Offshore Somewhere west of SCI

Oh_Chit

Newbie
Aug 30, 2021
37
85
Southern california
Name
Levi
I found myself somewhere west of SCI equipped with 2 walmart spinning rods, some shitty jigs, polypropylene line, a bouy, 300lb mono leader, and a big circle hook.

I manage to catch a mackerel so I pinned it on the circle hook with 300lb mono , attached that to a bouy along with polypropylene line. Let it soak for around 4 hours. Unfortunately no takers. Mackerel was still alive though.
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Haven't seen any birds or big bait schools around. I have seen sunfish, sea pickle looking things, a couple whales. No signs of tuna unfortunately.
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Oh_Chit

Newbie
Aug 30, 2021
37
85
Southern california
Name
Levi
Has this technique worked in the past🫤tight lines
First time trying. Thought I would get creative, use what I have and give myself the best chances of landing something big. Walmart spinning gear sure wouldn't stand a chance on anything big. Maybe next time.

Also debating on setting up some kind of trolling rig with paracord. Do you have any ideas on durable jig that trolls at 10-12 knots? I can winch something big in on a capstan .
 
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Rocket Dog

Tagging and Bagging
Mar 2, 2010
2,114
1,134
SoCal
Name
Rocket Dog
Boat Name
passenger again
First time trying. Thought I would get creative, use what I have and give myself the best chances of landing something big. Walmart spinning gear sure wouldn't stand a chance on anything big. Maybe next time.

Also debating on setting up some kind of trolling rig with paracord. Do you have any ideas on durable jig that trolls at 10-12 knots? I can winch something big in on a capstan .
Dude.... made me laugh at using the capstan. How about a kite? You thing that would work?
 
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litzsout619

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Jan 29, 2009
103
72
Sitka//619/Kalama
Name
Jason
Boat Name
ORCA 31'
First time trying. Thought I would get creative, use what I have and give myself the best chances of landing something big. Walmart spinning gear sure wouldn't stand a chance on anything big. Maybe next time.

Also debating on setting up some kind of trolling rig with paracord. Do you have any ideas on durable jig that trolls at 10-12 knots? I can winch something big in on a capstan
First time trying. Thought I would get creative, use what I have and give myself the best chances of landing something big. Walmart spinning gear sure wouldn't stand a chance on anything big. Maybe next time.

Also debating on setting up some kind of trolling rig with paracord. Do you have any ideas on durable jig that trolls at 10-12 knots? I can winch something big in on a capstan .
Nomad Madmacs are made for trolling fast and have been effective. I hope you get a giant 💯. A+ for being creative amigo /tight lines or paracord 😂
 
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lowprofile

I Post A Lot But I Can't Edit This
  • Dec 11, 2011
    3,084
    5,711
    Oceanside
    Name
    chris
    Boat Name
    15 ft Saturn inflatable
    If it was warmer the mahi would have been all over that.
    Wait till you get to ports and do it. I’ve caught big snapper, decent grouper, GT and sharks that way. Although I weigh it down with a 12oz weight and keep it just off the bottom. The float will definitely help with GT but you might get sharked more in port.

    The grouper pictured was using a spool of 50lb mono and hand lining off the pier

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    lowprofile

    I Post A Lot But I Can't Edit This
  • Dec 11, 2011
    3,084
    5,711
    Oceanside
    Name
    chris
    Boat Name
    15 ft Saturn inflatable
    First time trying. Thought I would get creative, use what I have and give myself the best chances of landing something big. Walmart spinning gear sure wouldn't stand a chance on anything big. Maybe next time.

    Also debating on setting up some kind of trolling rig with paracord. Do you have any ideas on durable jig that trolls at 10-12 knots? I can winch something big in on a capstan .
    Get some heavy bullet head lures.

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    IMG_9624.jpeg
     
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    Steve Francis

    Member
    Sep 11, 2006
    520
    847
    --
    Name
    StephenKatSea
    Boat Name
    .--.
    Trolling from a commercial vessel is very common. Yes, use parachute cord, with slack in it near the boat. Have a bungee (shock absorber) supporting the slack, same as a boat line on a SoCal sportfishing boat. Good lures are Zukers, with a plastic skirt. Use about 20' of 300# mono tied to the lure. Double Albacore/Tuna hooks work well. Use heavy duty commercial grade swivels to attach the cord to the mono leader. A transit speed of 8-12 knots works well for trolling. Size of the fish and body shape will often determine what you will catch. Dorado and smaller tuna are typical. Not in these waters, but wahoo are often commonly caught in this fashion. For the last 22 years of my career I operated a scientific survey vessel all over the world. When in areas likely to hold fish, we always trolled. Never stopped when we got bit. We'd just plane the fish on the surface and pull them to the boat and gaff them. Fresh fish was always a treat when at sea for an extended period. We caught this wahoo just below Cabo, while enroute to the Panama Canal.

