Tuna/Outriggers
 

You folks get more tuna on the outriggers or from the transom ??

I don't have outriggers yet:hihi:

I'm still a Tuna Googan:gf:
If I don't get one soon I'm going back to stripers:rtfm: :hihi: :tm:

Outriggers definitely help increase your hookup rate. They also enable you to open the spread up and get the bars out of the water if done properly. They aid in the presentation of the spread immensly. That being said a friend of mine who fishes tuna alot doesn't have them and catches with the best of them. If you get them get the 1.5" diameter poles or they will snap pulling the bigger bars.

x-zackly what you said ... look in bass pro pr or cabelas for ideas...... i have sports pro 15ft x11/2...about 6to 800. bannans....

too many bananas for me this year, most likely next year

Good investment if you want to get into the game

I dont think the Tuna know whether they are hitting an outrigger or not but Outriggers = more lines in the water. More lines in the water = higher probability of hookups.

I think outriggers help you present a better spread. There is a good article in the July On The Water magazine about fishing for Tuna from a smaller boat

Riggers can make it easy for a small boat to run a four rod spread effectively. I have 15' Taco 1 1/2" heavy-duty poles on stainless gunnel mount Striker bases on a 19' CC. Had tuna in the box on the last 2 out of 3 trips. Run flatline clips off of the stern cleats to a pair of 50W in the rear rod holders and a pair of 30's off the riggers from the forward ones. These riggers stand up straight and are <6' tall when I am running to my fishing area.
http://home.comcast.net/~bigpete55/riggersmall.jpg

Here is a shot of them when they are down. I can run full speed and they sit right there with almost no stress on the gunnel since they are short and upright. This is my second season with them and they are great. For under $500 it made me able to get a nice spread going.
http://home.comcast.net/~bigpete55/riggerup.jpg

For me on my boat, we definately get more hook-ups off the riggers than off the transom. I think that's because the rigger baits are the first ones the fish sees when it comes into the spread.

OK, I think those collaspsable riggers are awesome. Question is, how do they open? Are they internally sprung? Look great on the CC.

Riggers for a small boat
 

I made a set of these (over the winter) for my boat because there is not enough room on the gunnel for a mount, and I don't have a tee or hard top.

I used my machine shop at work for some of the cutting and milling. They are pretty simple. It goes into the existing rod holder and I TIG welded another tube on it to hold the rod. Bought high quality telescopic poles from the marine store, (even home depot paint poles would work) and attached a 1/4 round plate with some tapped holes for varying angles, some outrigger hardware for the "clothes line" and VIOLA. The cord going forward is to brace them for when a fish hits because it is not really strong enough for a big pull. I've just started using these, but so far so good. They get two lines out the sides about 8 feet, so with an 8 foot beam it gives me about a 24 foot spread, but thats better than nothing.

Perfect for a small boats. Maybe I'll go into production !!!!!:) :)

Is that a Daiwa 30 lever drag? I caught two tuna on mine already this year. Wicked good action.:bo:

Mine has the MOJO. Just not when I'm using it. :yawn:

Sure is, it does work great, It has taken several footballs already. The drag is good and smoooooth.

How are you setting up the line on it?
I have it near filled with 80 spectra and about 150 foot top shot of 80 lb mono for the initial strike and run.

This is what i put together......

the pole is a 15 foot painters pole it's 1 1/2 inches at the base I drilled into the end for the pin.


I had to notch the rod-rigger to get it to lock in....

the big test will be next weekend .....stand by:)

if it is fiberglass and you are pulling the bigger bars it will explode. Dont ask how I know.

Thanks for the heads up..

I should video the first test:biglaugh: