SE FL Marlin

[Dusky Mike]

Any luck lately on Marlin? I'm out of Stuart, and there have been some rumors of marlin in the gulf stream or even closer. Monster dolphin lately, so I think I'll break out the gold reels and drag some lures or horse ballyhoo this weekend.

[swordstalker]

I have heard reports of either Marlin hookups or sightings almost daily for the past week between Miami and Boca. It seems there are a few around out there right now.

[quack quack]

Our local marlin fishery is much better then any one thinks.It is just no one really fish's hard for them.Back in the 70's and 80's a lot of guys targeted them and did well.With the skippy's and bone heads moving in so are the marlin.If you put in the day's you will get your shots.You can troll plastics all over.You can troll horse hoos and macks or catch the boneheads and skippy's and live bait them.I would fish the skippy's and boneheads my self.It is a lot of fun to watch a blue eat a 10lb bonehead.Just find the bone's catch a couple bridle them up and pull them a little further offshore.You will get plenty of shark action as well but that can be fun too.Fish them from tag lines or from the riggers with bands.On most small boats you can only put them about half way up because of rigger bend.Drop one back 100ft and keep another in close.When they get hit give a little dropback like you would feed a sail a gog.But keep the boat moving and when you come tight give the boat a little gas.This will help set the hook and help take care of any extra slack from the drop back.It will also keep the fish behind you till you get the angler settled in.A lot of times they will run right past the boat after hooked and that were they come off a lot of the times.Good luck and if you put in the day's you will get your shots.You can pull on the baits pretty good so you can cover some ground as well.A mack or 2 in the spread while live baiting can work as well.Just wait for the boneheads to settle down before putting anything else out.You will know when some thing is after them by the rigger shaking like crazy.Sometimes you have to break the band to tease a fish or drop back a little before they hit.

ps some other tips.Make up some quick bait rigs before you go.On a 12/0 hook crimp on a 7/0 live bait hook on the 12/0's bend.Then when you get a bait just flip it over with its head pointing down to settle it down.Then just slam the 7/0 through the roof of its mouth.Not as good as a bridle but much easier and quicker wich is much better for those big baits.I would use as heavy a gage live bait hook as I could find.Sometimes the marlin will get hooked on the small hook so a strong hook is important.

[Dusky Mike]

All good ideas...I've caught marlin off stuart before, but never really targeted them (sometimes they come in shallow and we run by them accidentally). I figure that if we drag the big stuff, we still have a shot at those 40+ pound dolphin out there right now, which makes the time pass a little easier. Thanks! Mike

[quack quack]

For 40lb+ dolphin run to Chub.Not to mention all the yft and marlin now.You will be running away from the dolphin But if your like me no Chub now

[dbisland]

Dusky Mike,
You might also try using big black mullet that have been split tailed. I have been using these for the past twenty years out of Stuart, I'm in Jensen, since shown by an old salt here...The mullet consistantly produce huge dolphin, sailfish, wahoo, and marlin(295 lb best yet) year round for me. They are easy to come by and are great to have as backup if needed vs the bonito.
Good luck!

[Dusky Mike]

great idea...i've used the smaller ones, but not the really big ones. By the way, if you can cast net about 200 during the fall mullet run (silvers) they make a great live chum offshore and drive the fish nuts

QQ is right on with Chub...tongue of the ocean is the craziest fishing ive ever seen for dolphin! Marlin fishing 50 yards away from guys fishing in 6 ft of water!

[Fishalways]

I was assaulted by a pair of white last summer in about 650 ft blind trolling for dolphin.

QQ is right. No one really is targeting them right now.

hmmm

Maybe that will be my summer goal, marlin hunting.

Get out the feathers and target the large bonita and little tunny and troll them in the deep.

[njoimia]

we got this one off of rum on tues.....

[Boboe]

Njoimia: Nice one! That isn't a little cute one at all!

I'm surprised nobody marlin fishes off of Miami etc. Lots of folks marlin fish in the northern Gulf, and it's WAY farther of a run.

[Warrior]

R&S #15? I love the red and white. Best head ever made

[Dusky Mike]

Got out on Sat. TONS of weekend warriors out No marlin but I did get out to about 400 feet and found a ton of skip jack getting blown up just before that wicked fog burned off. Once the sun peeked out, the tuna were gone. I can really see how that would be a good marlin situation. Tried to catch some of the SJ's for live bait but I had no luck. I tried feathers with jig heads trolling around the schools without a single bite. BTW...trolled long ranges, large hookers, super chuggers and other moldcrafts with only 1 knockdown, but that is typical for around here...less action out there, but much bigger fish if you come across them. Thanks for the tips

Mike

[quack quack]

Originally Posted by Dusky Mike

Got out on Sat. TONS of weekend warriors out No marlin but I did get out to about 400 feet and found a ton of skip jack getting blown up just before that wicked fog burned off. Once the sun peeked out, the tuna were gone. I can really see how that would be a good marlin situation. Tried to catch some of the SJ's for live bait but I had no luck. I tried feathers with jig heads trolling around the schools without a single bite. BTW...trolled long ranges, large hookers, super chuggers and other moldcrafts with only 1 knockdown, but that is typical for around here...less action out there, but much bigger fish if you come across them. Thanks for the tips

Mike

Small clark spoons way back

[Dusky Mike]

Originally Posted by quack quack

Small clark spoons way back

Any flourocarbon on that or just light mono leader?

[quack quack]

Light mono will work just fine.But I have cut off and spooled doing this.

[UFCroft]

Try pulling small 2" tube lures with a bullet weight in it or 2" Yamashita Squids, or even a blue/pink kingbuster over a plain hook. Just bury them back there and troll a little slower than you think.

[Warrior]

There were some blues caught and seen friday on the otherside. One boat got one, but saw 2 others.

[christopherkeene9]

Had a buddy get a white in the spread and hooked up for a few seconds on Saturday 5/5 on the Otherside.

[whitemarlin]

try Cap Cana waters on the East tip of the Dominican Republic. Best time for White Marlin June and July. They will host the first Cap Cana White Marlin Classic on June 2007. if interested let me know.
cheers.