I have to admit it, offshore fishing has trumped college football as my ultimate passion. I have fished offshore 10+ times per season locally for the past 8 years, in addition to other locales where pelagics hang out. One thing always catches my eye in a fishing report. Almost daily, I read about people getting “spooled” by mystery fish. 30W’s, 50W’s and sometimes even 80W’s. Please tell me how that happens when trolling at 8 kts in 1000ft of water MAX! We have caught 50+lb dolphin, 90+lb wahoo, blues, whites and sails. We have caught 5 gallon buckets, balloons, turtles and sometimes even the live bottom itself. We have never once come close to getting “spooled” on even on our 30’s. What gives? Do people exaggerate? Are their drags not set right? If a reel is truly “dumping” line, we are shifting our course to catch up with the direction in which a fish is running. Even still, we have never had a fish even come close to “spooling” a reel.
I guess they are just not as great as you.
Congratulations on your greatness.
Where you surpass me though, is trolling at 8 knots in 1000’ and hanging live bottom.
That is truly the mark of a great sports fisher.
sure, if you dont have the right amount of string on your reel,its reel* easy to get most spooled.same crowd that doesnt believe in sharpening hooks before,or during a trip.same crowd that doesnt re-spool a reel in three seasons.
Hanging live bottom was a bottom fishing/drifting reference. Not a peril of trolling. Didn’t know I would have to clarify that.
Nice job im4 USC. YOU are the reason people stop posting on this forum . Try being positive and helpful. It is a very valuable place that fishermen can share their experience and ask question.
Please keep your rude comments to yourself or put them on twitter
262 Scout Abaco
Ever hooked a porpoise on ultra light? Zing pow faster than anything I have ever seen.
www.advoutdoors.com
“I have tomorrow open!”
There are tons of situations for beginner fishers on here to get spooled. It doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination to think of the many ways that can happen when people are as amazing as you sound to be- pictures of all your stud fish would make the claims(which im not doubting) more legit
quote:
Originally posted by FishnBarrelsThere are tons of situations for beginner fishers on here to get spooled. It doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination to think of the many ways that can happen when people are as amazing as you sound to be- pictures of all your stud fish would make the claims(which im not doubting) more legit
Not just noobs…Hook a Mako on a TLD 25, forget to turn the clicker on the WTFB rod. The last time I got spooled, we were at anchor, and had a big something (Wahoo / Mako / Bigeye) eat a drift line with a cigar minnow, and before we could get off anchor and chase the fish down, it dumped a 6/0 spooled with 80 lb mono. It is rare, but it does happen.
.
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
Obviously you’ve never caught an 87# Wahoo on a 30w
I’ve been out 10 times in two years, got spooled twice on Penn 6/0… what ever it was it never stopped. By the way, most fish run parallel to the bottom. There’s a lotta horizontal manuevering as you might imagine. I watched a mahi spool a big Penn spinning reel, same deal, ran straight, jumped a lot, PING!
If the fish is getting close to spolling the reel get another heavier rig ready and tie it’s line to the base of the reel being spooled. A few turns before you run out of line, dump the whole rig overboard and keep a drag setting on the new rig that will prevent you from losing the overboard rig. Eventually the fish will tire from dragging the whole business around and you can retrieve the rod and reel and the fish. This is done all the time on the west coast. I’ve done it on 240 pound tuna
quote:
Originally posted by yakman72Obviously you’ve never caught an 87# Wahoo on a 30w
Neither have you Yakman. You haven’t even been out there
“Good things come to those who bait”
quote:I apologize for not having the opportunity to unlike some people, Mr high and mighty over here. You sir, are a jerk. Obviously catching an 87# Wahoo on a 30w isn't something alot of folks do, and that's why it was so special. I commented that because it was a few topics above this.
Originally posted by phinfreak09quote:
Originally posted by yakman72Obviously you’ve never caught an 87# Wahoo on a 30w
Neither have you Yakman. You haven’t even been out there
"Good things come to those who bai
Irish Wake,
Several people who’ve commented on this topic are highly experienced offshore fishermen, and even they admit to the occasional spooling. My questions are:
-
What’s the point of your post?
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Do you have any positive solution(s) to this “epidemic” or lack of skill?
Most people who post on this site do so to seek or provide wisdom and assistance. What’s your objective? Think about it, and let us know…
“I’m not a hundred percent in love with your tone right now…”
BB- These mindless comments are exactly why I no longer post here, it’s a shame. Side note children should be seen not heard
quote:
Originally posted by Extreme MAKOver 74BB- These mindless comments are exactly why I no longer post here, it’s a shame. Side note children should be seen not heard
+10 BB & Exteme makover
I’m no professional, but no novice either. I’ve been spooled. Once with a 6/0 in the broad river, wife couldn’t get the anchor up and I couldn’t break free to help her untie or pull free. Would love to know what it was. That was only in 40’ of water. I won’t even mention the few times off shore. One of two things, you either started off being an expert not hooking up with an unexpected unknown monster, or you haven’t been often.
Reading back through your post. after 8 years I am glad you found another sport to trump your college fooball passion.
I guess, upon reflection, my sarcastic remarks about you being great were unfounded. I apologize.
You’re not great.
You’re lucky.
So, congratulations on being lucky 10+ times per year for the last 8 years.
I looked up the word “pelagics” in the dictionary and I was right, I know what it means.
And 2B, I’m glad you think the OP’s post was “positive” and “helpful”.
Weird discussion here, but I am bored, so what the hey? On the off chance there is any seriousness to this discussion, there are a number of fish off of Charleston capable of spooling a reel, and even a few in the river. You can start with any number of very large sharks. Sharks will and do take baits while trolling, not often, but they do. There is a tagged Great White still off of Charleston (80 miles out?) and several members have reported a tiger shark that apparently loves to hang out at some of the better dive spots. A large Yellow Fin can certainly spool most reels, really big tarpon too. No, tarpon don’t always jump if there isn’t a need too.
Had a friend that hooked a manatee (in FL) by accident. By the time he realized it, the real was just about spooled (light tackle). Yes, he cut the line and, no, the manatee did not seem any worse for the wear. In fact, I am not sure it even noticed anything.
Bottom line, the sea is mysterious and stuff happens. Heard one guy who claimed he hooked a submarine. 
That is probably stretching it, you think?
ColumbiaDawgfan
Sea Hunt Triton 220
quote:
Originally posted by ColumbiaDawgfanBottom line, the sea is mysterious and stuff happens.
Right on. We foul hooked a manta ray a few year back…it was about 15ft across. massive. Probably would have been spooled but we locked the drag down and broke him off.
Ya’ll just suck. Back in January, I remember because it was a little chilly for the flip flops and shorts, I was drifting my wife’s Sunday roast on a meat hook, 20ft of 5/16" chain and 30lb Momoi Diamond under a barrel float. Mary Lee cut in and grabbed it and I was hooked up. I let her take line for a while. After he initial run, I slipped into the harness, wheeled the Pioneer over and started gaining line. Got about 3/4 on before her second run, probably 100yds left before she stopped. This went on for a hour or two before she began to tire. Eventually I had her circling under the boat and got her boat side where I reached down and popped the hook from her mouth. Every time she sees that black Pioneer now, she runs away.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne