Drifting dead Tinker Mackeral?

calypso · 12-07-2008, 10:54 AM

Anybody out there have any luck drifting dead tinker mackeral? I went out Friday night and got skunked, but stayed busy catching tinkers under the lights. I kept about a dozen tinkers and froze them thinking I could use them for deep drop baits, but am wondering if they would fish well at night if I rigged them. Has anybody done this with success? Would I need to de-bone it, or would it drift fine as is?

Unreel · 12-07-2008, 11:17 AM

From what i here they are one of the best baits out there for swordfish. look at bouncers swordfish video done by hydro glow he rigs a tinker mackerel in it.

twiseasnise · 12-07-2008, 12:14 PM

bridal a loop off the center of his head just behind the eye,put a 1/4 - 1/2 ounce sinker in his mouth,and sew the mouth an gills shut. attach the loop to your hook so thatthe bait dangles freely behind your hook. this method works with most fish baits

twiseasnise · 12-07-2008, 12:16 PM

also cut off all fins

PURPLE FEVER · 12-07-2008, 04:21 PM

Dead Tinkers work well. What line were you on when you caught them?

Bonnie&Clyde · 12-08-2008, 07:13 AM

Last weekend we must have caught over 100 tinkers out there...

Captain Juan · 12-08-2008, 08:06 AM

Rig em head down for even better results.

Juani

calypso · 12-08-2008, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PURPLE FEVER

Dead Tinkers work well. What line were you on when you caught them?

Did a drift in shallow (900 ft) off the Basin. Tinkers were thick as thieves. I actually didn't have any rigs or rods with me, so I busted out a spool of 30 pound leader and tied on a 1/0 yellowtail hook which I flossed some bucktail from a grouper jig to with my rigging floss. Tied on a little weight and handlined the tinkers with good success. It gave us something to do during that slow drift. We drifted out in the Hills earlier in the night and didn't see any Tinkers. After seeing all that bait in shallow, I think I am going to try to do a 30 minute drift on my way in a few more times to see if there are swords in there.

calypso · 12-08-2008, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Juan

Rig em head down for even better results.

Juani

Do you mean cut off the tail and rig it backwards? I get it from the perspective that you might get a better hook set as the fish swallows the bait head first, but will the fish eat a bait that is drifting tail first?

ameristrat · 12-08-2008, 09:59 AM

When we rig squid, they drift backwards. Squid usually propel tentacles and mouth first. The mantle is actually the tail of then animal. I'm not saying that this means tinkers are the same, just pointing it out.
Ameristrat

Captain Juan · 12-08-2008, 10:35 AM

Cut off the tail, position the fish head down and put the hook about half way down the body very exposed with floss or tie wraps. Cut the pec fins off and sew the mouth and gills shut. Again, different things work differently for different people but I have found that a head down presentation for fish baits for swords gets the best action and best hook sets.

High tides.

Juan

Disco Lady · 12-08-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Juan

Rig em head down for even better results.

Juani

Ñooooooooooooo!!!!!

Verado06 · 12-14-2008, 06:25 PM

i actually do better on a dead tinker than a live one. i like to mix the spread up. but dont be afraid to put out a dead tinker!!!

Disco Lady · 12-14-2008, 07:06 PM

COÑO!!!!!!!!!!

TOPPDAWG · 12-18-2008, 09:24 PM

I will not leave the dock without a flat of tinks!!!!!!!!!!

Bonnie&Clyde · 12-18-2008, 09:52 PM

sharks love those tinks

cappy · 12-19-2008, 04:38 AM

I love dead tinks. I simply put the hook in the mouth, out the gills, back through the gills and out thru the belly. Tie the mouth and gills closed and there you go. Never had a problem. I do yellow tails the same way and they love them.

Another Toy · 12-19-2008, 05:50 AM

Does anyone sell the tinks locally?

12-07-2008, 10:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
calypso Lines In Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fort Lauderdale Boat: Invincible 36 Best Catch: Bonefish, 13.6 pounds Posts: 50	Drifting dead Tinker Mackeral? Anybody out there have any luck drifting dead tinker mackeral? I went out Friday night and got skunked, but stayed busy catching tinkers under the lights. I kept about a dozen tinkers and froze them thinking I could use them for deep drop baits, but am wondering if they would fish well at night if I rigged them. Has anybody done this with success? Would I need to de-bone it, or would it drift fine as is?

