HookedOnFishingBoats.com presents:

The author (left) tempted this tuna to the boat with his non-traditional tactics.

Non-Traditional Trolling Techniques

There are times when normal trolling techniques fail to produce results. Anglers have two choices when this occurs: continue the present course of action which is not catching fish, or try something different. My philosophy has always been the latter - try something different. Changing trolling speed, color, or type of bait is often all that is necessary. However, there are times when drastic measures may be required. The following ocean trolling methods may seem unorthodox, but many times are just the trick for putting fish in the box.

Planers

On days when tuna refuse to rise to the surface to feed, a planer is just the ticket for getting down to their comfort zone. It also places a bait in the wahoos’ favorite territory. There are two ways to rig a planer for ocean trolling. However, before getting into that issue, it must be understood that trolling around six knots requires a good size planer if an angler expects to pull a bait at a depth of 30’ or more. A size six or greater planer puts a lot of pull on a rod. A 50 class outfit can handle a planer up to size four. Anything larger and an 80 class outfit is required.

A second alternative is to run the planer on a separate line attached to the boat, similar to the theory of using downriggers. Begin by placing the bait 100’ behind the boat. Now attach a rubber band to the fishing line snugly. The rubber band is then attached to the eye on a snap swivel. The snap swivel is clipped onto the planer line. As the fishing line is slowly let out, the swivel slides down the planer line to the planer, placing the bait at whatever depth the planer is set. Anglers can tell when the swivel comes to end of the planer line by the lack of tension on the fishing line. When a fish strikes the bait the rubber band breaks, allowing you to fight the fish. To reset the system just use another snap swivel and rubber band. At the end of the day when the planer is removed from the water you will recover all your snaps. The disadvantage of this system over an in-line planer is that you are unable to adjust the depth of your bait quickly when reacting to the fish finder.

Go fly a kite

If memory serves me correctly, flying a kite as a child was not that easy. Too much or not enough wind, the tail not long enough, but mainly, lack of knowledge of how to keep the kite in the air was the problem. Take flying a kite on land and multiply it by a factor of around two and you will arrive at the difficulty of using a kite offshore. Then why do fishermen use them and put up with the hassle associated with kite fishing? That’s easy: they work! Kites bring a whole new aspect to bait presentation. A live bait dangling vertically into the water or trolling a rigged bait skipping on the surface can only be accomplished by using a kite. Ideal for trolling or keeping live bait splashing around on the surface, kites open up other options to fishing. They are not going to be used every day or when fishing for every species, but the trouble associated with their use is more then worth the effort.

Fishing kites on the market today fly very well and do not require a tail like the kites we grew up with. Many are manufactured according to wind speed, however some are universal and fly from four up to 20 mph of wind. Adjustment of the line where it attaches to the kite bridle allows for changing wind speed and the spars may be changed for wind conditions. Follow the directions for the type of kite purchased for flying instructions. It is necessary to dedicate a kite-rod for the purpose of flying the kite. A short rod equipped with a 4/0 reel is a good setup. 30-pound test line is adequate for this reel.

Using a kite when trolling allows the bait to dance or skip on the water’s surface - which at times is found irresistible by fish. A point that must be remembered when trolling a kite is there is no turning around. The kite is dictated by the wind not the boat. The boat may come off the wind up to 90 degrees, which places the kite at a 90-degree angle to the boat. However, any more then a 90-degree turn of the boat places boat movement in the direction of the wind. Meaning, the kite does not stay aloft. If trolling circles on a particular lump or edge is the plan for a day of fishing, leave the kite in storage. However, if most of your fishing can be worked against the wind, the kite is the ticket for the day.

When a large fish is hooked up that requires using the boat to assist in landing, it is prudent to wind the kite rod in first. This allows the boat to maneuver in any direction while fighting the fish.

Plastic flying fish are excellent trolled kite baits for skipping along the surface.

There are two choices for setting the hook. When billfish are observed on a bait, the angler can snap the line from the clip with a sharp jerk; this allows a drop back. The other method, which I prefer, is to freespool with the line still in the rigger clip. Once the fish swims off and increases the rate of line disappearing from the reel, set the hook. This does not allow for a hard set, but I have found it is adequate for the initial strike and can be followed by a second setting of the hook when the line comes tight. Circle hooks and kites work well together, since all that is necessary to set the hook is winding the line after the bite.

Tuna find a bait jumping out of the water very enticing. By raising the rod tip up and down, the bait can be made to “fly” from the water. If tuna are observed on the fish finder, this procedure repeated a couple times every 30 seconds is a trick for putting tuna in the box. The tuna eat the bait just as it comes off the surface of the water. They may miss the bait several times, but just seeing tuna airborne is a thrill in itself. The kite gives the bait action that cannot be duplicated with outriggers.

Either rigged bait or artificial lures may be used for trolling off a kite. Stick with skip bait or surface type lures since the kite does not allow bait to run well under the water. Soft plastic flying fish are ideal for fishing with this method since it is the only way to make the flying fish lure appear natural. Try trolling the flying fish in the following fashion: Position the boat so the kite is off to one side of the boat and the fish is running in clean water. Turn the boat into the wind, then across wind. This quickly places the kite from one side of the boat to the opposite, which speeds up the bait, causing it to skip and fly across the surface. At times this drives tuna wild.

Excerpted and abridged from Offshore Pursuit, by John Unkart, these are just a few of the many methods of catching offshore pelagics described in this book. It’s available at http://www.geareduppublications.com.