Trolling the Mud Buoy?

[LIGHTACKLE]

I'm a seasoned inshore angler, but with a new boat and outboard plan on expanding to some offshore fishing grounds. I just can't afford to invest in a lot of new equipment. I have a pair of Penn Slammer conventional rods. 7 foot medium action rods (PC 3811) matched to Penn 965 baby internationals, spooled with 50 lbs braid. Will these be adequate for fishing the Mud Buoy and Monster Ledge for Mahi Mahi and maybe some small Tuna? Also what would you recommend as trolling lures, I was thinking maybe some Cedar plugs (not sure which colors) and some small skirted jet lures? Finally I have spinning gear for small Mahi, but any recommendations what lures to throw?? Will Kastmasters or Hopkins work..or swimming plugs like SP minnows.
Thanks in advance for any input.

[dfish28]

I'll give you what I can at this point, last time I did it on my boat I had a 6 rod spread out two shorts off the corners of transom on flat lines, two from mid cockpit on the gunnel with outriggers and two wwb up top on the launchers... We got a bull on the wwb on a reel seat bullet head daisy in chrome head and Mylar flash, if you want to play with the smaller.... Bring live killies and some spearing, if you can get peanuts, get what you can and use them too, at this point I would bring enough free bait to be prepared for small yellow fins as well, it's that time , you just have to get out there and make the report, fwiw, I had Tom from Jersey Coast Tackle make me two bars of his smaller sqid bars, 21 baits 9' with a trailer hookup, killer bars for the Pelagics, I used them for teasers at the hole, at the reef... One of the hook baits... Prepare your arms! Granted most are albies or bonito, but sometimes the yft hit, and first time out with those bars, my buddy his dad and I filled bft so fast we were heading in by lunch!

[dfish28]

Mahi lures, I keep it simple... Jighead and a clear/sparkle plastic squid skirt on the jig... Out fish most with that, good luck out there!, plain jig , no hair, like you would use with a finesse jig...

[penn50w]

Not to be a kill joy but the Penn 965 has a max drag of 10 lbs - no real stopping power for a decent sized Albie or a football tuna, you'd probably get spooled. I think it will hold a 10 -15 lb Mahi or some bonita. The 965 is a good inshore fluke or bass reel

[Gerry Zagorski]

Take a read through this article http://www.njfishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90336&highlight=small+boat+mahi

As far as the 965, as mentioned above not a great choice for this type of fishing. Not enough drag or line capacity... Reel handles are very small too so not a lot of leverage/cranking power.. Remember, you are not only reeling against the fish, since you are trolling, your working against the speed of the boat and the weight and resistance of the lures.

For trolling, lever drag reels are preferred since you can adjust the line out tension just enough to keep your lures from taking line and when a fish hits he can take some line and then you move it into strike to fight the fish.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Take a read through this article http://www.njfishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90336&highlight=small+boat+mahi

As far as the 965, as mentioned above not a great choice for this type of fishing. Not enough drag or line capacity... Reel handles are very small too so not a lot of leverage/cranking power.. Remember, you are not only reeling against the fish, since you are trolling, your working against the speed of the boat and the weight and resistance of the lures.

For trolling, lever drag reels are preferred since you can adjust the line out tension just enough to keep your lures from taking line and when a fish hits he can take some line and then you move it into strike to fight the fish.

For pot hopping I'd be using spinners since they cast better then conventionals and I'd be using small whole baits like peanuts or spearing with split shots or very small Bucktails tipped with squid, spearing or peanuts. Surface popping lures will work too.

[Capt. Lou]

If ur fishing primarily inshore those outfits should be fine for light trolling duties .
I would have opted to spool with 30 # braid for capacity . Matched with correct rod u should little issue landing dolphin & Little Tunis , skippies , blues etc.
I would troll single lures & rely on three categories feathers , spoons , cedars !
Mini spreaders R Ok in this situation but not mandatory for most inshore pelagics
I would include pot hopping , which is simply casting to Lobster pots with bait ot lures in search of dolphin .
Conventional outfits maybe tougher to cast for some with less expierance but matched to correct reels they can handle most situations . If u do not have expierance with this outfit use spinning med action 12 x 20 class ( freswater bass ) fine 7'-7.5 length & . 3000 reel size loaded with braid or mono & splice in a Fluor leader 15# test 1/0 circle for bait ur good to go .
Trolling due to reel,capacity with the 50 braid I would run close spred & maybe drop one back , alberts like longer lines on occasion while many other will hit in wash .
If u get into school tuna trolling simply clear spread & follow fish take longer to land but with ur rigs maneuverability u should do fine .

[LIGHTACKLE]

Thanks everyone for the great advice! Hoping to make the run this Friday if the weather co-operates. If I do, will post results this week-end.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Go get'em and make us proud :D