When trolling offshore in search of floating debris or feeding birds, which can be tell-tale signs of exciting action ahead, blind trolling and a little luck can sometimes pay off. Perhaps some large fish like marlin and dolphin may never have encountered a boat before and are drawn to the commotion the prop wash creates, possibly mistaking it for a school of feeding fish.

There are a few things you can do to increase your chances of success. Adjust your speed, as well as the distance of your surface lures from the boats transom to get as much pop and splash possible where the lure rips and carves the face of the wave caused by the boat’s wake. When setting up your spread, try to mimic a school of fleeing flying fish. Don’t just rely on blind luck though; be aware and scan the horizon for colour changes, rips or slicks, which can be signs of temperature breaks or current changes. Spending some time working these areas may just pay off. When putting my time in I prefer to work diagonally across the current, never running directly up or down the current. I find that you will intercept a lot more fish quartering the flow. Most big fish tend to swim against the current and anglers who only work with the current miss a number of opportunities because the fish and the boat follow parallel paths. Start cross current and you will find them.

Please fish responsibly, keep only what you need and release for tomorrow.

Tight lines,
Captain Derrin   WH