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Get down!

Written by Capt. Dennis Forgione

AS SEEN IN THE SPRING 2004 ISSUE

A local pro talks about downrigger fishing.

It was the middle of July and it was steaming hot. So hot, that I recall standing on the deck of my boat and I finding myself drenched from head to toe with perspiration. I remember looking at my watch and not believing it was only 10:30 am and already in the mid 90’s. Luckily, the action on that day was also red hot. We had already iced down three nice blackfin tuna in the 15 to 20 lb. range, two nice kings and a chunky grouper. Not surprising, four of the six fish fell victim to the deepest bait set 110’ below with the aid of my downrigger. Looking back now, it was typical for that time of year.

Covering the water column can be the key to successful catching, especially during the blistering heat of the hot summer months. On most occasions, top anglers in any tournament will fish baits at different depths in the water column to successfully catch sailfish, kingfish, tuna, dolphin and wahoo. It still surprises me when I pull out my downrigger and the first comment I hear is, “what are we doing with that thing?”

During the course of any given day all species of game fish swim and methodically feed at different levels in the water column. Fish are extremely sensitive to their surrounding water temperature and even a fraction of a degree which we would not even notice, can trigger them to explore deeper depths in search of more suitable conditions. This couldn’t be truer then in the upcoming blistering mid-summer days. By noon, the stagnant air temperature can raise to 100 degrees and many species that prowl the upper echelon of the water column will head deeper in search of more comfortable conditions.

On any typical outing while targeting any of the above mentioned species, the spread deployed on my boat would be as follows: A kite off the leeward side suspending two or three baits directly on the surface and four additional lines drifting off the opposite side. Three are fished flat with no lead, allowing the unsuspecting baits to swim just below the surface, and the remaining one will be weighted down with up to four ounces and fished down at fifty feet. Wind speed and common sense say the stronger the wind, the faster the drift, the more lead required to keep this bait fairly deep. And finally, my last hook bait and the one that has saved the day on more than one occasion, is fished off a downrigger and set at a minimum of one hundred feet.

It’s commonplace for anglers to deploy a downrigger when slow trolling, but for an unknown reason most never utilize them when drifting with live bait. This is when the equipment can really be the most effective. The use of a downrigger is crucial to the success of my spread. Regardless of conditions, my downrigger allows me to consistently fish a bait way below the surface. A quick glance through my years of log books indicates this ‘very deep’ bait has accounted for more wahoo and blackfins then any other in the spread. It’s no big secret that wahoo are notorious for prowling deeper in the water column and on most occasions, blackfin tuna are weary from the bright sun light closer to the surface, thus making this deep offering an ideal presentation for both species. Surprisingly, I’ve also taken a fair number of sailfish and dolphin, species most often associated with surface activity on the downrigger bait. On many occasions, bait schools will hold well below and when that occurs, the deep bait often produces deadly results.

Before we get into tackle and rigging requirements for fishing with a downrigger, let’s briefly touch on the equipment itself. Manual and electric downriggers work equally well. Obviously the later makes your life a bit more enjoyable, as the push of a button is all that is required to retrieve and deploy the cable and weight. Over the years I have used a Penn Fathom Master 625. It’s a high quality inexpensive hand cranker which has never failed.

When choosing the correct downrigger, the determining factors should be the size of your boat, the mounting location and the type of fishing you’ll primarily be doing. Generally, small boat fishermen will suffice with a short boom, manual downrigger. If you’ll be fishing from a larger boat and spending more time offshore, you may want to consider a high speed, long boom electric model. The downrigger line is usually cable although more and more anglers are switching to a high testing braid. The thin diameter associated with braid offers the advantage of less ‘cable hum’ which can become crucial when trolling.

The next required accessory will be a downrigger weight, and there are several types on the market. Most are manufactured from lead or cast iron and are available in varying weights from two to ten pounds. Some are round, some are torpedo shaped and others are shaped like a fish. I generally advise fishermen to choose whichever type best suits there needs. A ten pound ball weight seems to do the job for me. On your downrigger weight or a short distance above it is where your release clip will be placed. Again, there are many types of downrigger release clips on the market but all are designed for the intended purpose. The line release is the critical link between the downrigger and your fishing rod. If the release mechanism doesn’t perform properly you’ll lose both valuable fishing time and possibly your fish. Many leading manufacturers make release clips that offer great performance at affordable prices, choose the one that’s right for you. Keep in mind that more then one bait can be fished off each downrigger. Similar to kite fishing, multiple release clips can be placed at varying intervals.

As far as tackle is concerned, reels with a high retrieve ratio are extremely important, especially if you’re drifting with your engine turned off or have a sea anchor deployed. The amount of slack that develops when a strike releases the line from the clip can be well over a hundred feet, and gaining line back quickly can make all the difference. Rods should be seven foot in length and medium to medium heavy action. Also of importance, hook size should be determined by the size of the bait. A large goggle eye or blue runner will require a 5/0 to 9/0 while a 4/0 or 5/0 will nicely do the trick with smaller herring and pilchards. My preferred leader is ten feet of fifty to eighty pound test and attaches to the main line via an 18” to 24” length of double line. The tag end is finished off with a short trace of coffee colored #3 or #4 wire and the appropriate size hook. The wire is to prevent cut offs from the sharp jaws of wahoo and kingfish. Plus, at this depth the keen eyed tuna don’t seem to mind it.

I feed my bait out approx. 75’ to 100’ before fastening it to the downrigger clip. Then, I gently ease the ten pound weight down into the depths. Prior to placing the line in the release clip, I would suggest making a loop in your main line by twisting it about a half dozen times prior to placing the line in the clip. The twisting will prevent the line from sliding any further than where you initially set it. Of course different conditions, targeted species and different depths may require adjustments. Experiment, and find out what works best for you with-in the given conditions. Your downrigger bait should always be the last deployed and may have to be retrieved to prevent a fish hooked on a different line from getting cut off or tangled. If the hooked fish stays on the surface and isn’t jeopardized, leave the deep bait alone.

Days with overall poor conditions may prevent you from fishing so many lines, such as when there is zero breeze and no current. A large helium balloon can be utilized to keep your kite afloat when there is no wind but effective downrigger fishing requires the boat to be moving, even if at a snails pace. If you find yourself sitting in one spot, try bumping the motor in and out of gear to keep the boat moving. On the other hand, on very windy days you may need the use of your motor to hold you on a particular depth that is producing fish. Regardless of the conditions you’re dealing with, covering as much of the water column as you can be an important key to having a successful day. A downrigger is a tool that’s equally important as any on your boat. Utilize it to the best of your ability to maximize your opportunities.