Fishing whilst sailing

[samwise]

I Portugal I bought a special device that the guy in the shop insisted would attract fish like no tomorrow. It was egg-shaped with swivels at each end and was designed to set up vibrations that other fish would think was wounded prey. The jury is still out on its effectiveness, but I can say that the paravane thingy I bought at the same time seemed to be very successful. We found that we caught more at slower speeds.

 

[[70521]]

That IS a paravane

Thanks, I was shown it as a wee boy never thought it would have a 'proper' name.

 

[barnaclephill]

The beauty of the thing is that it has notches on it for the line to the boat (which adjusts the depth) and notches on the side flukes (to adjust how far left or right it goes). I have used one on each of my cleats at the back of the boat, and I've adjusted the depth in the shallow lake versus coast, so as to clear weed in the lakes. etc.

The other great thing with them is that you don't have to tug the line to see if it's caught something. It rises to the surface where it is easily seen, and it indicates that it needs pulling in to clear weed or a fish.

Have caught tailor, a snook and several barracudas with it. Easy as.

 

[bill bligh]

Paravane Stim good bits of kit. Has any one got the instructions I still have one and had quite a bit of success but have not used it for a few years need to know length of line from boat to Stim then length of trace from Stim to lure.

 

[ukmctc]

Evening all,

I'm thinking of taking my rod with me on Jester, what bait/lure is likely to succeed, I'm not interested in catching Moby Dick.

As always grateful thanks for any replies

David

half a dozen hooks with silverfoil attached, you'll lift enough Mackarel to live off for weeks, you just need a fridge or freezer.

 

[Amulet]

Only thing you are likely to catch is mackrel but if you are going more that 2 knots forget it. Not because the fish cant swim that fast but because you'll never get the lure deep enough. On second thoughts I believe you can tow something called a hydrovane that keeps the lures down but never tried it.

As I lad I reliably caught mackerel and the odd other fish at way over 2 knots - more like six. But that was on the West Coast of Scotland. You do need serious weights - like a couple of pounds - to get the lure deep enough. We just used any old bit of ironmongery, not a fancy fishing weight. You then need a long trace behind the weight to get the lure away from its disturbance. I now have hydrovanes, which seem to do the job of getting the lure deep. However, my impression is that in the manky East coast water the fish can see bu99er all so visual lures are a bit of a dead loss. I have caught mackerel with my hydrovane set-up off the North Foreland.

.. when they get scared they also SH!T everywhere.

If you were swimming around and somebody hoicked you out of the water with a hook in the mouth you might do the same.

 

[xhurleyman]

Hello David, I troll sometimes with feathers on five hooks but you need a fairly heavy weight to keep the line down, I must admit, I am usually motorsailing owing to little wind when I fish. If it is windy then forget it you need all the concentration you have if on your own. I have only caught mackerel but they make a nice meal with brown bread and butter, fry them in a little butter slowly or if you have an oven, bake in foil and the flesh will just drop off the bone. As for the blood and guts and heads, if lobbed over the side there is a fair chance the gulls will scavenge for them.

When you are safely at anchor then a small V section of flesh and skin cut from near the tail and fitted to an ordinary hook on a paternosta dangling over the side might attract some different attention from a few metres down.
Good luck. I'm always hoping for some bass which have so far evaded me.
Cheers
Kevin

 

[stuhaynes]

Most informative - thank you

D

+1.

 

[Spyro]

As I lad I reliably caught mackerel and the odd other fish at way over 2 knots - more like six. But that was on the West Coast of Scotland. You do need serious weights - like a couple of pounds - to get the lure deep enough. We just used any old bit of ironmongery, not a fancy fishing weight. You then need a long trace behind the weight to get the lure away from its disturbance. I now have hydrovanes, which seem to do the job of getting the lure deep. However, my impression is that in the manky East coast water the fish can see bu99er all so visual lures are a bit of a dead loss. I have caught mackerel with my hydrovane set-up off the North Foreland.
If you were swimming around and somebody hoicked you out of the water with a hook in the mouth you might do the same.

