Am I Ready for some Football - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

capecodder · 08-23-2005, 01:04 PM

I'll be in N. Truro the week of Labor Day and have an 18' CC that I launch from the Pamet. I know the bass/blues game pretty well in that area but am wondering if it is worth it to try for some football bluefins.

By worth it, I mean do I need to buy special gear or can I utilize my current gear and have a legitimate chance (assuming I can find any). I know I need a permit...

Some questions.

1. I think the only spinner combo I have that could handle one is a Penn 6500SS on a Penn Slammer rod. Do I need braid or can 20lb mono do the trick?
2. Is it productive to troll for footballs or a waste of time? If it is productive, I have a Penn 320LD and a Penn 535GS on Powersticks. Both have 50lb dacron backing with mono topshots. What would I troll for BFT on those rigs?
3. In either case, what lures and or rigs would I use?
4. Are the footballs still around at that time?

Thanks for your help.

beamie · 08-24-2005, 07:43 AM

Yes the footballs will be around on Labor Day. You may find pods of fish off of the Race within 4 mi all around. Last week there were some 300# class fish in that area, reportedly.

Though, you need some bigger gear. That 6500ss will last about 47secs before you are spooled. Many guys using the ss's are using the 9500's, unless you go with a different brand for more doe.

You trolling stuff is lite too. If you want a "cheap" set-up you can do it with a 114H and a 5'6" stand up stick. You can load it with 80# braid. I have mine with 80# mono which yields about 325 yards, enough for smaller fish but if I were to tie into a 150+ would be a challenge of not getting spooled and chasing him down. Need to troll some small squid bars or daisy chains.

This is a fun fishery but does take some investment of gear to get into it.

gf2020 · 08-24-2005, 08:11 AM

You'll also need a Federal permit to target SBFT...

http://www.nmfspermits.com/PermitList.asp

capecodder · 08-24-2005, 08:31 AM

Thanks Beamie.

I was afraid my gear was too lite. I won't have a lot of time to try this due to family obligations, but... if I was to invest in one set up either a spinning combo to cast to them or a trolling setup, which would you go with to give the greatest probability of hooking up. I realize it is a low probability to begin with...

I'm inclined to go the trolling route as that setup could be used for other applications such as cod or other trolling. A real heavy spinning setup would be pretty limited for me.

If spinning is the way to go, what would you recommend for a setup?

gf, I know I need a permit and will get one if I decide to try this.

beamie · 08-24-2005, 08:49 AM

Trolling is really the way to go. However you would really want a good spread, 3 or 4 rigs out etc so that is some investing. And outriggers help too.

You are probably better off getting one good spinning set-up. A 9500ss at about $150 and a 7 foot rod. It need not be a high end rod. The reel is more important. But some thing with back bone, fast action tip with heavy diameter towards the handle. Probably spending about $80. Maybe the rod you have will do but you need the line capacity. Then some deadly #^&#^&#^&#^&s or Shimano Hydro tigers. Then find some breaking fish. It will be frustrating because many a great cast will yeild no fish. Sometimes I think it is all luck. I,ve seen schools of bft along side long enough for 2 good casts and nothin. But that's fishin.

beamie · 08-24-2005, 08:51 AM

Oh, and load that reel up with 50 pound braid for more capacity. SS's aren't the most braid freindly but it will work.

wrikerjr · 08-24-2005, 11:31 AM

I have caught two-(2) BFT (approx. 20 lbs.) with a Penn 6500 loaded up with a short amount of mono backing and then 30 lb. PP.

The BFT were in pretty close off LI this year, and many people were succesful with these smaller spinning reels. You can get a good amount of braid on the line and be setup for BFT. It would be better to purchase a new outfit, but as a money saving alternative I would recommend repacking with as much braid as you can. If you get anything in the 50+ class you will need to chase it to avoid being spooled, but some anglers do it, but most got spooled and lost good fish. That's the replacement

If you hook into one you will need to replace the drags, trust me.

Good Luck

micmac · 08-24-2005, 01:06 PM

Capecodder -

I went with the PENN 9500 with 65 pound braid (it will hold about 500 yards), and a 7 foot ugly stick. I haven't hooked into one yet but this is a pretty standard set up for the footballs. I am towing my boat down to Wellfleet this coming weekend and will probably try to go out and get some footballs. If I have any luck I will let you know. If anyone has any advise as to where to catch some BFT this weekend let me know.

-MM

devils fiddle · 08-25-2005, 12:33 PM

What gear depends on the size football you want or are going to catch. The football I got yesterday in CC bay went 65 pounds. The fish in CC bay are not the same class fish being caught in LI and RI inshore areas. Got it a on loomis pelagic series with a thunnus 1600 with 30# powerpro.

CapeDawg · 08-25-2005, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micmac

Capecodder -

I went with the PENN 9500 with 65 pound braid (it will hold about 500 yards), and a 7 foot ugly stick. I haven't hooked into one yet but this is a pretty standard set up for the footballs. I am towing my boat down to Wellfleet this coming weekend and will probably try to go out and get some footballs. If I have any luck I will let you know. If anyone has any advise as to where to catch some BFT this weekend let me know.

-MM

MM, keep in mind that the Wellfleet Harbor ramp is still closed, and it won't reopen until the middle of Sept sometime

But there's always Pamet and Rock Harbor.

capecodder · 08-26-2005, 07:51 AM

Thanks all,
Fiddle, were you trolling or did you cast tot he school? Do you need to chase them or can your setup handle them?

Will they still be around in late september/early october as well? Meaning in or around the bay/PTown?

KJLane · 08-26-2005, 11:34 AM

Hey Guys,

Does anyone have any recent reports on fish east of chatham? I'm planning to make a trip out there tomorrow morning. Thanks very much.

devils fiddle · 08-26-2005, 02:00 PM

cape codder-got the fish with a little run and gun action with a jig. for the most part the setup i listed earlier works flawlessly. after wednesdays tangling with a few fish new line is in order, caught a few dozen ri class fish without any issues before this trip. chased down the bigger fish 50#'s plus. photos are on www.classicseacraft.com in the photo section.

bassthumb · 08-26-2005, 09:14 PM

hey df, are those photos 3 weeks old. i was baffled to see john's pic of his tuna with yours and his tuna was at least 3 weeks old. maybe i'm mistaken. don't take it the wrong way. i'm just hoping there still in cc bay that's all. thanks for the post. good luck.

devils fiddle · 08-27-2005, 04:07 AM

have never fished with john. nice try. are you sure you were looking at the same thread? picture of my fish were posted by Trader on thursday fish caught wednesday. very noticable difference in size.