[FishingManiac]

They're here-seen thousands of smaller 50-150 pounders 9/8/02 within 5 miles of shore in schools jumping-then diving for a few minutes then jumping again-eating small minoe like fish that the bass and blues here have been after. Tried almost everything-no luck. One 70 pounder landed by Ballyhoo by someone else. Tried squid rigs, Manns stretch, big luers, unbrella rigs-no luck. Looking for fresh Ballyhoo or Butterfish-frozen or rigged-Mail order? any ideas out there?

 

[MakoMike]

maniac,
Just go down t the nearest dragger dock toward the latter part of the day and ask if anyone has fresh mixed bait. Or you can net your own bait with a cast net. there are plenty of peanut bumker in all the RI harbors right now.

 

[621423]

Firstly match the hatch.....If the bait is small, troll hard bodied swimming lures that are the same size as the bait and color as the bait. Mirror lure, rapala, cotton cordell, all make small swimming lures from three to five inches. Troll all different colors, deep divers and sub surface ones until you get lucky.

The fish also are probably line shy so tie flourocarbon (15 foot length )from 20 - 40 pound test DIRECTLY TO THE LURE. Do not use snap swivels. Just play the fish gently..You will probably not get chaffed because the fish normally do not swallow these lures. Also, tie the flouro carbon leader to your regular mono with a double surgeons, or a double uni, or a barrel knot...Do not use swivels

Troll at no more than 5 knots when running these lures, and circle the schools rather than going into them.

I have found that when fish are very picky, expecially when the bait is small, the hard body lures that either deep dive or sub surface do the best...Howie

 

[MakoMike]

Maniac,
If you're going to try trolling them, Howie's suggestions are good, Also try very small hex heads. Its easy to rig chafing gear on a trolling lure if you're so inclined. Just put the tube on the line before you tie the lure on and let it rest on the gunnel, before the line goes through the outrigger or flatline clip. when you get a hit the gear will jump off the gunnel and slide down the line. Just make sure that the tube is big enough to let the knots slide through.

 

[togmaster]

JIGGING!!!!

Yo Dude go get some Viking Jiggs and put the right hooks on not the treble that comes on them find the school then run a head of them and drift back into them with the motor off. We have done this many times in the spring run when there chasing bait and nothing else worked. Use like 6 or 8 oz vikings. I like to put the hook on the heavy side of the jig because the tuna will tend to hit onthe drop. I have found by putting the hook on the heavy side I get a better flutter action and result in more fish . When drooping the jig if your on top of the school your jig will feel ike it just stops. that is when you better lift hard and fast and hold on Good luck I bet money this will work!