Trolling rubber squid or any other top water spreader bar is
some of the most exciting fishing you can do. Watching the fish
hit the lures is awesome. I have been using this method of
fishing for many years for all types of species of fish. My son
Taylor Sears is the founder, owner and chief cook and bottle
washer of
Squid Bars Co. He manufactures some of the best quality
spreader bars and bait rigs. His rigs are used by many charter
boat captains all over the world. His bars have been used in the
Marlin World Cup and The Oak Bluffs Monster Shark tournament and
many other famous saltwater fishing tournaments.
The Rigs?
To start off the most important thing to know about trolling
squidbars or any other top water fishing is make sure your rig
is not tangled and free of weeds. Take a close look at your rig
before you place it in the water. Check for fouled hooks or
unsnapped swivels, also make sure your teaser lines are not
flipped over the bar they should hang straight down from the
bar. Check to make sure your main line is not fouled (this is
the center line with the stinger).
The Spread?
Another major thing to know is how to create a realistic spread
behind the boat. Start by figuring out where you are going to
place your fishing rods and how many rod holders you have. This
is important because this will determine the shape of your
spread. Four rod spreads should be either a straight line spread
or a staggered close quarter spread. A six rod spread should be
two sets of Close quartered Delta V shapes. More rods than that
are not recommended unless you have one person for each rod
hookups are like a Chinese fire drill!
The Straight Line Spread should be equally spaced bars or
daisy chains with the first one right at the stern of the boat
riding on the first wake of the prop wash. The last bar should
be about 50 yards (150 ft) behind the boat. While straight line
trolling you should make big circles about ½ mile radius. Turn
your boat towards the side of the boat that has the furthest out
bar. Over lap your circles by ½ and go in the direction of the
current and or wind and waves unless you see the fish and then
follow them!
The Close Quartered Delta V is probably the best spread you
can use. Start by placing three bars or daisy chains about 50
yards back with the center rod being about ten feet in front of
the left and right rods. Both the left and the right rigs should
be equal in distance and about 30 feet apart side by side. The
close Delta V should be set up the same way except the center
rig should be riding on the V of the wake with the other two
rigs riding on the wake on either side. This is also a good way
to troll just three rods and rigs.
The Staggered Close Quarter Spread is also a great spread.
Keep two rigs together with one rig about ten feet in front of
the other one on each side of the boat spread about 20ft apart
side to side. Place two bars about 50yds behind the boat and
another set with one rig on the V of the wake and the other
riding just behind the wake on either side. Place your rods so
the closest rigs are in the closest to the stern rod holders.
Place you furthest rigs in the rod holders closest to the bow.
You may alternate side to side on the two rod close quarter
rigs.
Match the Hatch!
Use colors and sizes that resemble local fish schools. Also you
will want to use colors reflective of light conditions. On dark
days or night fishing use bright colors with lots of flash or
glow. On bright days use dark colors so your rigs will show up
against the sky when the fish look up.
Trolling for Sharks!
What you say? Trolling for sharks is a really good way to hookup
with that monster of the sea. Use a wire leader rig with about
6ft off twisted wire connected to 4ft of solid wire with a 400
pound swivel. Haywire a bait hook on the solid end and crimp a
swivel on the stranded end. Place a bright colored rubber squid
above the hook I use orange and green colors. Troll just faster
than the current and chum while you are trolling.
How Fast?
Many different species of fish can be caught with this method of
fishing from Striped Bass to Marlin. This can help determine how
fast you want to troll. Although it is not recommended to troll
faster than eight knots or you are risking tackle failure. For
Striped Bass you want to troll under four knots, preferably
around three knots. For Bluefish you want to be slightly over
four knots. Bluefin Tuna or other species of Tuna seem to bite
the best around five knots but I have caught them at eight
knots. Average and include the speed of the current in your
calculations. With a head to current slow down. And with a
following sea speed the boat up. Fish do not count ground speed
they drift with the current just like you or I would if we where
swimming in a current, we would go the easy way. Who says fish
are stupid?
Sea conditions will determine how fast to troll in large
sea you will have to slow down going head to the sea. And in
following sea you will also have to slow down. The pressure on
the line becomes heavy and your riggers and rods will strain and
tackle failure is common. In extremely calm seas you may want to
speed up to create some turbulence fish are attracted to your
wake and your rigs should be on the wake close to the boat. A
one to two foot chop seems to be the best sea conditions for top
water trolling on the ocean. So try to plan your spreads and
fishing depending on current and sea conditions.
The Author:
Greg Sears is a well known Charter fisherman who runs Mass Bay
Guides from Scituate Mass. He is available to teach you to
saltwater fish in your own boat or He can take you out on a
charter with him on his new Tuna fishing boat “FORTUNA” custom
built for charter fishing. He is available seven days a week
from April to November. Check out his website at
www.massbayguides.com or call him at 1-781-545-6516.
Jeanette Drake and her father in Homer,
Alaska with some great silver salmon and halibut.
The above picture is of Jeff Talley with his 50 lbs., 50 inch
Rockfish caught on Thrills-n-Gills.
Above is a picture of Captain Nick Hite with his 40 lbs., 48
inch Rockfish caught aboard Angry Pirate.
105 lb Yellow Fin Tuna, caught 9/22/06 at West Atlantis by Rich
Montague. I have been informed that it is the largest Yellow Fin
entered in the Mass Governor's Cup Derby for 2006.
Way to go Rich!
Nicole Hite is 12 years old and she landed a 42.4
lb. striper that was 52" long on her
dad's charter boat "Thrills-N-Gills".
Big Fish!
A great Picture!
Tom Norman of Maryland's first citation striper. It weighed
48.4#'s and was 50.25" long.
