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bmiller
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 12:24 pm |
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Howdy all,
I'll be heading down in mid to late April on a sailing trip. We'll put in at SC and sail over to Santa Rosalia then down to Bahia Concepcion. That's the general plan, you know how that goes.
I live in Colorado and have zero salt water gear or experience. What we catch here on a 3wt fly rod is called bait in Mexico. I ordered a basic spinning combo, 7' M/H action rod and matching reel. What I need to know is what else to bring. If we want to troll while going across, maybe do some casting from the dinghy while on the hook or try for some rock fish?
I realize this is a very broad question but gotta start somewhere.
Bill
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catfish
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 03:34 pm |
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| What you really need is a basic conventional reel and rod in the 20# category. You could use this outfit for live baiting, trolling or what have you. Line capacity is most important-300 to 400 yds.
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taoswheat
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 06:14 pm |
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I am certainly not an SC expert, but last October I had good luck kyak fishing while trollong Krocodile spoons and Horsehair/Feather trolling jigs. Will be back in SC in May with a new kayak and more of the same lures. I use light saltwater reels with 15 and 20 pound rigs and medium heavy rods. I can get away with fairly light tackle because I am right on the water and very maneuverable. When I had a sailboat, I used 20-30# rigs, because when you hookup it is not easy to stop and fight the fish- you have to drag him in.
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Matt Blair
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 06:48 pm |
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A good choice for lures would be feathers: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/saltwater/Product_10151_-1_10001_30694_151004001_151000000_151004000_151-4-1
They're not very expensive and will catch just about any top water species. I agree that a trolling outfit would be a good call. Not sure what you ordered, but it might be fine to use for trolling. Part of that would depend on what you're fishing from. It sounds like a sail boat which is no problem. Just remember if you hook a marlin on light gear, it might take hours to catch it, and could end up killing it. If you have heavier gear, you can haul a big fish in because of the heavier line and drag settings. If you have a boat that can chase fish once they're hooked, then light gear works okay because you can use the boat to chase the fish down rather than use your rod and reel to haul the fish in. I hope that makes sense.
For bottom fishing, chunk bait (like squid or cut up fish) works well. The size of fish you want to catch will decide which size hook, weight and leader to use.
Hope that helps. Happy Fishing! Matt
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bmiller
Member
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 10:38 pm |
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Thanks, that helps a lot. The spinning combo I'm bringing will be set up with 20#. Ordered some feathers and cedar plugs.
What I really need to do is set up a gaff on a boat hook!
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bahiatrader
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 11:30 pm |
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Someone who reads this forum should be able to tell you where to get a quality gaff of almost any length shaft you want. Maybe Bass Pro or Cabela's or... A long shaft gaff stows just as easily as a fishing rod when you're not using it. Use the boat hook for hooking on to things.
The feathers and plugs you ordered should give you plenty of action. Just about any spoon is good for casting with, along with plugs and weighted jigs. If your sailboat has any size to it when you're trolling, you will be given quite a tussle by any fair-sized dorado or tuna with your 20 lb. spinning outfit. Attached is a picture of some plugs I made myself. If you stop by Laughlin and pick me up to go with you, I'll give them to you. I whittled them out one time while I was having my boat repaired. I envy you. That sounds like a good trip. I hope you have a great time.
Attachment: homemade plugs by Robert.jpg (Downloaded 177 times)
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GOIT
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Posted: Thu Apr 3rd, 2008 04:18 am |
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| For another beginner who needs to keep costs down is there a setup that could be used for both trolling and bottom fishing?
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bartmanaz
Administrator
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Posted: Thu Apr 3rd, 2008 12:51 pm |
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Conventional 20-30# outfits are suitable for both trolling and bottom fishing. Even if you only buy one, buy the best you can afford. Check the various online catalogs as they usually sell these in pre-packaged combos at a discount.
Bart
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barato
Member
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Posted: Thu Apr 3rd, 2008 07:54 pm |
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a quality gaff of almost any length shaft you want. Maybe Bass Pro or Cabela's or...
i recently got a decent appearing cheapie from Cabela's for >$30. feels reasonably sturdy but after one trip, it's showing visible rust and i'm wishing i'd sprung the extra $20-40 for an Aftco.
one additional note you may already be aware of: the braided SPectra fiber lines are a great addition in lieu of traditional mono for any salt water fishing, particularly to boost capabilities of light tackle when you may find self unexpectedly battling big fish....much thinner for given strength (like 30# test is [claimed to be] diameter of 8# mono), zero stretch, and stuff slides over sharp rocks that would instantly part mono under load. it has a few drawbacks, like cost, ease of cutting yourself on it, wear & tear on guides and line rollers, and (IMHO) a somewhat greater tendency towards backlashes on revolving spool reels, but i'd never go back to mono for salt water use. see some other threads on this forum for more discussion on braid from folks more experienced than i.
