Line fishing from a moving yacht?

[willybendit]

Hi yachter here a few pictures of us skate fishing at anchor in 400 +ft of water up scotland






this is a mate of mine with a 200lbs skate caught on his kayak
tightlines Alain

[Geoff Holt]

Hi Yachter. It's interesting reading the comments from the Boat fishers. Everything they say is correct for what they do but, with respect, fishing from a yacht in the Med presents different completely different challengers. I've been sailing for 40 years across oceans and in the Med and I always fish from the back of the boat, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. I also have a 30ft fishing boat - they are completely different and require different fishing techniques.

Forget downriggers on a yacht and forget fishfinders. I presume your fishing is a by-product of where you are sailing so you will not be chasing fish, just hoping you "pass over" fish en-route from A-B so having something that tells you where the fish are is not necessary because your line is going to be out anyway.

Secondly, in the Med, there are not many fish you are going to catch from the back of a yacht if you are sailing between 2 and 5 knots (I'm guessing your speed here).

The type of fishing you will do is called trolling. Forget weights - no lead weight will stay down at 5 knots. Forget paravanes too unless you are sailing along coastlines in the north Atlantic. I always have two rods and I troll with lures. You want heavy mono-line (80lb plus) with a choice of lures - either diving ones which will go about 6 feet, or surface poppers - big colourful quid types.

If you catch in the Med by trolling from the boat - (I should say your chances are slim as we have already determined you are not specifically going out looking for fishing marks) - then the kind of fish you are likely to catch are tunny (small tuna), tuna, dorado, mahi-mahi - these are all attack fish and will strike the lure like a ton of bricks. You can not hold a rod all the time you are sailing so ensure you have secured your rod tightly to the boat, always use a good multiplier reel and you MUST ensure you set the drag /clutch. If you are sailing at 4 knots and you hit a 20lb tunny, it will snap the line if you have not set the drag. Trust me, it gets your heart racing.

Go to Ebay or online and search for tuna lures - you'll get an idea of the type available. You only need one swivel beteen your main line and the lure.

I sailed the Med and Atlantic last year and caught 3 dorado (max 21 lb) and 2 tunny (max 28lb). See my video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7xrY...eature=related I think I got carried away with the size of the tuna but it was my first..! Forgive me.

If / when you hit into a fish, one of the biggest problems you will have on a yacht is depowering it to slow down, I always let her round to windward. You will not be able to wind in a big fish whilst still sailing at 4 knots, you have to virtually stop.

Finally, do not eat small fish in the Med that you catch when anchored in harbours / bays. Many have a build up of poisonous toxins. Big fish caught on a lure are fine to eat (if you see a lot of sea bird action on the surface, divert your course and sail through it - often big fish feeding off bait fish).

Good luck.

[Andy Avs]

Just out of interest what has catching skate got to do with trolling in the med?

[willybendit]

read the report Yachter was thinking of fishing at Anchor at some point. the pictures was to show it can be done if you know what your doing as regards anchoring in deep water its a little harder than just chucking the Anchor over the side and waiting for it to bite Skate Fishing up scotland on a nice sunny day is like Fishing in the MED well it is for me tightlines Alain

[Andy Avs]

Personally I would not enjoy fishing at anchor from a yacht

[captain chaos]

Great informative thread.

[10lber]

Originally Posted by Andy Avs

Personally I would not enjoy fishing at anchor from a yacht

I would. Always better in any boat than from a static platform or beach.So much more options afloat. If you're into yatching and fishing then y not
Might be a bit uncomfortable but.........................Its better than the shore surley

[Andy Avs]

I would actually imagine that fishing from a yacht as opposed to a fishing vessel could be very uncomfortabe if the wind blew up, also could be a bit more difficult if a fish was to move under the boat, it would not be as bad as on a fishing boat.

[10lber]

Yeah i understand that.....But surely you've more options than from the pier Etc.
I mean you can buy those strap-on rod rests and fish the bottom once you've set anchor for the night can you not?
See if i had a yacht......I'd certainly bring a rod and tackle with me