NE Tuna guys - looking for gear input -

[oldbluesplayer]

I'm gearing up for Charlie for next season, have picked up some Senator 113h and 114h's, and some 6' 50lb rated trolling rods, looking to troll a 4 - 5 rod spread -

Would like some input on line - I believe I prefer to stay straight mono, but am open - thinking to just spool up with some 50#, but could pack more on the 113's if I go with 40#, but worried that's a trifle light ?

What's everyone using, weight, color, brand ??? If colored, how important is some flourocarbon leader ??

Also, lures - have a couple GM, and a couple birds/daisy chains - are spreader bars a must have ? I see mixed feeling on them elsewhere, they're expensive, and I think hard to troll a mix of spreaders and bird/daisy chain rigs ??, especially off a small boat -

Outriggers vs rod riggers? - how well do the rod riggers work ? Decent or a poor excuse alternative ?

What works, what's the recommendations ??

thanks

Bill

[Ed]

For trolling birds, squid bars, green machines, etc...I have a pair of all roller trolling rods from RMS. The have Penn Intl 30's spooled with about 475 yards of 50lb Momoi Diamond. I usually run a 7-8ft....75lb flouro carbon leader.

For spinning rods, I have a Star heavy duty spinning rod, with an Okuma AXEON 90 reel spooled with about 500yds of 50lb powerpro braid. I usually run a 3-4ft 50lb flouro leader. PS - The reel is now toast and will be replaced by something better. My suggestion would be to look at the Shimano Thunnus..

[riprunner]

If you are seriously looking to troll for Tuna spreader bars are a must have. This year spreaders were the go to lure in the bay/Stellwagon where it's usually a run & gun world, or trolling small lures. East of Chatham bars are typically effective. Spreader bars work best from Outriggers & a center rigger because they work best keeping the bar out of the water. I would suggest getting outriggers if you plan to do a-lot of tuna fishing. You can certainly get away without them, but they will let you have a bigger more effective spread. However, when I occasionally tuna fished my 20 foot Wellcarft, I would troll six rods without a problem, keeping a couple off the t-top, a few flat lines, and out-rodders, and I used a combination of spreader bars and lures.

[RUSTYNTABATHA]

No sugestion on the baits but i have all my internationals spooled with floro yellow suffix, but all my rods have
wind-on leaders; it gives alittle extra security when the fish gets close. I have 30 on 30's, 50 on 50's and 80 on 80's. the 300# wind on on the 50's when its 25' from the boat gives the ability to really controll the head of the fish. If it doesn't have its head it can't dig. I like suffix because it doesn't stretch as much as andie of momoi but the limited stretch is just my pref.

[cSickNick]

My 2 cents with little big fish experience,

I would not put a $150+ spreader bar in the water on a 113H or even the 114H unless you don’t care if you are spooled. There are big fish out there and we are not allowed to choose the size we want. A few years back i barely landed a mere 65# tuna that chewed on my Rapala and smoked my cranked all the way 113H star drag! Luckily i had braid on it for capacity and because of the no stretch i felt how much pressure i could put on the fish to finally turn it.

On a budget, at a min i would at run a 115L that list only for $140 at least you have a good chance on returning your bar on a larger fish.

Run the 113H/114H with lures/cedars/daisies/GM. I like the braid allot(or a low stretch mono) and you will get used to it. It is actually a good thing when you need to put the pressure on the fish to turn it and the increased capacity, once you turn it you now have a chance. Also when using braid on these, they work nicely as ground fishing setups.

I really like the "spin" thing. Run and gun, firing plugs and small metal. I have the clunking proven Penn 9500SS on a slammer rod but my favorite is the smooth Shimano Speros on a Tsunami rod. Both running 80 lb power pro with top shot of Floro. If mostly small fish breaking, i will also troll these with surface stuff.

I also started the "jig" thing last Sun which i really like also, but not many chances with any results ... yet. That is a Shimano Trinidad TN30(not sure if it is worth the money but got a great deal on it to refuse, but the Torium or Diawa Saltist are 1/2 the cost for good reviews) matched with the Trevala rod TVS58XXH. This setup is enjoyable light as a feather with 80lb powerpro with wind-on 80 floro leader that is rated for 80-200 braid!! The high speed on these reels is amazing at 6.2:1. I know the dogfish can believe it, they are in 300' of water one second, few seconds later all they remember is getting whacked it the head and seeing the letters "OUZO"?
Again, this is a killer setup for ground fishing also especially with the quick retrieve.

