Fishing successfully while sailing

[Das_Boot]

Does anyone have any tips help in this regard. I have trailed various bits of tackle from Gibralter to NE England and have never had a bite. Am I just waisting my time or am I going about it wrong.
Basicly I tied a few feathers (lures) to my line and flung it behind the boat. Is there an Ideal length the lures should be behind the boat? does boat spead matter etc?

 

[asj1]

We regularly catch Mackerel at anything up to 5 kts using a simple spinner and one of those plastic mini surfboards about 6 ins long which force the lure to dive, but once you have hooked something it comes to the surface and you haul it in. -- Sorry don't know what they are called but all sea fishing shops will sell them I'm sure.

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Bruce,

We troll a spoon lure about 4 inches long on sunny days when below 6 knots and a 6 or 8 inch when faster; make sure your swivels are working and that you have a least 2, one close to the lure and another on the leader.

Distance from the boat is around 15 metres, an old bicycle tube makes a good shock absorber for the big bites.

Good luck andavagoodweekend...........

 

[Das_Boot]

Thanks, it looks like letting the lures flap arround on the surface is the problem. I will try to buy one.

 

[l'escargot]

Much above 5 knots and you are probably wasting your time. If you are not catching anything, try various depths by a combination of heavier weights and letting out more line.

The device asj1 refers to is a paravane, you can attach the line at different points on the front of it which will take it to varying depths proportional to the amount of line let out without having to use weights.

 

[ashanta]

You can buy these from any tackle shop or chandlery for only a few bob. I have one on board which is plastic and you alter the angle for submerging by the position you attach your line to the body.
A friend of mine made one out of plywood and a bit of lead and it works even better than my manufactured one.

Regards.

Peter

 

[Das_Boot]

I know it is a bit much to ask but has anyone got a drawing?

 

[duncan]

complete article on trolling whilst sailing here and a trolling paravane looks like this

at around £3.00

 

[Das_Boot]

Duncan you are too kind.
Tnks

 

[ChrisE]

With due deference to the previous posters, speed on a cruising monohull is not an issue other than maybe going too slow, when you will need to jig the lures up and down. As others have identified the trick is to get the gear below the surface if you are fishing for mackeral in the cold northern water, I've successfully used paravanes and lumps of lead to keep the gear below the surface. If you are in warmer waters skipping lures across the top will catch tuna and dolphin (not flipper, a fish)

The other point to note is that mackeral aren't distributed like peas in a pod, they prefer places where the current or tide changes rapidly such as the edge of rips and races. They are more likely to be near the top, ie where your lures will be, once the water warms up, say from late June on in the UK or May the further south you go.

 

[Das_Boot]

How far below the surface is the optimum depth?.
I have trolled a lot in SA but we allways used actual fish as bait. Do you have a recomendation as to the lures one might use?

 

[ashanta]

Just use one coloured feather and hook rather than using the multiple feathers used when you are stationary. If the paravane is submerged it will automatically come to the surface when you have caught a mackeral.

Good eating.

Peter.

 

[ChrisE]

I'd be happy at anything in the 6-20 ft below the surface in warm weather.

As for lures, you can buy mackeral lures (mini shrimps and hokais are good and in a different league to feathers) made up as teams of 3 to 12 lures for about £1 to £1.50 a team. A search on google will find you a supplier. I've used Veals of Bristol in the past but you'll find them at most on-line sea angling shops.

Alternatively you can buy tobys or mackeral spinners as single spinner type baits. However, they cost more and are no more effective in my experience.

Best of luck.

Chris

 

[Das_Boot]

Can anything be caught at this time of year in the North East ? Also does anyone know where to buy a Scarborough reel (spelling?) they were like a fly reel only bigger.

 

[ChrisE]

Yes, but probably not from a moving yacht. There's cod, pollack, coalfish to caught from boats drifting over or anchored near wrecks and I'd be suprised if you couldn't catch a cod or two using bait from shore marks but it is a slim time of the year.

 

[TigaWave]

If your going to Gib again then set up for tuna across biscay, big plastic squid, steel trace, jumping on the surface is fine...run the line the wrong way round a winch a few times then when something bites the winch spins and wakes you up, and theres enough friction to hook the fish.
For tuna you seem to need to be going quite fast, we never caught them below 5-6 knots.

 

[Das_Boot]

Cheers for info re the tuna I will try it. As for the NE and cod, for bottom fishing, Im ok got fish finder etc. The thing is with me is if I am going along sailing I allways like to fish just in case a meal goes by. It does not take much effort to throw a line over the stern. Anyway not much sailing this time of year.
Thanks for your help. I am sure I will have more success on my return to the med.

 

[l'escargot]

[ QUOTE ]
How far below the surface is the optimum depth?

[/ QUOTE ]

The right depth is where the fish are, which can vary depending on where you are and the season. If you are not catching any you are at the wrong depth. Keep varying it until you strike lucky.

 

[Superflid]

[ QUOTE ]
Can anything be caught at this time of year in the North East ? Also does anyone know where to buy a Scarborough reel (spelling?) they were like a fly reel only bigger.

[/ QUOTE ]

I bought 2 on Ebay last year for less than a tenner each.

Not been fishing yet, though!

 

[bigmart]

I hate to disagree with you, but in the case of fishing for Mackerel, once you hit the magic Five Knots you can pretty well forget seeing a fish.

From June to September in the English Channel 3-4 knots will produce loads of Mackerel. Provided,as you rightly say, that you get the Lure down below the surface of the water.

A Paravane is superb for this.

Martin