8 to 10 knots.
Cedar plugs and their aluminum, plastic and chrome-over-brass derivatives not only perform when trolled at 8 to 10 knots, they’re also great for probing a little deeper in the water column.
What speed should you troll at?
So, what is the best trolling speed? The best trolling speed depends on several factors including the type of fish, water conditions and lure choice. In general, trolling speeds between 1.5 and 2.5 mph, as measured by GPS, are a good starting place for most species like walleye, trout and salmon.
How long should a cedar plug leader be?
15 feet
As in the Bahamas, each plug is rigged with 15 feet of 130-pound-test monofilament leader and a 10/0 needle-eye hook.
Can you cast cedar plugs?
Casting cedar plugs for tuna, it’s an open secret now; as casters, a whole new world has opened up. An old saying variation, “You can teach an old dog new tricks” refers to myself as well as cedar plugs. Castable cedar plugs, one of the best of my many offshore fishing innovations over the years.
What is a cedar plug fishing lure?
Lead Masters Cedar Plug Trolling Lures
The Lead Masters Cedar Plugs have an erratic swimming action and they really attract the fish while trolling. Lead Masters cedar plugs come rigged with a single hook, monofilament and a swivel. Popular for Yellowfin, Bluefin, Albacore, Dorado and even Wahoo.
How far behind the boat should I troll?
Every boat is different and you should make your boat your own study. Proper distance for most boats will be anywhere from 20 feet to 150 feet behind your boat. Whether you have inboard diesel or outboard gas engines, your power dictates the distance you troll your baits and lures.
How much line do I let out when trolling?
Trolling Depth Trick #3
Consider the following example: If you’re trolling a tandem rig tied with two five-ounce bucktails (5 x 2 = 10), and you let out 100 feet of line (double 50, so multiply by two again), according to the Rule it will run at about 20 feet below the surface (5 x 2 = 10 x 2 = 20).
Should you troll with or against the current?
When in an area with current, troll crosscurrent as opposed to with and/or against the current. Going crosscurrent, you don’t have to worry about how the current is affecting your lure’s or bait’s speed through the water. Plus, fish generally swim into the current.
What lures to use for tuna?
Below are some of the best trolling lures for tuna.
- Squid Tuna Lures. The Squidnation Fat Daddy Squids are a perfect tuna fishing lure.
- Flying Fish Tuna Lures.
- Small Chugger Tuna Lures.
- Green Machine Tuna Lures.
- Metal Jet Head Trolling Lures.
- Feather Jig Tuna Lures.
- Cedar Plugs Tuna Lures.
- Topwater Popper Tuna Lures.
What are fishing plugs?
Plugs are a popular type of hard-bodied fishing lure. They are widely known by a number of other names depending on the country and region. Such names include crankbait, wobbler, minnow, shallow-diver and deep-diver.
Are cedar plugs good?
Cedars shimmy and sway, darting to and fro like some kind of crazed baitfish on the verge of consumption. They’re great surface lures that also bubble and burp and vaguely imitate small tuna, frequently referred to as “bullets” by offshore fishermen. Cedar plugs know no bounds.
How fast do you troll for mahi?
between 2 and 9 knots
Mahi Mahi are aggressive fish and will eat fast as well. Professionals tell you to troll for Mahi Mahi between 2 and 9 knots. Try varying speeds until you get a bite, but more importantly be consistent and make sure you keep the boat moving at a steady pace.
Is mono or braid better for trolling?
Mono holds knots better and costs less than braid. It also works better on smaller bait-casting reels because light braid can dig into itself. Florida sailfish and dolphin anglers still use a lot of mono on the troll, and some use it for kite lines because it runs through the clips better.
How fast should you troll for wahoo?
Wahoo (also called ono) can swim at least 60 mph, so trolling at 14, 16 and even 20 knots is now commonplace using techniques developed by Capt. Ron Schatman, winner of a dozen major Bahamas wahoo tournaments over five years. “In 1995, I went from pulling baits at 14 knots to pulling lures at 18 knots,” Schatman says.
How do you control crankbait depth?
Move your crankbait too slow or too fast and it’ll run too shallow. The bill has to bite into the water at the correct angle for the lure to run as deep as possible. The length of your cast is the next thing that affects running depth. A longer cast will let the bait get down deeper.
How do you slow down a boat while trolling?
Shut Down Your Boat’s Engine(s)
With triple outboards, for example, shutting down the center engine (or leaving it in neutral) will help you troll slower. If that’s not slow enough, use just the center outboard and turn off the two outside motors. With quad outboards, try running just two motors.
Can you fish while boat is moving?
Trolling is a method of fishing where one or more fishing lines, baited with lures or bait fish, are drawn through the water. This may be behind a moving boat, or by slowly winding the line in when fishing from a static position, or even sweeping the line from side-to-side, e.g. when fishing from a jetty.
What speed do you troll for tuna?
between 4.5 knots and 7.5 knots
Speed: Most tuna fishermen troll between 4.5 knots and 7.5 knots. The slower speeds are usually used when you are trying to let heavy lures run deeper in the water column or when targeting tuna in cold water.
What color lures do tuna like?
Now, taking a look at the northeast—in the Atlantic off New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey—they catch more tuna than most places in the world. Their top must-use colors are solid green, green/yellow and black/purple. In Florida, the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands, the No. 1 color is light blue.
How do you troll for big eye tuna?
One of the best methods for drawing bigeye to the surface is to use spreader bars along with large teasers. Like many species, they are attracted to disturbances of the water, especially near the transom of the boat. Due to this fact, when targeting big eyes run a tighter spread.
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