SOA 3-day, June 14-17, 2024

[Keta]

Mid May we hooked 2 and landed 1 small VFT trolling Madmacs.

[Bill B]

Heck I'm willing to try if you are good with it Alan.

[Keta]

Does not hurt to try.

[alantani]

Heck I'm willing to try if you are good with it Alan.

good by me!

[Crab Pot]

I always bring a trolling rig.

When moving from spot to spot you never know.

Caught many Bone-Heads and Skipjack on the troll.

And one juvenile Mako.

[Bill B]

OK, next question. 

1. Cedar plug
2. Feather
3. Marauder
4. All the above

[alantani]

mad mac, 200 pound fluoro leader, 130 pound trolling stick. 

[Crab Pot]

OK, next question. 

1. Cedar plug
2. Feather
3. Marauder
4. All the above

All the above Bill.

Madmac always seems to be the best.

Although some of the catch is just big enough to eat the dang lure.

My rig is a Penn VISX 50, 130 pound braid, 200 pound leader.

[CI_Seawolf]

i don't think we've ever trolled on one of these trips. 

I have trolled a Madmac on the last two year's trip. 
Remember that the SOA has a solid stern rail, a long trolling strap looped through the center positions will help the lure keep from popping out to the surface. If using Madmacs, stick to the smaller sizes as the boat doesn't go fast enough for the big ones to work.

[CI_Seawolf]

OK, next question. 

1. Cedar plug
2. Feather
3. Marauder
4. All the above

Bill, of those choices, cedar plug.  I would look for a Halco Lazer Pro XXDeep.

[Bill B]

Woooohooooo!  Don't tell my wife but I'm spending the next 2 days rigging trolling lures.    And yes I'm retired so I  can spend 2 days building rigs 😉  Bill

[MarkT]

I wouldn't expect anything trolling but if something comes along I wouldn't be thinking huge. I'd go with a cedar plug or feather. They won't be trolling at a speed for the Madmacs.

[Crab Pot]

I wouldn't expect anything trolling but if something comes along I wouldn't be thinking huge. I'd go with a cedar plug or feather. They won't be trolling at a speed for the Madmacs.

We use MadMac's, big lipped baits, feathers, feathers with birds, pretty much throw the whole kitchen sink at'um.

But nothing of size like Mark said. I think my biggest was a 8-10 pound Skipjack who lived up to it's name because the boat never stopped and I surface skipped it all the way in.

The PV deckhands told me you need to be way out, like 200+ yards for anything big. Which I've also done with zero results.

This August I have a Nomad Designs Splitstream 280 a giant flying fish lure which can be trolled at speed. It just bounces across the top like a normal flying fish. I hope to have a positive report on it in September when I return.

[pjstevko]

You guys should be stoked! The tuna are within day boat range,  the San Diego caught 4-5 big tuna yesterday. 

What are you most excited about for the trip?

Are you trying any new techniques or something different than the norm? If so,  what is it?

[Bill B]

PJ, this is my first BF trip in 2 years (thumb surgery).  I will be fishing the Eddie Bombs almost exclusively during the night hours and will be trying to stay up later to fish them. My last trip I hooked 3 freight trains and landed 2 using a rubber band rig, during the day.

I will also be trolling.  Hopeful that I will hook up, but not betting the farm.

Bill