Since I usually want to catch some other species in addition to billfish, color WILL matter on my smaller lures. I use blue, black or purple on big lures up close, in the wake, and like some red long lures because I can see that color easily. BUT, color does not matter for blue and black marlin—use your personal favorites!!!
I would strongly suggest NOT pulling a teaser, but would pull a Soft Head Magnum Super Chugger in a very short teaser position—with a single 12/0 hook located way back in the tail. I would use an 8 foot trace leader of 480 cable with a 20 foot wind on leader of 400 mono. Fish this lure right out of a rod holder in one corner—not in an outrigger. Change to a Wide Range in rough weather if the chugger jumps and flips over in rough weather. Have a fairly heavy strike drag, for example, 25 pounds and only back off when you get at least 200 yards off the reel. You won’t get a lot of bites on the very closest lure, but when you do, it will often be a really nice one!
Proper lure spread is key to gaining the fish's attention
If anything, EXCEPT a BIG blue or black marlin, tries to bite the large “Magnum” lure, I would take it away and pitch a smaller natural bait on a large spinning reel with lots of 50 pound Dacron backing and a 100 yard top shot of good mono. This is a perfect set up for striped marlin and all smaller species, as well as blues or blacks up to at least 200 pounds.
On the next short position, a flat line or a short rigger about 50 to 100 feet back, pull a Senior size wide range rigged the same way and also only let a big marlin eat it.
On the shorter of your long outriggers—say 100 to 150 foot back—pull a standard size chugger if it is calm. Pull a standard wide range if it is rough and the chugger style jumps out of the water too much. Have a single 11/0 well back in this lure on 400 mono.
Pull a standard wide range on the long rigger on at least 300 pound leader if using mono leader. Use two good 8/0 or 9/0 hooks, one well up into the head and other way back. (ALL the “way back” hooks on these lures should have the eye of the hook just barely covered by the strands of the skirts.) This is the first lure I would care about color. Use chocolate or pink, if there are any squid around, blue or blue and white if you see lots of flying fish, and green and yellow if there are mackerel or scads of this color. I also like 200 pound nylon coated cable as leader on this and other little lures. The long rigger can be up to 300 feet behind the boat.
I only ever use a single skirt on Mold Craft lures. When too many dingle dangles are cut off cut them all off and glue the inside skirt in place. You get twice the bang for your buck.
For the very long “shot gun” I would fish a small metal headed (3-5 inch) jet or bullet lure in a pink or chocolate color with a strong 8/0 or 9/0 SS hook on 300 mono. Pull the shot gun at least 50 yards back. The littlest lure will catch more fish than anything, except maybe the standard wide range, and do NOT be surprised if a 500 or even 800 pound marlin nails it!!! Again, I often use nylon coated cable for my trace leader. (Always use 2 sleeves when crimping this leader.)
For a complete list of our other featured blog posts and to see the full line of Guy Harvey Sportswear, please visit: www.guyharveysportswear.com
Related posts:
- Introducing Guest Blogger Peter B. Wright
- Small Lures For Billfish
- Guy Harvey’s Marlin a Month| May 2010
- What Marlin See
- Old Dog New Tricks
Tags: Big Game Fishing, Peter B. Wright
I would like to welcome you to the Guy Harvey Sportswear web site. Here we will feature my blog where I will report on expeditions, adventures, and various marine conservation efforts. We will also include various guest bloggers, videos and photos that I believe you will find interesting, whether you are a serious fishing or diving enthusiast, or simply someone who cares about the marine resource, loves living the coastal lifestyle, or just wants to learn more about Guy Harvey sportswear.
