Fishing Techniques:
A Trolling Primer - Part I
A Trolling Primer - Part I
This is Part I of a two-part series covering basic offshore trolling techniques. In this part, we cover gear for you and the boat. In Part II, we cover how to use all of the stuff you just bought...
Background & Theory
The ocean is a big place. It’s so big that it’s hard to visualize the scale of the objects involved. Instead of the hundreds of acres of water found in lakes, ocean fishermen have to deal with hundreds of square miles of open water. Instead of a shallow spot being 5 feet deep, it might be 250 feet deep (the height of a 25-story building). Instead of a deep spot being 100 feet deep, there might be over a mile of water beneath an offshore fisherman’s keel.
Given this situation, it’s easy to understand why the hardest part of fishing offshore is finding the fish in the first place. A good part of an offshore fisherman’s day is spent hunting, not fishing. And of course, once the fish are found, blue water fly-fishermen have the added challenge of coaxing them to hit a slow-moving bit of fluff.
Most fly-fishermen don’t think much of trolling, placing it on the “Snob Appeal” spectrum somewhere between soaking worms and throwing lures on conventional gear. But that disdain is misplaced. When it comes to fishing offshore, trolling is probably the most effective way of locating fish while on the water, and is a challenging method of fishing in its own right.
Trolling is effective for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, it covers a lot of ground. But almost as important is the fact that offshore fish are curious about the noise and white water that accompany a boat, and will come from quite a distance to investigate. Once they get within visual range, they see the lures trailing the boat, swimming frantically in the white water of the wake, and often attack. So by trolling, you are not only going to the fish, you are bringing the fish to you.
While trolling might appear “brain-dead” to the uninitiated, it involves a lot more than just dragging lures behind a boat. Placement of the lures (called the “spread”) is critical, as is finding the right speed and direction (taking into account the swell and current). There are literally hundreds of lures to choose from, in a myriad of colors and finishes, and there are many kinds of additional attractors to consider (referred to as “teasers”). And the tackle and rigging can rival fly-fishing in complexity.
This article focuses on basic offshore trolling techniques, and how to combine them effectively with fly-fishing. The primary targets include tuna, yellowtail, bonito and mahi-mahi (AKA dorado, or dolphinfish). I am specifically leaving out trolling for sharks and billfish, as these are topics that merit separate articles.
Trolling is also effective close to shore. While kelp beds and rock piles make it easier to locate fish inshore, trolling is still a good way to find fish when they are spread out or scattered along the coast. The basics that are discussed here mostly apply to inshore fishing as well.
Keep in mind that many of the techniques mentioned here are considered “the norm” for Southern California, but just like fly-fishing, trolling techniques are constantly evolving. There are lots of techniques that find regional favor in other parts of the country that can also work in Southern California, so keep an open mind. And remember: this is a primer – its purpose is to get you started and give you a basis for understanding more advanced techniques, not to make you an expert.
Even if you are using a small-boat guide or 6-pack charter to fish offshore, you should still review this article. While the guide or crew of the boat will be doing most of the work, an overall understanding of the process will make you a more effective angler BTB
This is Part I of two parts. In this part, we will be covering gearing up - stuff for your boat, rods, reels, line, basic rigging, lures and accessories. In Part II, we'll cover tactics.
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