[624492]

I just bought a 2003 21' CC Hydra-sport with Yammy 150, T-Tops and full electronis, and holds 85 gal fuel. I run out of Cape May NJ area. A freind has the same boat only older, we have run 30 miles + on his boat when weather was fine and had a bigger boat around that we knew. I'm thinking of running downriggers instead of outriggers, what does everyone prefer? Since most of my fishing will be inside of 30 miles I think I may have better use for the outriggers. I brought this up to my Dad has 58 viking he said I was crazy to run that far. I bet a dinner out we will out fish him any day when the weather permits

 

[MakoMatt]

FunBobby, that is a tough question, because they are 2 different methods of trolling, each with it's own benifits that would help you at a given species you might target. It would depend on what you fish for the most I suppose.

You can troll with rods right out of the holder, and I would suspect you could troll at least 4 rods this way. You can catch plenty of fish trolling 4 rods. Outriggers on that size boat would allow you to troll with 6.

Downriggers on the other hand will give you something that you cannot do properly without them. Yes, you could use a drails or planner, but they would not be the same.

So, if I were left to pick just one, it would probably be the downriggers, simply because you could then effectively fish both ways.

MakoMatt

 

[MakoMike]

Bob,
Two different tools for two different uses. Outriggers are for surface trolling, like for tuna and marlin and are used to enable you to fish more lines by spreading them out accross the water. Downriggers are used for deep trolling and allow you to get your bait down n the water column without using wire or lead core line. Certainly they are not mutually exclusive on a boat. Which is more useful depends on which type of trolling you do the most.

 

[MIKE TUNA]

I would personally go with outriggers , but why not go with both ,you can get the cheaper outriggers for that boat for like 300- 400 Bucks maybe less . Then get your downriggers . But then again I would probably would go with Dads 58' boat when running offshore . Good luck with the new boat !

 

[leakyrivot]

trolling

In agreement here; why not go with both? If you go w/ the bullet-proof standard taco gunwale or side mount ($130) and the tigress telescoping glass 15 footers ($70 a pair), will run you about $200; then add in $50 for rigging - cheaper than many downriggers. For downriggers.. Cannon uni-troll is a good bargain w/ all options in manual (swivel, telescoping boom) ($260 a piece) or there are pleanty of quality manual non-swivel types out there in the $150 a pop range.. electric gets pricey.. but, either way there's no need to choose. I troll w/ both downriggers and outriggers sometimes when the fishing is slow. It's makes it very easy to get 6 lines out in a small boat, without tangles - 2 out, 2 down, 2 flat.

Jon

 

[captainlarry84]

Two different worlds

I have both outriggers and downriggers on my 31 JC S/F. They are both very valuable tools of the trade. However, I can count on on hand the amount of times I use the at the same time.
You troll fast with outriggers 7-8 knots and slow with down riggers 3-4 knots.
The theory behind outriggers is that the fast prop wash of the boat looks like a school of bait under attach and the prop wash attrachs the fish. Very productive in the 30 miles range for school bluefins, dolfins blues and albies.
With downriggers unless you know exactly where the fish are you cannot cover enought ground. If you try to run the fast the lead balls will rise and the planners become extremely dangerous.
I have try the downrigger numerous time offshore with little sucess. If the fish are attrached to the boat the difference between a lure being down 30' and on the surface will not make a difference.
On the inshore troll the downriggers are deadly for the strip bass and blues and they can be trolled together with your wire rods.
They are both great tools and choosing one over the other is tuff.

 

[623628]

Two difrent toys. What species do you like to target

 

[B.Attitude]

Funbobby,
by the size boat you are talking about (21') I would consider downriggers because you are more likely to be targeting bass and blues than any type of tuna in that size boat.
paulie