Baitwell full of menhaden or big mullet, livebottom or structure and throw out anchor and stagger a few with balloons
Stagger distance behind boat....
Yeah I understand now. But the only time I’ve used balloons fishing is floating big live baits back to striper in heavy current. We used the ballon to set depth.
A fish bites 2 times a day, right before I get to the water, and as soon as my boat gets back on the trailer.
I like #4 trebles. Light drag, light wire.
But I don't king fish much anymore.
This is not an ideal way to live bait for king mackerel. 1) It completely eliminates your ability to cover ground, and 2) when you get a bite from a good fish, you've got to drop the anchor to chase it down. Fishing with balloons is a novice, uninformed approach for this application. I would only use this method if I was bottom fishing as a primary focus at the same time.
To answer some of your other questions, live bait speed is 1 knot or less, depending on conditions and the size/vitality of the live bait. Menhaden can't take speed. Mullets are far more hardy than menhaden and can take a little more. You have to pay attention to how the baits are swimming and generally responding to boat speed. In all cases, the boat should be covering just enough ground that the baits can swim and not drown. If they're skipping or dragging on their sides, you're going too fast. If you can't slow the boat to that speed, bump it in and out of gear. If you've got two motors, leave one out of gear or turn it off.
Trolling speed with dead bait, like ballyhoo, is 6 knots. This speed works for spoons and plugs too. I have used dead bait and spoons together and caught a lot of fish. Don't hesitate to put a ballyhoo on a planer. Attach the planer (Sea Striker #4 or 5) to the rod and reel with a ball bearing. Attach a ball bearing swivel snapped directly to the back of the planer with 50 or 60' of 80 to 100lbs test mono leader with a snap swivel to attach the wire leader. Use this same leader system for Spoons. However, you don't need a wire leader for the spoon. You can tie it directly to the leader. I've caught many kings and wahoo on spoons tied directly to mono and never had a cut off.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...C023&FORM=VIRE
Also, it's important that wire leader is connected correctly. Watch this video to understand how to correctly make a haywire twist.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...1B60&FORM=VIRE
I'm not going to dig into rods and terminal tackle, but just know that #8 Mustad 4X treble hooks and light wire leader (<40 lb. test) work best for menhaden. Don't worry about the small hooks. They'll hold under pressure and the 4X can take a lot of pressure before they bend. Scale up one hook size to #6 for larger baits like mullet. https://www.waveinn.com/f/59/599746_...9430-ds-5x.jpg
Edited to add - The guys at Haddrell's Point tackle can answer all of your questions about tackle.
Last edited by Fish; 07-05-2019 at 02:19 PM.
They’re almost problematic on the ledge this time of year.
Just try to wahoo fish with normal planer rigs.....you’ll catch plenty of Kings!
Be proactive about improving public waterfowl habitat in South Carolina. It's not going to happen by itself, and our help is needed. We have the potential to winter thousands of waterfowl on public grounds if we fight for it.
Fish, I appreciate all the info. I haven’t done much offshore fishing, I’ve always hung around the creeks targeting flounder, reds and the occasional trout or sheepshead in the fall. I’ve just been trying new things and venturing out of the inlet a little bit. I could always get a charter charter or get a guide and mimic what they do but what is the fun in that? I’ll figure out what works for me eventually. All the info from you guys is greatly appreciated.
A fish bites 2 times a day, right before I get to the water, and as soon as my boat gets back on the trailer.
Fish knows whats up for sure.
Gettin old is for pussies! AND MY NEW TRUE people say like Capt. Tom >>>>>>>>>/
"Wow, often imitated but never duplicated. No one can do it like the master. My hat is off to you DRDUCK!"
Fish, this is actually a very productive way to catch kings...we've placed in many tournaments this way. No need to cover ground when you find the fish..several blocks of chum and a gallon of menhaden oil and if they're close, theyll find you and as far as anchor goes, when big fish is on, anchor ball already attached to anchor line on cleat. Just unclip and drop ball, fight fish then return to ball...works well for us....
Remember bigger baits is bigger fish.
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