small pre-rigged saillures last week - they did great on Mahi and false albecore. They're pre-rigged, and would be perfect for what your friend needs.

On those types of passages, the rods typically go out in the morning, and come in in the evening. If you catch a fish or two throughout the day, that's a bonus. There is certainly no working structure/weedlines/temp breaks, etc. The boat is going where it is going, and traveling at whatever speed the wind will allow - fishing is the afterthought, so keep it simple.

[Jer]

I saw this before and I thought it was a very interesting rig for sailboaters (and cheap)

http://ballyhood.com/sailboaters_combo.htm

[92 feet down]

If you're looking for cheap, Angler's in Annapolis (on Rt 50 b4 the Bay Bridge) has old school jap feathers for $0.50 a piece. Three sizes. Can't beat that.

[obxfish]

Make sure his clamp on rod holders mounts vertically, not horizontally. Almost lost a rod and reel to a nice fish when it caused a horizontally mounted clamp on rod holder to rotate on the strike.

[The Codfather]

200' 400lb nylon handline (parachute cord) with a 30' 400lb mono shock leader, attached to a 6' heavy bungee cord attached to a shackle and secured on a cleat works well. Put a snap at the end of the handline, attach your lures and leaders. Blue/White and green 7" plungers, jets and cedar plugs work well. Make sure they are on wire or cable. Meat is the goal. A gaff is often not necessary, just swing it aboard. Wear gloves when handling the lines at ALL TIMES. Kill the fish with a squirt from a spray bottle of 90% iso alcohol (or rum, which every sailor has). Store in tupperware box with drain holes.

[iguana1]

I dragged one green machine on a Penn 114 from Maryland to St Johns USVI. Two YFT, one white (pulled hook) and 15+ gaffer mahi.

IMO GM is the way to go.

[fowlscay]

200' 400lb nylon handline (parachute cord) with a 30' 400lb mono shock leader, attached to a 6' heavy bungee cord attached to a shackle and secured on a cleat works well. Put a snap at the end of the handline, attach your lures and leaders. Blue/White and green 7" plungers, jets and cedar plugs work well. Make sure they are on wire or cable. Meat is the goal. A gaff is often not necessary, just swing it aboard. Wear gloves when handling the lines at ALL TIMES. Kill the fish with a squirt from a spray bottle of 90% iso alcohol (or rum, which every sailor has). Store in tupperware box with drain holes.

When I was growing up my dad had a 41 Columbia sailboat that he kept in Annapolis . I use to do the same thing with a hand line . I used a surf board leash with a couple of big swivels attached a braided cable leader that i had a in line lead ,which I put a wire leader with a # 21 Tony spoon at the business end . It worked great it caught bluefish and rockfish all of the time !!!