What Tradies Want — August-September 2017

32 WHAT TRADIES WANT.

Probably the most effective way to specifically

target Spanish mackerel is by trolling live

baits, dead baits or lures.

When bottom fishing in a location Spanish

mackerel frequent it’s worthwhile to have a

float bait out for a roving fish. For example,

if drifting, you could put out an unweighted

live bait or a whole dead bait such as gar or

slimy mackerel. If at anchor a live bait or dead

bait suspended under a float works a treat.

Live-bait rigs for Spanish should be made

with small, strong hooks and a wire trace.

Typically, a live-bait rig should have a single

hook at the front followed by one or two

trebles. These trailing treble hooks are called

stingers and greatly improve the chances of a

hook up. Live baits are rigged by hooking the

first hook through the nose and the stingers

in the back, and for Spanish mackerel should

be trolled as slowly as possible with the boat

only just in gear.

A dead-bait rig can be made from ganging

large hooks together and crimping a weight

at the front, but it’s much easier to buy these

rigs premade from a local tackle store.

Getting a dead-bait to swim naturally is a

32 WHAT TRADIES WANT.

Yellowfin tuna are very welcome

bycatch when trolling lures.

Spotted mackerel caught while

trolling dead baits for spanish.

Andrew with a nice Longtail tuna

caught live baiting for spanish.

Cobia landed on gear meant

for Spanish mackerel.

SERVING UP BIG MACKS