Couple of pound weights? Never heard of fishing for sport
My rod wouldn't like trolling something that heavy.

 

[JKay]

+1.

you,ll only catch cars and fridges on the Ouse

 

[JKay]

Couple of pound weights? Never heard of fishing for sport
My rod wouldn't like trolling something that heavy.

you can use even larger weights on a seperate line and then the rodline with the lure on is attached with an elastic band see link below

http://fishforthefuture.net/trolling2010.html

 

[fisherman]

You can make a paravane from an old tin can: knock out both ends, drill a series of holes round the rim both ends, tow from one hole, line attached to the opposite hole in the tail end. If you move the attachment round it will swim away one way or the other. They were used in the third world to tow five lines from a boat. They also used a 'break out' clip on the tail end of the can so when a fish is on the whole thing comes to the surface.

 

[Little Five]

On our recent transatlantic crossing we caught a fish everytime we put out the line. We only did this if we wanted fish. We mostly caught Dorado ( also known as Mahi Mahi) and blue fin tuna on a simple line with a floppy blue or red squid lure.

 

[VO5]

On our recent transatlantic crossing we caught a fish everytime we put out the line. We only did this if we wanted fish. We mostly caught Dorado ( also known as Mahi Mahi) and blue fin tuna on a simple line with a floppy blue or red squid lure.

+1

The slower the boat speed the better.
I don't bother with a rod. I tie the line round the winch.

 

[tarik]

Many thanks for all your replies - very interesting. I fancy giving it a try later in the

year

Tight lines,

David

 

[Tim Lamb]

Winch would definately be better....

If you hook Moby Dick, the winch is going to be a lot handier than having the line tied round a stanchion.

 

[Little Five]

+1

The slower the boat speed the better.
I don't bother with a rod. I tie the line round the winch.

This is exactly what we did. When the fish strikes the winch gives a quick short noise and you know you have caught one. Save trying the line every few minutes.
All but one of our fish were caught in the late afternoon; we didn't know it then but that is the perfect time for those fish.

 

[Oatcake]

Evening all,

I'm thinking of taking my rod with me on Jester, what bait/lure is likely to succeed, I'm not interested in catching Moby Dick.

As always grateful thanks for any replies

David

I prefer to have a multiplier reel attached directly to the stern rail, loaded with oversized line with a clip on the end. I then attach featherss to that, with a huge perk lure at the end to get some depth.

The feathers catch an enormous amount of mackerel (we always stop at 20), and we always stand that chance of something larger from the hooked perk lure.

I prefer this arrangement whilsts sailing, the rods would be used whist at anchor, but not whilst underway, always the stern reels then. Good luck.

 

[fishermantwo]

On our recent transatlantic crossing we caught a fish everytime we put out the line. We only did this if we wanted fish. We mostly caught Dorado ( also known as Mahi Mahi) and blue fin tuna on a simple line with a floppy blue or red squid lure.

Common name here is Dolphin fish but sold commercially as Mahi Mahi. If your after a feed sail past floating logs or other debris, buoys, FAD etc. The fish gather there and hunt a few hundred yards about the area. Not unusual to have a dozen or so Mahi Mahi jumping out of the water chasing your lure.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Evening all,

I'm thinking of taking my rod with me on Jester, what bait/lure is likely to succeed, I'm not interested in catching Moby Dick.

As always grateful thanks for any replies

David

Feathers on a hand line will often get you a good few mackerel. Best on a calm day when the sailing is not very exiciting. At normal boat speed, the lures are too close to the surface so you only get tiddlers. I've not yet used a paravane but aim to try it this year. For Sea bream and bass you need to stop and fish over a wreck or reef using deeper tackle. Good luck - there's nothing so tasty as a fresh, self caught fish supper. The blood and guts are soon washed away with a couple of buckets of sea water.