I am going on my first ever 5 day trip in July. I have a box full of hooks, 94150's and 2005 circle hooks. I have several jigs of various types and one wahoo bomb. I also have florocarbon in 30-50# I have two questions:
1) What other gear do I need to consider? Trolling lures?
2) What prep should I be doing to my tackle to get it ready? Should I make up a few leaders with hooks? Also, how do most folks connect their leaders to the mono? Is the line tied directly or are is some form of terminal tackle used? Assume that I know nothing in your responses.
Thanks in advance for your help.

Outhouse,

“1) What other gear do I need to consider? Trolling lures?” In July you should have some tuna feathers, black and purple for overcast and morning, Mean Joe Green color for sunny skies and a cedar plug any time will do well. I use unpainted cedar plugs.

“2) What prep should I be doing to my tackle to get it ready?” Go thru all of your reels and make sure there working correctly and lube the bearings. Replace all line with fresh mono 30lb thru 50lb will be used mostly and 40lb is used most of the time. Personally I fish 30lb the most. I strait tie my hooks to the line no swivel. When floro is needed I use the SeaGuar knot and it has never failed me yet its easy to tie and works well. I hope this helps.

Here is a link to the knot. seaguar.com/Knots_SEA.html

Edit: The link didn't work just cut and paste the saeguar.com stuff into your browser and you will get there.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SoCalAngler,

Both the Excel and Independence sportfishing site have 3-21 day lists of gear. Might be a good starting point.

Outhouse. AS for trolling lures, generally, I use the boats trolling rigs. They are on the water all the time and have what works already rigged. If you want to bring your own I would suggest one cedar plug and one Zuker style lure.

As for connecting Fluoro to mono, use the seaguar knot. My suggestion is to have one of the deckhands tie the first two or so for you and then re-tie yourself as you are comfortable with it. No need to tie any leaders.

Make sure you have enough heavy jigs for yo-yo fishing.

Other than that, practive your casting for your bait rigs and have a great time.

LT

guys, I am all over the seaguar knot. Been practicing it for months now. Do you make up your leaders ahead of time? All of my gear is brand new. Can't recall if I mentioned it originally, but I am coming from TN fulfilling a life long dream of going on a LR trip. Have a brand new Calstar 700H with an Avet JX 2speed for 40# and a 765M with a Avet 4/02 for 60#.

Outhouse. Congrats on your first trip. You will be back every year thereafter. I fly out from Florida every year.

Are you connecting the Fluro to Spectra or to Mono which is connected to spectra? There are a few people who connect the Fluro via a small ring as their leader. I just tie it directly to the Spectra with either a uni-uni or a reverse Albright/worm knot.

You will use your 40lb rig the most. While does not happen regulary, bring a back up 40lb reel just in case your primary one malfunctions. If you don't have one, just borrow one from the boat.

LT

Hows your bimini knot coming along?

Tanglediver, I have been trying the bimini using mono, which I am now told is much more difficult than with Spectra. I just bought some spectra to try and will report later on. Thanks for asking.

Back in June, Sportfishing Magazine ran a story on knot strength and found a 12 turn Bimini was stronger than a 10 turn and MUCH stronger than the 20-40-60 turn Biminis.

5-day

Five rods

1. 30 # rod and reel
2. 40 # rod and reel
3. 50 # rod and reel
4. 60 # rod and reel w/spectra
5. 80 # rod and reel w/spectra

I would say you will fish tuna with the 40 to 60, 80 # if you suddenly charged at the corner by 100 # fish or if trolling becomes an option.

The 30 and 40 will come into play when it's time for yellow tail iron or bait. Then calico bass on 30 and back to 50 for rock fish on the way home.

Hooks, weights, fluorocarbon leader, plastic swim baits, cedar plugs, Mexican flag, mean Joe green, black and purple seem to work for trolling.

Every boat has a great page for terminal tackle and rods and reels suggestions. On the first trip go light as the boat has line to refill your reels. Bring a notebook, ask questions, observe and write a journal to remember all the great words of wisdom.


Have a blast and be prepared for a 10 day trip by learning on this 5 day adventure.

my last 5 day, i took 13 setups, i think i only used 7,, went thru a few hooks, redid all my lines every night.. mostly going to use a 40lb. setup...