Small Craft Trolling Spread

The Volfish · 03-07-2007, 04:59 AM

I'm running an 18 bay boat to the near shore reefs and wrecks and would like to get your suggestions on a trolling spread.

Capt. Scott Goodwin · 03-07-2007, 04:36 PM

Volfish,
thanks for the question! I need a little more info to make a proper suggestion. Where are you fishing? Are you out of Port Canaveral? What species are you after, etc. How deep do you go. What tackle (rod,reel) do you have. With these basics, I can figure out what you should start with. Thanks, Scott

ChuckD · 03-07-2007, 05:10 PM

He has an 8wt, 5wt, and a 10wt. Out of Canaveral.

The Volfish · 03-08-2007, 05:59 AM

Capt. Scott I will be out of Port Canaveral. Picking my days I've ventured to the WX Bouy, Pelican, 8A. I'd like to target Dolphin, Kings, or any other available species.

I've got basic boat rods 20 lbs. type gear. (Penn GTI)

Capt. Scott Goodwin · 03-10-2007, 06:31 PM

Volfish, I think live bait fishing or fishing with dead sardines on a double hook king rig is the most versatile method for the areas you will be fishing. It also does not require any outriggers or drop back. 20# class tackle is perfect and the drag should be super light. 3 to 5 lbs max. The rig is made of #5 wire and two 4x strong #4 trebles. Eagleclaw lazersharps save a whole lot of hook sharpening. I fish live baits "naked" , without a skirt. Frozen bait, sardines or cigar minnows, can use a small "king buster" type skirt. I love the mylar versions. Very light heads and not much skirt. Live baits vary depending on what you can catch on the day of fishing. Pogies by castnet inshore, or various "minnows" offshore by sabiki. Cigar minnows, spanish sardines and threadfin herring "greenies" are all deadly. Both live and frozen are pulled around the various structures or bait marks as slow as you boat will go. The reels should be in gear so that the trebles come tight on the bite. Three rods are plenty with a spare in rotation. A long, medium and short bait (20ft) will allow you to turn without tangles. Everything that swims in our waters can be caught this way. Just remember to play the fish easy with a light drag and no thumb. The danger is pulling the hook because of the small trebles. But they provide the best hook up for the ferocious bites you will get!

CKramer · 03-14-2007, 06:23 AM

To add a little if I may. Sometimes a little jig or just a jig head instead of a front trebble hook works with frozen sardines. Just bend the sardine up a little and hook the jig up from the bottom of the mouth and out through the top of the mouth of the sardine and see if it swims. I'm not much for the "spinning minnow" idea, I'd rather see them swimming a little. You can pull them a little faster also.

Tackle · 03-15-2007, 04:14 PM

How fast would you pull the jig rig?

CKramer · 03-16-2007, 08:26 AM

I usually pull it clutch ahead about 3 knts up to 4knts at times. Live baits can't be pulled more than 1 or 2 knts.

03-07-2007, 04:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
The Volfish Banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Black List, FL Posts: 40	Small Craft Trolling Spread I'm running an 18 bay boat to the near shore reefs and wrecks and would like to get your suggestions on a trolling spread.

03-10-2007, 06:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
Capt. Scott Goodwin Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cocoa, Florida Posts: 116	Volfish, I think live bait fishing or fishing with dead sardines on a double hook king rig is the most versatile method for the areas you will be fishing. It also does not require any outriggers or drop back. 20# class tackle is perfect and the drag should be super light. 3 to 5 lbs max. The rig is made of #5 wire and two 4x strong #4 trebles. Eagleclaw lazersharps save a whole lot of hook sharpening. I fish live baits "naked" , without a skirt. Frozen bait, sardines or cigar minnows, can use a small "king buster" type skirt. I love the mylar versions. Very light heads and not much skirt. Live baits vary depending on what you can catch on the day of fishing. Pogies by castnet inshore, or various "minnows" offshore by sabiki. Cigar minnows, spanish sardines and threadfin herring "greenies" are all deadly. Both live and frozen are pulled around the various structures or bait marks as slow as you boat will go. The reels should be in gear so that the trebles come tight on the bite. Three rods are plenty with a spare in rotation. A long, medium and short bait (20ft) will allow you to turn without tangles. Everything that swims in our waters can be caught this way. Just remember to play the fish easy with a light drag and no thumb. The danger is pulling the hook because of the small trebles. But they provide the best hook up for the ferocious bites you will get! Last edited by Capt. Scott Goodwin; 03-10-2007 at 06:36 PM.

03-15-2007, 04:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tackle Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 56	Trolling port canaveral How fast would you pull the jig rig?

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03-07-2007, 04:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Capt. Scott Goodwin Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cocoa, Florida Posts: 116	Volfish, thanks for the question! I need a little more info to make a proper suggestion. Where are you fishing? Are you out of Port Canaveral? What species are you after, etc. How deep do you go. What tackle (rod,reel) do you have. With these basics, I can figure out what you should start with. Thanks, Scott

03-07-2007, 05:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
ChuckD Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Road not Taken to McKinney Tx Posts: 79	He has an 8wt, 5wt, and a 10wt. Out of Canaveral.

03-08-2007, 05:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
The Volfish Banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Black List, FL Posts: 40	Capt. Scott I will be out of Port Canaveral. Picking my days I've ventured to the WX Bouy, Pelican, 8A. I'd like to target Dolphin, Kings, or any other available species. I've got basic boat rods 20 lbs. type gear. (Penn GTI)

03-14-2007, 06:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
CKramer Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: 4,723 miles SE of Dutch Harbor Posts: 143	To add a little if I may. Sometimes a little jig or just a jig head instead of a front trebble hook works with frozen sardines. Just bend the sardine up a little and hook the jig up from the bottom of the mouth and out through the top of the mouth of the sardine and see if it swims. I'm not much for the "spinning minnow" idea, I'd rather see them swimming a little. You can pull them a little faster also.

03-16-2007, 08:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
CKramer Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: 4,723 miles SE of Dutch Harbor Posts: 143	I usually pull it clutch ahead about 3 knts up to 4knts at times. Live baits can't be pulled more than 1 or 2 knts.