I have 2 Penn Int 50S to troll the large stuff and then if i care i mix in 2 113H with small stuff out of the gunnels and maybe one spinner off the top down the middle. Most of the times by myself but have my trusty Raymarine autopilot to keep stuff straight.

I guess my point is i decided to fish for these buggers the way i enjoy/gear i enjoy/gear reuse for other fish and at least spend the money on 2(or start with one) strong setups to give you a fighting chance against the big one, because many days it is just Tuna Wishing ...... good luck!

- Nick

[Trayder]

I agree with Nick 100% on the spreader bar comment and smaller reels. While at the canyon we run one custom splash bar in the shot gun pos.WTFB and it is always on an Intl 80- 2 speed with a bent but stand up 130 class rod. Lose one of them and we could of purchased an international 50.....

I have not gotten into the troll in Cape cod bay too much as i enjoy the run and gun spin action but for offshore I run a bevy of differnt gear on the whaler

1 80W 2-speed as mentioned above
2 50W's single speed
2 30W's single speed
2 15LT's single speed
2 Accurate Boss 665's single speed
2 Shimanno 6500 spin set ups with metal or bait (rigged in a holder)

They are staggered as such

the 80 WTFB center
then the 2 50's on the outter rigger
Then the 2 30's on the mid rigger
Then the 2 15's on the gunwale
Then the 2 Accurates on flat lines in the prop wash

I use Todd's lures behind Playaction birds and the monster splash bar way back combined with a few jet heads and green machines, feathers, and of course the ugliest cedar plug on the planet.


I have also trolled Chatham with the 20 SeaCraft and my neighbors 23 on the bay both were set up with Gunwale outriggers and were able to troll 6 rods

2 on the riggers outter
2 in the gunwales straight back
2 in the leaning post to flat lines

trolling spreader bars and playaction birds with green machines.


I hope to get into baits next season as the one time we played with them this year we raised a Blue marlin which was a first for me.

If you are looking for rods on a budget check this out http://www.catfishsupply.net/ProductInfo.aspx?id=908068
I purchased 2 of these rods and they made 4 trips with me I am pretty impressed and will buy more for $44 for an all roller rod it is not too shabby a cape fear it is not but for a budget rod I was pleasantly surprised.

[PipeDreamsMarine]

Yeah what Nick said .. and More like what Trayder said. I use a set up like the one Trayder stated but I don't mix my gear I use the 80's WTFB, but all 50's on the rest. Because Mr Big Eye always seems to jump on the light rod.

Now for the next point.. (gonna ruffle some feathers) If you get spooled by a fish.. any fish... you did something really wrong. Always check your drag settings, make sure your drag is set right. With all your gear in shape and good game plan for clearing lines, you won't get "spooled". I caught an 75lb YFT on a TLD 20 w/30lb line..and it was on my Mosley..so size doesn't matter.. and My wife says so...lol

And remember you don't have to buy new, E-bay is great and so are flea markets. You can get some great deals on tackle if you look around. Alot of people gear up for Offshore and only go a few times and then give it up. So the gear gets sold cheap...

[riprunner]

Yeah what they said, I read your post to quick and thought you bought 50's as well. I would never put a speader bar off a 113, or 114. Sorry for the miss info there.

[Ed]

As far as spreader bars are concerned, the hot color this year on the north shore....was black with a green stinger. You can run a 3ft bar with 9 inch squids on 30's.....but once you get into the 4ft bar with 13 inch squids....you really need to move up to 50's or 80's.

Some of the best prices for QUALITY bars (not the crap from overseas factories).....are the online specials at fishermans outfitters in Gloucester (it was $80 for a 36 inch titanium bar in September) and there is also a guy in Marshfield who makes a real nice bar for a bit more.

[cSickNick]

Now for the next point.. (gonna ruffle some feathers) If you get spooled by a fish.. any fish... you did something really wrong.

Ok Don i will bite on this one, do you mean that using a TLD20 with 30lb line you would not be spooled by a 500#plus BFT? No experience but common sense would tell me that i do not have enough drag or fast enough boat to slow down that train!

If you are saying cut your line and you are not spooled i understand ... but technically i still say you were spooled!

Give us more detail on you plan if i have this wrong. If you are saying you should not get spooled on 50's and up, i agree.

Trust me i will do my best to not be spooled, but with the wrong sized reel and the right fish i would think to Greek cheer would come out "Opah!!"

Jason, how do you like those Accurates? They look like sweet fun reels. I may also try one of the Diawa Saltiga(i think i like them better than my Shimano Trinidad) only because i find the star drag style to flick in/out of drag/freespool easier for dual purpose groundfishing.

- Nick