GBGW tackle report

[moogie]

Originally Posted by PilotLight

Only if you eat at Rancho Vieja!!!

Michael are you gonna downsize to 2 or 4 lb.!! You animal
Kel

Stranger things have happened! GRRRR!!!!

[reallybigtoad]

Flipper, we'll miss you, but at least now someone else has a chance for the jackpot!!!!

Tor, You're on for next year's tequila!! Although this years "you buy the bait, I'll bring the booze" thing worked out OK. I guess I'll buy the bait next time.

Set-ups were as follows
15# - Calstar 700XL w/ Avet SX
25# - Calstar 700ML w/ Accurate 270
30# - Calstar 700M w/ Accurate 270
40# - Calstar 700H w/ Accurate 870
60# - Seeker 6455XH w/ Avet Pro 30 Narrow

All reels are spectra backed with about 50-100 yard topshots. The extra capacity is nice, but mostly this allows me to replace only the topshot instead of replacing an entire spool with mono.

Kelly is right about not needing Spectra as the Pangueros do an incredible job keeping the boat in range of the fish. My 100+ pound Sailfish was landed without ever getting into the spectra.

I MIGHT leave the 15# behind and bring another rod in the 40-50# area.

Most of the the time we were trolling 4 rods (2 long outside, 2 short inside) so another heavy stick could add some options. Feathers seemed to provide a faster troll speed allowing you to cover more water.

Tor is right on about the need for better grip on the slippery decks. I slipped
a couple times while barefoot and landed on my a$$ but never spilled my margarita!

Can't wait for April!

-todd

[larcus]

The key on the football yellowfin was 20# line with a 1/2 to 1 1/2 size weight to get under the needle fish and down the water column to the fish. The morning drill went like this: 1. load the panga in the dark 2. motor 3 miles down the beach for bait 3. motor 2 1/2 miles back to the yellowfin 4. catch yellowfin on the 1st cast about 400 yds offshore 4. bite slows as the sun comes up and the yellowfin go down and the needle fish come out to play. 5. liten up on the line and add a small weight. 6. Catch more yellowfin and the biggest skipjack you ever saw (Kai got a monster , the day before the whole group fished, on 15# line that took 30 min. to land. He was tired and dehydrated and just sat in the boat without a line in for about 15 min.) 7. 9:30-10:00 bait guys bring more bait 8. Decide to keep fishing slowed down yellowfin or target something else. Bait was tough and there was lots of it. All of you guys are tackle whores (me too) and can talk reels and poles forever. Key is lots of hooks, lots of small weights and extra line. I lost 10 ft. of line or more every time a needlefish hit and you should retie after each and every fish. It's hard for me to disipline myself but it makes a differance. On 25# and a 2 ought with a sardine in about 45 min. at the bajo I hooked a 15# yellowfin ,a needlefish, a small dorado, a small bonito, a skipjack, a needlefish, a jack cevalle, and a sail fish. 5#'s to a 100#'s in a short time. You just didn't know what was going to show up. We all brought too much of some stuff and not enough of other stuff.