I can only hope El Capitan knows WTF he's doing as I won't have any tackle with me. Thanks for the tips though. Hopefully he'll have similar gear on his boat. Itsa all day charter so I hope to get several shots at some dolphin.
I don't think have peanut bunker in Aruba Double hook rigs don't swim well imo... rig smaller size ballyhoo on a small soft chugger type head (blue and white, pink/white).. loose drags, let em eat, and be able to drop back. big dolphin will inhale it.
Heads up if you're looking for some tuna plug/jigs (we always are Shimano ebay store has some Orcas over 50% off.... I got a pop orca, Orca HD and a sniper jig, plus tax OTD for $25 and for you guys talking about wahoo trolling (fast) Cap Harry has these on sale: https://www.captharry.com/collectio...ng-sashimi-bonita-plug?variant=32400938008666
Just got back from an over night trip. Plan was to run to the Hudson but 50 miles out had vibration. Isolated it to starboard running gear. I jumped in but saw nothing wrapped on the prop. We found we could run at trolling speed without vibration and made a decision to stay where we were and troll. Boated a 53 LB Yellow fin Tuna that hit a wide tracker. About 2:30 PM heard a little clanging that went away. Then a clunk. We revved up the starboard engine and the vibration was gone! So was the propulsion. I jumped in again and saw the prop was gone and the shaft was snapped off at the cutlass bearing. Decided to start chunking (we had 8 flats). Got 3 Brown Sharks then decided to move nearer to AP. Wind came up and soon had 4' seas at 5 seconds. Boat was rolling hard. Continued chunking through the night and added a 6.5 lb Mahi. At 6:00AM set out the trolling stuff. Could not run the engine over 60% of load so we trolled home. Took 8 hours. Boated 2 rat Yellow fin Tuna off wide trackers at the Glory Hole, One more 7.5 lb Mahi that hit a Nomad deep diver at Little Italy, and a 27 LB Bluefin Tuna that hit a wide tracker at Humpty Dumpty. Boat is on the hard. Shaft and prop on order.
2 weeks until Pulley Ridge. Just got a 20AH LiPO4 battery pack to go with my 100AH LiPO4 battery. I should be good for the entire 4 day trip. All paid up so it's up to mother nature now to let the trip happen or not. '25 sold out until September already. Taking 4 rods: 1 deep drop, 1 SPJ, 1 planer/troller, 1 kingfish. Not bringing tons of weight as hopefully, its not wreck fishin for the most part. 3 trips left for me in '24. Pulley Ridge, Block Is, Coxes Ledge. All in all, it's been a great fishing year for me. 1 PB tilefish, 1 pool Bluefish. Less inshore and more offshore was the right move as I spent more time fishing than locked in Tangle Town with the Googans.
Good luck buddy! I'm hoping for a few more trips to the deep once the boat gets the new shaft and prop. Insurance will cover. Word is however, decent sized fluke showing up. Anglers limiting out quick on fat flatties.
Plan to hit Keansburg Pier next Saturday and will be targeting fluke with Killies and squid strips. Haven't done any Pier fishing in a minute and it should be fun. Cooler, folding chairs, 10ft spinning rods and a beach cart. Even bringing Wifey along... Throwback Saturday!
The boat moves to shallower waters at night so I think that's where the kingfish rod comes into play. On the way to the night waters, they'll let you troll but I'm not sure they'll have live bait. If no kingfish, there should be plenty of snappers and such to keep the bite going until bedtime. The boat fishes almost the entire 24hrs/day during the trip.
10-4 What rod are you planning on using for that? You don't need heavy gear for kingfish. I usually use TLD15s and 20s when for trolling for kings but You can also use a big spinner/baitrunner for that.... then have the ability to toss plugs if you see some mahi/blackfins
Hmmm.. I do have some big spinning gear. I was going to use my AVET LX Raptor on the kingfish rod. Its specifically designed for kingfish. At least that's what Connley put on the rod. I was told by a guy who's done this trip that the snappers are middle, not on the bottom and to use long leaders so I'm hoping my kingfish rod can do double duty. Would a MH 7' Terez work? I could pair that up with a PENN Slammer IV 6000.
yeah that would be a great trolling rig for them... but you can go lighter. what kind of snappers? btw, you're gonna want steel leader if you target kingfish..... if you think bluefish have sharp teeth....
Queens mostly. I did print up what should be in season in the GoM in September. Groupers should be around. I will get some wire and bring my crimpers.
Queens are DEEP.... if you guys are moving into shallower water the snappers would probably be muttons, mangroves, and yellowtails.... but long leaders are a must either way for those. If you want some kings, just trace wire leader (18" usually fine)... I like 30-40lb 7 strand these days..... no crimpers needed, just figure 8 knots on small spro swivels, otherwise single strand wire with haywire twists
Tanx. I would imagine the Queens will be part of the daytime bite as we will be deep dropping during the day. The transition to the night location is where I think the variety of snappers comes into play. I'll be trolling on the trip to the nite spot.
I'm not too familiar with that fishery but Id assume so... the Mangs (also called greys (and a bunch of other things) and yellowtail really respond to chum (but so do the sharks) so not sure how much they do that... Good chance you can get into some blackfin tuna at night too. you know what travel/trolling speed they cruise at?
Not a clue. All I can go by is the YT Vids. Would be quite the bonus to get my first Tuna on this trip.
Hope Green wasn't on the water yesterday. White Caps and high winds even shook the Keansburg Fishing Pier I was on. It was warm and sunny though so it was a fishless, but relaxing day on the water. Kicked back in my folding chair, put a bell on my rod, cast a killie out and waited for the bell to ring. Unfortunately the bite was off and although I did get bites on my surf rod using clams, no takers. Something kept biting my killies in half though and I think it was crabs. Only saw small "spots" come over the rail. We left after a few hours due to the long drive home and wanted to beat the crowd out of Metlife as the Giants were getting their asses handed to them by Sam Darnold. Oh well, headed out tomorrow trying to catch some bonito and albies for the Pulley trip next week. Bonus: Found a Deli with a great Hot Corned Beef on Rye with Provolone and a kosher dill pickle!! Tight Lines!!
