Speaking of Tinkers....

[RiskTaker]

Speaking of tinkers....

(If not mistaken they are more properly called Frigate Mackeral or perhaps Boston mackeral.)

I have used tinkers occassionally as drifted dead baits, seems like live bait, they are very effective; although, most of our reported hook-ups have been on reef fish, ie. blue runners, etc. (And live tinkers are not always available.)

Can anyone comment on how effective they are in comparison to squid or perhaps any other type of dead fish rig?

Best rigging methods, etc. ?

[quack quack]

My favorite bait has been dead spanish macks. 2yrs ago we caught a bunch of spanish on the way out. We put them in the well with some runners but they died quickly. Set up with squids ans a runner out. 200ft squid gets hit by a pup. After realse my brother said to try a spanish. He called it a diving mack rig. He used up north easy to rig. When I tell you many people will shake their head :???: OK here we go put hook through back of bait a little towards center pull hook and leader out of bait put hook through eye of bait thats it and it works. We went 4/6 that night. I have used it many times since then almost! never fails to be first bait hit. Try it and see for yourself.

[RiskTaker]

Quack Quack:

We have tried dead Spanish Mackerals before, but only on a few occasions. But I cannot recall if they provided any outstanding results over another presentation. It seems like the Spanish Mackeral rigged with hook through the eyes may work just fine. If the swordfish happens to eat the fish head first, similar to the Marlins, that should provide for a great hook-up opportunity. And I suppose the hook would not likely roll over into the bait if it were secured well in that position.

I do recall tying the main line to the tail with those super strong tiny rubber bands and sewing the mouth and gills shut. But I forgot exactly where/how the hook attached. But the way you mentioned sounds like a very good method.

Any luck using dead Bonitos or dead blue/rainbow runners?

[Scuba Steve]

The last sword we got ate a 17-19" mullet that i gave a split-tail. That sword had about a 7 lb. bonito in its stomach. We had one other mullet in the spread that looked like it was swimming great in the 1.75-2knt current.

[LETSRIDE]

i had 2 dead bullet bonita out wed night not even a nibble on them soon as i put out dead tinkers we were getting slammed!

[Canyon Runner]

Every night the bite pattern can change, you just have to be ready to throw something else at them. But, I always have at least 2 dead tinkers in my spread. Most of the time when the tinkers are consistently thick, tinkers work better for me. In season, the are by far the most prevalent bait on the sowrd grounds, why not put them on a hook?
Capt Justin
Canyon Runner Sportfishing

[tunaman81]

Swordfish seem to be very opportunistic predators (checking their stomach contents always seems to produce a myriad of fish as well as squid) and Im sure that any sizable live bait would work ok. Stronger swimmers from the jack family (jack crevelle, blue and rainbow runners etc.) and mackeral tend to put out a lot of vibration in the water while they are swimming with a hook in them and are very effective in attracting predators such as swordfish. However, I still prefer the trusty squid.

[quack quack]

RT: never got a bite on a dead runner. Tried small bone heads twice only shark bites. Never tried a rainbow before. Going sunday I am going to throw the kitchen sink at them and see what happens. I must agree with tunaman it's hard to beat the squids.

[reel life]

i de tail/bone them and rigg`em so they swim backwards with the hook on the underside at the head/body. and wile i`m sewing the hook ware i want it i stich the mouth/gills shut. if your wondering why, they swallow fish head first

tinkers are known as boston mackeral up north. they make great bait.
swordfish will eat anything that swims except for big sharks. i've
caught them on ballyhoo, porgies, and YTs, to name a few. cheers,
arthur

[Sword Hunter]

I fish the tinkers dead 50-150 ft straight down from the boat and squids deep on ballons. Some times I fish them live but they die easy and look better freshly sewn with no back bone and a big ass jo-boo hook sticking out. I have had sucess with spanish macks and small kings rigged with the hook in the head tip pointing twords the tail and also straight flossed to the tail at the eye pointing back twords the tail opposite of swimming but make shure ur bait wiggles good or she wont like it. let her down slow !

[quack quack]

Good old thread