Do you fish while cruising?

[Phisher]

I fish all the time. Dragging lures while under way. When we anchor first thing I do is figure out my fishing spots. I have been catching lots of mutton snapper here in the Abacos.

[Cheechako]

We fish casually with a concentrated effort. Stout pole or hand line with 8" rubber squid 60-80# line and steel leader. Nothing like fresh fish right out of the ocean. It's hit and miss though.

[Donald Bryden]

I think a mistake that a lot of sailors make is trying to catch the big fish. In the ocean, a big fish can be very big and to take one almost invariably leads to waste. As has been pointed out, it is best to take only what you can eat. Another thought, I have been sailing the oceans for many years. While under weigh at night flying fish and squid will often end up on deck. I used to toss them overboard after finding them. My partner and wife who came aboard in 2005 started cooking them. They are both quite tasty. I was very doubtful about flying fish thinking they would be boney, but the bones were no problem when fried.

[toddster8]

I’ll catch a fish (or scallops or shrimp) to eat for the next meal, but not much more. Most often spearfishing a reef - you choose the one you can eat and take it. One problem in the PNW is that the seals have become so used to divers that one is often hanging around just behind you, ready to swoop in and steal your catch before you get it back to the boat!

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by toddster8

I’ll catch a fish (or scallops or shrimp) to eat for the next meal, but not much more. Most often spearfishing a reef - you choose the one you can eat and take it. One problem in the PNW is that the seals have become so used to divers that one is often hanging around just behind you, ready to swoop in and steal your catch before you get it back to the boat!

Hmmm…. what does seal taste like ?

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by toddster8

I’ll catch a fish (or scallops or shrimp) to eat for the next meal, but not much more. Most often spearfishing a reef - you choose the one you can eat and take it. One problem in the PNW is that the seals have become so used to divers that one is often hanging around just behind you, ready to swoop in and steal your catch before you get it back to the boat!

No different in the Caribe really. I've had a Barracuda follow me around for half an hour. One second after I spear a fish... BAM! he's got it off the spear! Hey, animals are smart.
Behind the boat, I've caught wahoo, well just the head.. sharks took it all but the head!

[Sailor647]

We make a serious effort to catch fish, but never seem to have "all we can eat". We have two lines in the water anytime the boat is moving, unless the conditions are too rough to land the fish safely.

We catch mostly Dorado, Sierra, and tunas in the Sea of Cortez, depending on water temps.

We keep our annual Mexican fishing licenses current and have been asked to present them on several occasions. However, the licensing requirements in Mexico are in the process of changing since the last presidential election, so we're interested to see how it turns out.

[philiosophy]

Hand lines and rubber snubbers. We catch them easily when making near 7 knots. Mahi, Ono, yellow Fin, Albacore you name it. Catching them when making 5-6 knots is still a work in progress. Would love to know what works best on the Queensland Coast at slower 5-6 kt speeds.

[Fore and Aft]

There is a good book called "The Cruisers handbook of Fishing". Its an interesting read.
Philliosophy I wonder what works on the Queensland Coast?
Cheers

[fish53]

You should ask "do you cruise while fishing?"

[CptCrunchie]

You mentioned the PNW. I caught this with 30' of ¼" polypro laid line tied the boat, connected to a 10' piece of 50# mono, and a lure I put together with some feathers and a 4/0 hook. 200 miles west of Portland OR, it was on the surface one second, and gone the next.



I did another delivery from Panama to Hawaii. We caught 6 yellow fin tuna in the first 2400 miles, then a 40lb Mahi Mahi 300 miles from Hawaii, all just from dragging a line in the water.



In WA State, you best hire a lawyer to read the regs, especially for salmon and halibut. Our seasons are getting shorter and limits even less. Depending the time of year and cycle, you can drag a line with a barbless hook for in-season pink salmon (which is at our 3rd year of the bountiful 7th year cycle), and drop anchor pretty much anywhere along the Strait of Juan de Fuca and fish for halibut during the 8 sporadic days they have given us this year.

Or, buy a Canadian 1 day license online and fish for all of the above most months of the year. It doesn't make sense, but welcome WA and our ever popular WDFW.

[CptCrunchie]

Originally Posted by fish53

You should ask "do you cruise while fishing?"

Yes, though it is more like fishing while crusing because we don't stop. I should also ask who 'you' is.


Tuna can swim 30mph, so they will easily catch a lure behind a sailboat. Mahi Mahi are slightly slower, but will still catch your lure.

In fact, tuna will come up within 10' of your stern if they see something they can eat.

[weavis]

I do 50lb Rod and line when at sea...

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by CptCrunchie

Yes, though it is more like fishing while crusing because we don't stop. I should also ask who 'you' is.


Tuna can swim 30mph, so they will easily catch a lure behind a sailboat. Mahi Mahi are slightly slower, but will still catch your lure.

In fact, tuna will come up within 10' of your stern if they see something they can eat.

Started with a Cuban yoyo and bungee cord progressed to fancy reel and rod. Now back to Cuban yoyo . Reel rusted out Cuban yoyo works fine and no maintenance needed.

[Greg Mason]

I got tired of losing jewellery to fish I never saw, so we went low tech. 200' of venetian blind cord, a 2' piece of surgical tube stuffed with 4' of said line, and the lure you see in the picture which is a 6" piece of 3/4" sani hose on an 18" wire leader with a wine cork to set the hook tension and away we went tied to a winch. Never lost a fish, never had to deal with poles.