I fish for sharks here in Maine and was wondering if anyone has tried trolling for them? There have been a few days when the drift is non-existent and slow trolling is the only way to get a slick working. I was wondering if trolling a few baits along with the chumbucket would bring some action? Also how would you rig the baits for trolling?
trolling for sharks
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Erick,
that is a different technique that is used mainly on the west coast however it starting to catch on here.They have heavy skirted lures that you attach your mackeral to that work pretty good,Ballyhood makes them.I think they weigh about a pound or so.
paulie
that is a different technique that is used mainly on the west coast however it starting to catch on here.They have heavy skirted lures that you attach your mackeral to that work pretty good,Ballyhood makes them.I think they weigh about a pound or so.
paulie
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i allways troll back thru the slick at the end of the day i got a couple good mako's and blues this way.i usualy use rigged mackerel w/ a squid skirt in front. iv'e heard those new spinning jet heads work good but they are big bucks
i saw an article out in ca. where they troll for threshers w/ good results
i saw an article out in ca. where they troll for threshers w/ good results
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boca grip em'
you just reach down and grab it like a bass.
no seriosly its got to slide up so when you wire the fish you slide it up then cut the leader dont drop it in though
this thing works pretty good its an old gaff i heated and bent
you just reach down and grab it like a bass.
no seriosly its got to slide up so when you wire the fish you slide it up then cut the leader dont drop it in though
this thing works pretty good its an old gaff i heated and bent
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It works
Eric,
I use this method a lot, it works so good that on my recent repower of my boat I installed a trolling valve. I now can troll a speeds as slow at .5 knots. You must stay at the wheel but, it works great. The largest mako trolled this way was over 300 and a thresher well over 400 not to mention countless blue sharks.
Nothing works better that being on the drift, providing that you have 15 knots of wind or better.
When I troll or power drift. I remove all floats from the lines. I like to skip bluefish filets with sraight set hooks, so they don't spin. Squid work very well also. I find that the mackeral spin a little, so when I use the mackeral I like the Ballyihood trolling lures. With them the first thing I do is get rid of his double hook cable rigging. I re-rig the lures with single strand wire and one hook, this way when the bluesharks hit I just cut the single strand and retie the rig.
On those flat calm days it is the way to go. I also like to lay out one rigger to get a little spread.
One of the most thrilling trips on my boat was during a fall shark tournment and we were power drifting. A three plus mako chase us down casting a wake to get the filet. We killed the fish and won the event. What a day!
Eric,
I use this method a lot, it works so good that on my recent repower of my boat I installed a trolling valve. I now can troll a speeds as slow at .5 knots. You must stay at the wheel but, it works great. The largest mako trolled this way was over 300 and a thresher well over 400 not to mention countless blue sharks.
Nothing works better that being on the drift, providing that you have 15 knots of wind or better.
When I troll or power drift. I remove all floats from the lines. I like to skip bluefish filets with sraight set hooks, so they don't spin. Squid work very well also. I find that the mackeral spin a little, so when I use the mackeral I like the Ballyihood trolling lures. With them the first thing I do is get rid of his double hook cable rigging. I re-rig the lures with single strand wire and one hook, this way when the bluesharks hit I just cut the single strand and retie the rig.
On those flat calm days it is the way to go. I also like to lay out one rigger to get a little spread.
One of the most thrilling trips on my boat was during a fall shark tournment and we were power drifting. A three plus mako chase us down casting a wake to get the filet. We killed the fish and won the event. What a day!
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320 mako caught on the troll
Here is a water shot moments before gaffing.
Here is a water shot moments before gaffing.
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The ride home
First year Woodcleft Shark Event a trolled 318 mako. It works
First year Woodcleft Shark Event a trolled 318 mako. It works
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somoan
nothing fancy, i just put someting out to see if it gets hit. usualy at the end of the day. while we get the boat ready for the ride home we troll back thru the slick ,its paid off a couple times.
but seeing capt. larry's post maybey we'll do it more often
nothing fancy, i just put someting out to see if it gets hit. usualy at the end of the day. while we get the boat ready for the ride home we troll back thru the slick ,its paid off a couple times.
but seeing capt. larry's post maybey we'll do it more often
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headshot same fish
A beautiful eating machine
A beautiful eating machine
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and a beautiful eating steak{lemon-pepper}
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The key to the troll
SM,
The key is the speed you must watch your ground speed .7 to .8 is the magic number. Very hard to do without a trolling valve. You can on slow on zero drift days & catch by using this method.
One more tip before you start you power drift check your nature drift and go in that direction, this way if the wind does pick up you can go back on the drift and have a straight slick.
The best however is mother natures natural wind. 15 knots N/W is the best.We catch a lot of good ones on the rough days, paying our dues. I think mainly because in rough water they feed quicker because things are moving naturally in the slick.
Sometimes we may just lay out chum with no baits in the water for 30 minutes or so at about 1.5 knots then stop and throw them in.
SM,
The key is the speed you must watch your ground speed .7 to .8 is the magic number. Very hard to do without a trolling valve. You can on slow on zero drift days & catch by using this method.
One more tip before you start you power drift check your nature drift and go in that direction, this way if the wind does pick up you can go back on the drift and have a straight slick.
The best however is mother natures natural wind. 15 knots N/W is the best.We catch a lot of good ones on the rough days, paying our dues. I think mainly because in rough water they feed quicker because things are moving naturally in the slick.
Sometimes we may just lay out chum with no baits in the water for 30 minutes or so at about 1.5 knots then stop and throw them in.
The troll definetly works when there is no drift. I find it's best two have no more than two baits in the water one right on top and one down 10 to 15 feet. I dont have a trolling valve but wish I did. I pretty much go as slow as I can, (just in gear) and then ocasionally come out of gear to let the baits sink down then I start up again. When you have the wind though its always better to drift.
(This post edited by fishndude on 02/22/2003)
(This post edited by fishndude on 02/22/2003)
(This post edited by fishndude on 02/22/2003)
(This post edited by fishndude on 02/22/2003)
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