Last edited on Thu Apr 3rd, 2008 07:56 pm by barato
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bahiatrader
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Posted: Thu Apr 3rd, 2008 08:11 pm |
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| Another great advantage of the Spectra lines is that you can put a lot more on a reel. You might need to learn to tie some different knots with Spectra. There are some terrific buys on PowerPro line on eBay.
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barato
Member
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Posted: Thu Apr 3rd, 2008 08:18 pm |
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one more caveat, at least with PowerPro: the first time you get the line wet, it bleeds color (especially the red) which appears to stain gelcoat on a boat. soak it for a while in a bucket before use to let this bleed out and save yourself some annoyance.
as for knots, i've mostly been using improved clinch knot with a couple of extra turns (7 instead of 5) and seemingly good results thus far.
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bahiatrader
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Posted: Thu Apr 3rd, 2008 09:28 pm |
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| I think with PowerPro they give you a list of approved knots with the line. A palomar knot is always good. It does bleed color though.
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bartmanaz
Administrator
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Posted: Fri Apr 4th, 2008 01:45 am |
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Going back to the original post, which is a newbie fishing off a sail boat, none of this exotic stuff is necessary, but have no disagreement with the posters comments from a tech standpoint. Buy good quality rods and reels, load em with good quality mono and have at it. The braids are nice but are not necessary. I've been fishing in San Carlos for many years, caught lots of fish, won some tournaments and $$ and the amount of braid I have loaded is.....you guessed it, zero.
Firm believer in KISS-especially for newcomers to our sport.
Bart
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Damon Kent
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Posted: Fri Apr 4th, 2008 02:43 am |
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KISS,
I learned this on the very first fishing trip I went out on with my father in law. We hauled a boatload bottom fishing. Been out with commercial fishermen too, and the same story.
Tackle,
30 LB mono
Plastic pop bottle or wood plank with notches for spooling line
hooks,
old sparkplugs for weight.
Admited for trolling on biguns Barts advice is great.
Since then I have revisited my approach to fishing, I use to pour through Cabelas and spend a lot of my hard earned $. Now I go as slim as possible.
This goes for hunting, too, I make all of my own archery tackle from natural materials. Kills as well as any expensive compound. It is the skill, not the tackle.
Last edited on Fri Apr 4th, 2008 02:44 am by Damon Kent
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GOIT
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Posted: Fri Apr 4th, 2008 04:54 am |
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| Thanks for all the great advise, I am definately watching the outflow of cash so I think KISS will be a great starting point for me! Just one question, when I am KISSING the fish do I use tongue?
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bmiller
Member
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Posted: Fri Apr 4th, 2008 12:17 pm |
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Lots of good stuff here, thanks.
I'm a firm believer in the KISS system.
While visiting PV several years ago I watched a couple little kids fish. They had a pop can with mono wound around it, a single hook and weight. The little brother dove for bait, some kind of shell things. They dug out the meat and put it on the hook. Then wound up and let er fly, turning the can in the right direction the mono spun off cleaner than the most expensive reel. They hauled the fish in by hand and rewound the can. They hooked into a fairly large fish and after several minutes of fighting landed it and had line welts around his hand.
Their family ate good that night.
And a couple more important questions.
Can I get a license in San Carlos or do they need to be purchased before we get there?
Any recommendations on a good fish ID book for the SOC?
Last edited on Fri Apr 4th, 2008 01:56 pm by bmiller
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Damon Kent
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Posted: Fri Apr 4th, 2008 05:46 pm |
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liscense are available in San Carlos, but if you fish from shore not required. Only if you fish from a boat.
Damon
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bahiatrader
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Posted: Fri Apr 4th, 2008 06:51 pm |
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mexfish.com has a good list of the available species.
PS I took some guys out that used cans and mono. Now they use rod and reel.
Last edited on Fri Apr 4th, 2008 06:53 pm by bahiatrader
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