Blue Water Tips

Sailfish

 Use loop-to-loop connections from your backing to your seamless flyline and from the flyline to the class tippet (20-pound).  

 On the tippet side, use a Bimini twist loop, which retains 100% of the line strength and provides additional stretch in the line. 

For the heavier bite tippet use 80-pound monofilament and attach it with an Albright knot. If you are fishing in accordance with International Game Fish Association (I.G.F.A.) rules, the bite tippet cannot exceed 12 inches; if not, then use a bit more, say 36 inches.   

Attach the fly with an improved clinch knot and you are all set.

Fly choice can be critical and opinions vary greatly.  Try to use a fly that is smaller and sparser so that it can be cast easily; I prefer not to use a popper head. Color can vary and  try to use a color that is similar to the teasers being used.  

Local knowledge is best so leave the choice of teaser lure and color to your guide or crew.

As soon as you begin trolling the teasers, strip off the amount of line you plan to cast which should not be more than 30 to 40 feet. The best way to keep your line is in a bucket or container of some kind so that it doesn’t get blown about the deck, get stepped on or tangled. When a fish comes up behind the teaser, immediately drop your fly into the water a short distance so that you can use the water to load the rod. As the person teasing calls for the cast and the boat comes out of gear, with a single false cast, cast your fly across the wake and mend the line away from the boat. As you retrieve the fly, it will swim back across the wake and often the marlin will pounce on the fly coming completely out of the water.

Don't use the rod tip to set the hook.  Instead, strip strike and let the fish run.  Don't try to stop the fish when it is going away.  Let him settle down and begin to work him back toward the boat. Try to keep your rod fairly flat and close to the surface of the water. I seldom change the drag setting during the fight. Since your drag is set fairly light, use your palm on the rim of the reel for additional tension on the fish. On average, most sailfish can be brought to the boat fairly quickly and be released without injury. 

Other Species

Make sure your gear is rigged and read when you board the boat.

Use a two handed retrieve when stripping your line in, and do not strike fish with rod tip.

Make sure you fly approximates the length of the bait the fish are feeding on.

Always watch your fly all the way to the end of your retrieve, many times a fish will follow the fly until it is removed from the water without striking.

When you see this occur, quickly execute a short roll cast to put the fly back in play. Try different retrieve styles.

Another trick to remember is when the mate is chumming to cast as far as you can and let your fly sink until you see fish boiling on the chummed bait, then retrieve the fly back as fast as you can. 

Do not use leaders longer than 6 ft. 

Remember to change backing frequently.

For more information email Yvonne@bajafly.com or call (800) 919 2252