I've posted here before about trolling from my cats. 14 & 16. Out here in Okinawa Sept through January seems to be the season when the big pelagics, Spanish Mackerel, Wahoo and Tuna come in close enough for me to catch them only 2/3 kms offshore.
I have been sailing here for about 10 years but only started trolling about a year ago. I often manage two rods and mostly troll using skirted pusher type lures. I figured I'm covering 20-50kms each time I'm out, must be passing a fair few tasty fishes so why not throw a lure out the back. Sailing is still my first motivation but knowing I can come home with supper is an extra boost.
Wondered if anyone else has any experience trolling from their cat? Seems with the sorts of speeds cats can do and the stealthyness of our approach we'd have an advantage over a regular boat. Just conjecture I know but I do wonder. I have had fish at speeds between 4 and 10 knots with most at around the 6 knot mark. Speed will differ for different kinds of lures but for the skirted lures I mostly use 6 knots seems to be the sweet spot.
Here's todays catch - 9.4kg wahoo.
right about that - what was I thinking! I started out trolling one handline but found it a little messy once you start trying to land a fish. I now have a couple of trolling rods and Penn 4/0 reels, one off port and one off starboard quarter. I have lashed some PVC pipe in between the frame and rear tramp lacing as rod holders. The rods are also tethered to the tramp frame. I had one wahoo take the rod into the drink when it hit and I had the drag set too tight. That bit of line saved my gear and the fish!
