Well, it happened this week our first blue marlin of the season. We had a yellowfin tuna bite, caught two fish at around 60lbs and lost two in a quadruple hookup plus a multiple hookup on mahi-mahi (caught three out of the four).
Personally, I am more excited about this season more than I have ever been as we have more charters “baiting and switching” using circle hooks and a couple of charters for “marlin on fly”.
We like to pull a four lure spread of Pakula rats in either the frigate (purple/black) or lumo (green/yellow). We rig a stiff single hook (Mustad 7752 Tuna bend stainless steel 10/0 or 11/0) on stainless cable. Our leader is suffix 400lb. Teasers, we prefer the bowling pin style with the mirrors. Bait and switch for the light tackle/fly fishing fisherman is performed by simply removing the hooks of the above mentioned pakula rats, shortening all the lines and keeping the mate and fisherman prepared. Circle hooks for the ballyhoo in the bait and switch are a requirement for our operation. Depending on weather and sea conditions we vary our speed from 6 to 9 knots. Try speeding up to 10 plus when you get one of those completely flat calm days. Our second largest wahoo (128 lbs) came on such a day in July. I have no doubt that we would have never caught that fish had we not adapted to the conditions.
A shameless plug: I am Captain Geoff Adams and have reassumed control of Gwendolyn Fishing Charters. That 45' Air conditioned Hatteras is still raising record fish after 15 years. Turks and Caicos Islands are 700 miles from Miami and we have 4 daily flights to MIA (plus many of direct flights). Great hotels, U.S. dollar is the national currency, great diving/snorkeling, and awsome fishing are just a few of the reasons that people keep coming back. Feel free to write with comments, advice or suggestions. [email protected]
