MARLIN BAITS OR LURES

There are still a few captains around that use baits like mullet, mackerel or lady fish but for the most part artificial lures are the most popular and produce the most marlin. Baits not only require rigging skills but they also require certain skills of the angler to be able to drop back and hook the fish. Artificial on the other hand are simple and with the use of tag lines are almost fool proof. Matching hook size and lure to the tackle is perhaps the hardest part. We have already discussed matching the tackle and leaders lets look at matching the lures to the size fish we want to attract. The Sea Boots Kona Lure marketed by or own Sea Boots Outfitters on Big Pine Key in the Florida Keys comes in two sizes for marlin, the medium size * will attract smaller marlin from ranging from 100 to 250 pounds and makes and excellent lure for 30 or 50 pound tackle. This lure imitates a large fling fish skimming on the water and can be trolled in heavy grass conditions without having to clear the lure of grass. The shape of the chisel cut head automatically clears itself of the grass and due to its hydrodynamic design can be trolled a speeds of 6 to 14 knots. The large Sea Boots Kona lure, of the same design only larger, should be used on 80 or larger tackle because it generally attracts larger marlin in excess of 300 pounds. Our Sea Boots Mega Marlin lure is a large lure developed aboard the Sea Boots for catching large marlin and will attract only big marlin. This lure resembles a small blackfin or skip jack tuna striking at the surface. This lure caught the Key West marlin tournament record fish in 1987 aboard the Sea Boots. This blue weighted in at 520 pounds and was caught by Dr. Martha Morrison from Atlanta. The Senior Hooker by Mold Craft is another excellent lure when properly rigged and will catch large or small marlin. Care should be used when using this lure on lighter tackle. This lure resembles a tuna striking at the surface and will attract large and small marlin. From this discussion hopefully the angler can chose the right lure for his tackle and attract the right size marlin. They do call this sport, fishing though not catching so there is some room for error.

TAG LINES

Tag lines are short mono lines extending from the tip of the outrigger approximately twenty feet and attach with a rubber band or other method to the fishing line. The tag line is designed to eliminate the drop back out of the outrigger and assist in more hook-ups. Artificials in my opinion get more hook-ups when most of the drop back is eliminate. A rule of thumb for estimating the length of a tag line is to attach the tag line to the top of the rigger an extend it to the center of the transom. This is a good length to start with. Most tag lines are 150 mono and have a large snap swivel at each end that attach into the rigger clip assembly and can be pulled up and down using the rigger line. The size of the rubber band is important a # 32 is appropriate for 30 to 50 pound test, and a # 64 should be used for 80 # test. Attaching the fishing line to the tag line is accomplished by attaching one end of the rubber band to the snap swivel then wrapping the band around the fishing line six times and passing the end back on to the snap swivel and closing it. When the fish strikes the band breaks releasing the line and the hook-up is accomplished. See diagram provided for details.

SETTING THE LURE PATTERN

There are many patterns that work, the most important aspect of the pattern is to close all the holes and prevent lines from tangling. Closing the holes is defined as presenting a pattern that does not have large gaps where a fish could approach with out getting presented a lure. *Diagram Every line should be at a different length to prevent tangling in turns passing over and under each and to present a larger area of uniform coverage. Aboard the Sea boots the right rigger facing the stern is always the long rigger. Turns can be made to this side very quickly without tangling the lines. Lines set at different lengths pass over and under each other, each having its own space.

SETTING THE DRAGS AND FIGHTING THE FISH

Drags should be set at 25 % of the line test, using a hand scale by pulling the line off the tip of the rod and adjusting the drag accordingly, and the angler must be aware that as a marlin takes line there is a point where the drag must be reduced. When half of the line is lost of the reel the drag has doubled. For example a drag set at 7.5 pounds on thirty pound test at half spool is approaching 15 pounds of drag, at this point if the drag is not reduced and the fish continues to take line the result will probably be a broken line. On the strike many captains increase the speed for a few seconds just to help set the hook, there are a lot of different schools of thought on hooking marlin. I still believe in setting drags carefully leaving the drag in the strike position (25 % of line test) on the drag and stick the fish with the boat when the rod loads. After the hook up if it is the right flavor all lines must be put in the boat as soon as possible so the captain can maneuver as needed. Sometimes marlin will jump right away after the hook up, this can work in your favor if the fish does not throw the hook, you can judge the size of the fish. Often the marlin will eat the lure and sound taking several hundred yard s of line off, this is a dangerous fish if you did not get a good look at his size. Take the lines in quickly and position the boat for the chase be ready in case this is a 500-800 pound fish. Weather and size of the boat will determine weather you can back down or run foreword with the fish on the quarter. In following the fish to conserve the loss of line always follow the line no matter where the fish is, this will prevent developing a bag in the line dragging through the water.(number one cause of line failure second only to failure to reduce drag at half spool.) On your next trip offshore running along at twenty miles per hour let out one hundred yards of line with nothing on it and feel the amount of fiction on the line going through the water, now imagine how much friction is generated at seventy miles per hour and a bag in it. Line failure becomes less of a mystery. During the fight conserve line by backdown or quartering the fish. Try to stay with-in one hundred yards of the fish. Most marlin even big ones can be caught in less than one hour. It is important to run proper drags on adequate tackle and keep the heat on the fish until the release, do not relax and figure the fish will give up sometime. The time to relax is when the marlin is taking line, the minute he stops the angler should be taking line. In short someone should be taking line at all times there should be only very short periods when you are at a stand off. Short pump and wind tactics * are a good technique for breaking standoffs. During the fight marlin will suddenly turn at the boat and slack the line. Prepare the angler for this ahead of time and be sure he winds quickly to tighten the line or go ahead with the boat to assist. I have had to run a hundred yards to get the slack out on some fish. When the angler begins to work the marlin close to the boat, be ready, particularly if he is near the surface, get aggressive, back down and get the leader you pick the time and do not hesitate. Once the leader is touched this is a caught fish, if he panics turn lose of the leader and try to work the fish up for tagging. There are exceptions to this rule in a tournament where a piece of the leader and line must be obtained as proof of release. In this case the leader must be broke or cut according to the rules of the tournament. Calling a fish caught when the leader is touched has been very helpful in many tournaments. This allows the angler and crew to obtain the release with out rushing a tag shot and perhaps placing the tag in the fishes liver. Once the leader is touched the fish can then be played carefully for the proper placement of the tag in the back near the dorsal fin. A rushed tag shot could end up in the liver of the marlin a defeat the purpose. Marlin fishing is truly the sport of kings but not for everyone. Waiting for a fish to strike that could weight 2000 pounds or more and is undisputedly the fastest most powerful fish on the earth can be frustrating but well worth the wait for those anglers that can appreciate the ultimate challenge in big game fishing.

Tight Lines,

Captain Jim Sharpe

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