downrigging for billfish

[BennyJ]

How are we guys,

Just wondering if anyone has done much downrigging , i have just got hold of a downrigger and when the wind drops will be getting out and using it to chase Spanish and Billfish . Any tips would be appreciated.

Cheers
Ben

[Smithy]

How much wire you got on it? Consider respooling with braid to minimise the hum. We use them successfully to 200+foot but most only come with 120 or so foot on them. You can buy wire to 400 foot. Zak Pilatic and the Mooloolaba pros troll out on the 100m line for jumbo Pearlies/AJs/Snapper etc. and also get a few Billfish as bycatch. I like to downrig just below a bait school so your bait stands out from the crowd. Lot of work to use and you have to be switched on but on some days they pay off. Each day is different though.

[BennyJ]

Cheers Smithy ,

All ready done the braid thing, i'll only be using it in up to 180 ft of water 90% of the time. i have a few game fishing comps coming up and i heard you can't do with out one when chasing small blacks and sails inside the reef up here? how would you go using a circle hooked livie on on ?

[Smithy]

Just use the search function to research old posts by typing in my name - Smithy and Phill's name - Jeffo into the posters name box then hitting the down arrow so it reads posted in by someone, try selecting saltwater chat and then try tackle and then scroll down so it reads all posts.

[Lobster48]

Bluewater magazine ran an excellent story in thier June / July edition this year. whilt the article focussed more on dropping weighted baits onto bait schools, much of the info can be transferred to the downrigger. I also saw an article on one of the dvd magazines which was also informative.

Lobster