    Made many transits between So Cal and Hawaii. Some during the prime months. In all those years caught less than a handful of Albacore. We'd slightly vary our track to pass by birds working, large floating objects or breaking fish. Always hoped to come across respectable areas of Albacore, with the intent of reporting back to my sportfishing buddies in So Cal. Even in the good Albacore years, it never happened. We ran a rhumb line track, versus great circle, transiting to and from Hawaii. Perhaps that kept us south of the primary migration routes of the Albacore?
    IMG_0622.jpg
     
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    scbassmaster

    twin22s
    Sep 8, 2006
    762
    1,458
    37
    san clemente
    Name
    Brian
    Boat Name
    1982 Glastron SeaFury216 “Elizabeth”
    If you can't slow or stop the boat to "reel in" the fish there is little chance you are going to drag a 200lb BFT to the boat. best to target smaller fish with heavy line and a small heavy bullet skirted jig, maybe even use a small trolling weight to get a small jig to stay a little deeper. basically troll a weighted albacore jig on blue marlin gear so you can skip the thing to the boat while underway.
     
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    mandoman68

    Big Loco
    Mar 3, 2008
    866
    712
    Aztlan
    Name
    Mandoman
    Boat Name
    Kathleen
    I found myself somewhere west of SCI equipped with 2 walmart spinning rods, some shitty jigs, polypropylene line, a bouy, 300lb mono leader, and a big circle hook.

    I manage to catch a mackerel so I pinned it on the circle hook with 300lb mono , attached that to a bouy along with polypropylene line. Let it soak for around 4 hours. Unfortunately no takers. Mackerel was still alive though.View attachment 1492782View attachment 1492783

    Haven't seen any birds or big bait schools around. I have seen sunfish, sea pickle looking things, a couple whales. No signs of tuna unfortunately.View attachment 1492781
    Just a man and his mackerel.
     
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    Spoons

    USCG Master
  • Oct 21, 2004
    1,928
    1,695
    San Diego/SF Bay
    Name
    Capt. Erik
    Boat Name
    23' Center Console
    Hell ya!!! fishing while getting paid! Cannot beat that. Get a 200 or 240 sized madmac and troll that sucker with 400lb mono and poly line. Plane that bitch and gaff her in. I would get creative and tie on multiple snubbers between multiple sections of the poly line/rope. This will give you a fighting chance to plane a fish that big in while the boat is moving....gonna be a hell of a battle.

    I would also upgrade to the largest and strongest mustad treble hooks that are available. Some 5x-10x type of shit.

    Bayside Marine in Santa Cruz CA should have the snubbers and commercial hooks. I haven't seen snubbers being sold in San Diego.
    Seamar up in WA should also have both.
     
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    Oh_Chit

    Newbie
    Aug 30, 2021
    37
    85
    Southern california
    Name
    Levi
    Trolling from a commercial vessel is very common. Yes, use parachute cord, with slack in it near the boat. Have a bungee (shock absorber) supporting the slack, same as a boat line on a SoCal sportfishing boat. Good lures are Zukers, with a plastic skirt. Use about 20' of 300# mono tied to the lure. Double Albacore/Tuna hooks work well. Use heavy duty commercial grade swivels to attach the cord to the mono leader. A transit speed of 8-12 knots works well for trolling. Size of the fish and body shape will often determine what you will catch. Dorado and smaller tuna are typical. Not in these waters, but wahoo are often commonly caught in this fashion. For the last 22 years of my career I operated a scientific survey vessel all over the world. When in areas likely to hold fish, we always trolled. Never stopped when we got bit. We'd just plane the fish on the surface and pull them to the boat and gaff them. Fresh fish was always a treat when at sea for an extended period. We caught this wahoo just below Cabo, while enroute to the Panama Canal. View attachment 1492824
    Hell yeah I'll be on my way to the Panama canal in a couple weeks
     
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    oniedab

    Fishing is there anything else?
    Jul 17, 2009
    245
    262
    visalia/ca/Tulare
    Name
    mike hagans
    Boat Name
    28ft Grady White Sailfish
    I think you should use a smaller bait next time. I believe he scared away any potential fish. I am sure it was not the heavy gear you where using. 8-)
     
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    Saucepan Red

    Newbie
    Jul 1, 2016
    37
    71
    HB
    Name
    Anthony Galasso
    Boat Name
    Des. Anchor Puller
    First thing that came to mind for me was a spearfishing bungee line. They're usually filled with 1000lb+ spectra and can stretch 2x their length.

     
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