Many of you have been out fishing for tuna and have watched in
frustration as some commercial boats sporting a green-stick rig (a tall
fiberglass pole towing a big bird and a series of dropper rigs)
consistently catch tuna with their plastic baits almost completely out
of the water. Over the years, I have tried many tricks, even trolling
behind the bird and sometimes hooking up.
Earlier this year, while fishing aboard Captain BC out of Oregon Inlet,
I saw how a single-hooked squid attached to the leader swivel ahead of a
regular ballyhoo bait caught more tuna and skipjacks than the ballyhoo.
So I decided to rig my own version of a "dangler" or "green stick."
Here's what I use:
• 8 feet of 300- to 400-pound monofilament
• One large bird
• 14 crimps
• Three beads
• Six thimbles
• One 300-pound snap swivel
• Three longline clips (may be ordered from any commercial-fishing
supply shop)
• Three Mold Craft 8-inch squids
• Three Mustad 7691 10/0 stainless hooks
• Three lengths of 300-pound monofilament measuring 8, 10 and 12
inches. |
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Make a loop at the end of the 8-foot leader. Crimp the snap swivel with
a thimble to the leader. Slide on three crimps: Crimp the first one 12
inches up the leader from the snap swivel, the next one 2 feet above
that and the third one 3 feet above the second.
Put a thimble on the other end and crimp a loop. Rig the squids
individually with the hook just outside the tentacles. Slide one bead up
each short length of mono and crimp behind it, adjusting the length
accordingly. Crimp the short leaders to the longline clips.
Use an 80-pound outfit off the bridge or run the line off your center
rigger — as high as you can get it. Crimp the bird to the end of the
leader, and then snap the squids onto the leader in front of each crimp.
Troll the outfit in the middle of your spread just behind the prop wash,
making sure the squids remain out of the water most of the time. If
there are tuna around, hang on! I have hooked three 50-pound tunas at
the same time; it's quite exciting to see them jump out of the water to
hit the squids. When you wind in your fish, unsnap the squids and put
the fish in the cooler. If your only fish is on the last squid, make
sure that when you grab the leader you always unsnap the remaining
squids in case the leader slips. Otherwise you'll have hooks behind you.
--Jose M. Acostamadiedo
Elizabeth City, North Carolina