12-08-2008, 09:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
ameristrat Grander Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Delray Beach Boat: Grady White Sailfish 28 Best Catch: Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish, Swordfish Occupation: A Student at Wake Forest University Posts: 1,055	When we rig squid, they drift backwards. Squid usually propel tentacles and mouth first. The mantle is actually the tail of then animal. I'm not saying that this means tinkers are the same, just pointing it out. Ameristrat __________________ "Laughter is my soul's release, but we're not smiling anymore. And can't we try to win this peace? Cause' we're never gonna win this war."

12-14-2008, 06:25 PM	#13 (permalink)
Verado06 Hooked Up Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Miami and New Orleans Posts: 500	i actually do better on a dead tinker than a live one. i like to mix the spread up. but dont be afraid to put out a dead tinker!!! __________________

12-19-2008, 04:38 AM	#17 (permalink)
cappy Hooked Up Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pompano Beach Boat: 32 BHM Best Catch: 337 swordfish,750 mako, 2 BM over 700,48 80-100lb yellowfin in 5 hours, 48lb striper,14lb tog,208 BE Occupation: Captain Posts: 207	I love dead tinks. I simply put the hook in the mouth, out the gills, back through the gills and out thru the belly. Tie the mouth and gills closed and there you go. Never had a problem. I do yellow tails the same way and they love them. __________________ Marine Maintenance Everything from Anchors to Zincs [URL="http://www.captainjay.us

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12-07-2008, 11:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
Unreel Hooked Up Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: THE OPEN OCEAN Boat: Unreel grady white 18 feet(now broken) So any boat I can find my way on!!! soon to be a 26 dusky ! Best Catch: Every trip theres a new "special fish" So all of them ! Occupation: Party/fisherman till i join the CG in augest. Posts: 166	From what i here they are one of the best baits out there for swordfish. look at bouncers swordfish video done by hydro glow he rigs a tinker mackerel in it.

12-07-2008, 12:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
twiseasnise Lines In Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: stuart Boat: my favorite boat is the one im on Best Catch: 238 lb. swordfish Occupation: self employed Posts: 52	bridal a loop off the center of his head just behind the eye,put a 1/4 - 1/2 ounce sinker in his mouth,and sew the mouth an gills shut. attach the loop to your hook so thatthe bait dangles freely behind your hook. this method works with most fish baits

12-07-2008, 12:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
twiseasnise Lines In Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: stuart Boat: my favorite boat is the one im on Best Catch: 238 lb. swordfish Occupation: self employed Posts: 52	also cut off all fins

12-07-2008, 04:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
PURPLE FEVER Hooked Up Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: pompano beach,fla. Posts: 720	Dead Tinkers work well. What line were you on when you caught them?

12-08-2008, 07:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
Bonnie&Clyde Hooked Up Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Broward Best Catch: 78" sword Posts: 220	Last weekend we must have caught over 100 tinkers out there...

12-08-2008, 08:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
Captain Juan Grander Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hollywood, FL Boat: Contender 25 with twin E-Tecs Best Catch: 63 lb. wahoo, 26 lb. mutton, 11 lb. peacock Occupation: Dir. of Communications Posts: 1,278	Rig em head down for even better results. Juani

12-08-2008, 10:35 AM	#11 (permalink)
Captain Juan Grander Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hollywood, FL Boat: Contender 25 with twin E-Tecs Best Catch: 63 lb. wahoo, 26 lb. mutton, 11 lb. peacock Occupation: Dir. of Communications Posts: 1,278	Cut off the tail, position the fish head down and put the hook about half way down the body very exposed with floss or tie wraps. Cut the pec fins off and sew the mouth and gills shut. Again, different things work differently for different people but I have found that a head down presentation for fish baits for swords gets the best action and best hook sets. High tides. Juan

12-14-2008, 07:06 PM	#14 (permalink)
Disco Lady Grander Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Miami, FL Boat: 37 Merritt Best Catch: (Blue Marlin)550 Lbs ST. Thomas (North Drop) Occupation: Charter Captain and Pimp! at night. Posts: 6,319	COÑO!!!!!!!!!!

12-18-2008, 09:24 PM	#15 (permalink)
TOPPDAWG Hooked Up Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: THE RAC Boat: DUSKY- ANY Best Catch: 86 POUND HOO ON 60LB MONO LEADER CAT ISLAND 414# SWORDDOG Occupation: WORK IN TACKLE SHOP Posts: 271	I will not leave the dock without a flat of tinks!!!!!!!!!!

12-18-2008, 09:52 PM	#16 (permalink)
Bonnie&Clyde Hooked Up Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Broward Best Catch: 78" sword Posts: 220	sharks love those tinks

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12-19-2008, 05:50 AM	#18 (permalink)
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