Trolling for fish off the back of the boat

[KellysEye]

>If you do buy a 'paravane' the loads on the line become quite 'interesting' above about 3 knots. At 6 knots the line was stripping off against the reel brake!

I'm surprised so may people are talking about or recommending a paravane. As I mentioned we used swimming lures which stay just below the surface, with those we have caught tuna, mahi-mahi, yellow tail snapper, barracuda etc. Most fish are fast and with a paravane you need to slow the boat, we've caught fish between 5 and 7 knots. I suspect you will catch less at slow speeds simply because the lure won't look like a fish trying to escape a predator at speed.

 

[capnsensible]

>If you do buy a 'paravane' the loads on the line become quite 'interesting' above about 3 knots. At 6 knots the line was stripping off against the reel brake!

I'm surprised so may people are talking about or recommending a paravane. As I mentioned we used swimming lures which stay just below the surface, with those we have caught tuna, mahi-mahi, yellow tail snapper, barracuda etc. Most fish are fast and with a paravane you need to slow the boat, we've caught fish between 5 and 7 knots. I suspect you will catch less at slow speeds simply because the lure won't look like a fish trying to escape a predator at speed.

I wasn't aware that those fish are common off the Devon coast.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

caught a pollack this afternoon - about 2 foot long - just off the point approaching salcombe. I used a paravane to keep the lure close to the bottom and went into the shore until the depth was 10 to 15 meters. Toodled along at 3 kn. The lure was a bright pink fish shaped one designed to wiggle as it was towed and with the hook sticking out of the top so minimum chance of snagging. About 3 meters behind the vane on 25 lb line

also caught a mackerel on a spoontype lure so its out withthe crab pot this evening.

quite a lot of passage making is boring so doing a bt of fishing en route adds to the interest as well as providing dinner. obviously we stop when we have caught enough for dinner.

 

[simon barefoot]

As a fisherman of 35 years (10 commercially) I'd say a big handline with approx. 1lb lead, and a small toby wedge lure.

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

5 knots is fine for mackerel. Buy swimming lures (they have a metal plate on their chin) about 4 to five inches long in a range of different colours. The reason for the different colours is different fish take different coloured lures at different times of year. For example east of Gibraltar we were towing a red and silver lure and a blue and yellow one all the mackerel took the blue and yellow. You don't need a paravane all fish, except flat fish, come to the surface if they see swimming food.

The lures you describe are called Rapalla's. American design and quite expensive.
I have always found anything above 2.5-3kts toooooooo fast.
For Pollack you are better fishing among red kelp their favorite hiding and stalking ground, and a copper Toby is good for them.
C_W

 

[SAWDOC]

IMO mackerel is only fit for my cab pot as bait, but if you are odd and like it,

Rubbish - fresh mackerel is excellent fare.

 

[KevO]

1st mate son slung a line over the stern off Pendower as we pottered under a barely pulling chute on Sunday afternoon. Boat rod, paravane, old and simple lure. In an hour he had 7 mackerel, 2 nice-sized pollack and a bass. White wine, black pepper, touch of lemon juice on each macky as it went from the hook via the 'processing' bucket to the pan. Crusty bread and fresh salad... Yummy! Very happy crew! SWMBO took the pollack and bass home to keep the outlaws happy

Oh... and we saw a sunfish on the surface just chillin' out.

 

[hartcjhart]

I've just chucked away a nasty hand-reel of fishing line, like you get with a kite. Has anyone seen a stubby rod with a reel for this purpose?

aldi,lidl and 'lookey lookies sometimes have 'telescopic' rods which are, for normal fishing,hopeless but used 'folded' in will make an ideal stubby rod

 

[Tomahawk]

If you do catch some.....

Keep them alive until you have enough for lunch... than take them flapping to the galley..
Kill, gut them and cook straight away.....

You will never taste anything like it.... The difference a few hours makes is huge!

 

[Mad Pad]

Anyone know what tuna go for?
We are in the eastern Med.
Thanks in anticipation

 

[KevO]

About £20 a kilo...

 

[cmedsailor]

Anyone know what tuna go for?
We are in the eastern Med.
Thanks in anticipation

Caught 4 tunas so far this year in the East Med. Use various colours of these "plastic" lures (rapala or whatever) around 15cm long and try maintain your speed at around 5.5knots. The rougher the sea the more your chances to catch something (I was fishing/sailing in 25 knots of wind and 2m of waves). Try late in the afternoon or early in the morning. Two fishing rods are better than one.

 

[Mad Pad]

Thanks cmed.What sort of size were they and what depth were you trolling at?

 

[Highndry]

There's loads of information about fishing from sail boats here. As someone who knows way more about fishing than sailing, I can thoroughly recommend the site. Dick's book is good too but there's loads of information just on the web link http://www.go-saltwater-fishing.com/sailboat-fishing.html

And as for lures, the smallest sizes of Sidewinder and Redgill lures (both made from rubber) work well for all the midwater species you're likely to sail past in UK waters.

A rod and reel is more fun than a hand line though. Easier to retrieve something with too. However, if you do decide to invest in a rod for fishing from the stern of a sail boat, my advice is to go for something short - perhaps five feet - often known as standup rods.

 

[cmedsailor]

Thanks cmed.What sort of size were they and what depth were you trolling at?

Sizes between 8-11 kilos. The depths varied but let's say 500-1000 meters, though I don't know how much relevant the depth is. The speed of trolling is quite relevant (try don't exceed 6 knots) and I was very very much impressed of the fact that during all times I went for tuna fishing (3 in total) the sea was quite rough (late afternoon) and I had success in all three. People who know about fishing have told me that tunas like to hunt when the sea get's rough; have no idea if I was just lucky or that's true indeed.

 

[Mad Pad]

Sorry,misunderstanding...how deep was the lure and how long the line?I'm determined to catch one..they come into the bay of Kotor at the end of the summer.

 

[hartcjhart]

Anyone know what tuna go for?
We are in the eastern Med.
Thanks in anticipation

Hi contact 'John' from this link he has spent many years fishing in the med and is a mine of information,link below
http://beachcombermojacar.com/

just say 'dumpercraig' gave you his link

 

[cmedsailor]

Sorry,misunderstanding...how deep was the lure and how long the line?I'm determined to catch one..they come into the bay of Kotor at the end of the summer.

Oops!
Lure was probably around 10 meters deep. The line around 70-80 meters long. Engine was off.

 

[TSB240]

Mackrel and bacon

I dont ever bother gutting a mackrel
just a sharp knife down each side of the backbone and peel the top fillets off the lateral bones. Cut through the skin just behind the gills . No blood no mess and no bones and all the best white meat. Try watching the seagulls fly off with the fillet less mackrel in their gullet and the tail sticking out of their beaks!

Fry the top fillets skin down there is no need for any oil enough in the skin. Add a little lemon juice and season with pepper....

Wrap the fillets in lightly grilled bacon and then make into a bacon and mackrel sarny.

My lips are watering now.

 

[simon barefoot]

Best way to keep a mackerel alive is in a cool box inbetween layers of towels dampened in sea water. They'll stay alive for quite sometime this way.