The penn downrigger commonly known as a fathometer is calibrated in fathoms hence you can see what amount of wire you have out thereby giving you nyour depth give or take a fathom, the aquaplane[not sure of exact name] is shaped liked a stealth bomber with various anchor points on the top for tether line changing tether position changes diving depth, ie trim for or aft on unit lifts or drops nose
Outriggers Vs Cape Waters
- Thread starter Freedom1
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Just in terms of cable length and blowback from a practical perspective, the average downrigger will rise to 45 degrees when trolled at 100 feet (30m) with a standard ball at 6 knots. In other words it will only be at 18m. The Z wing fares much better at 75 degrees (26m). These are rough figures from a good few years ago but they show the idea. A couple of points worth remembering with downriggers - ensure the release clips are 100% smooth, any snatching can cause the rig to rip out the holder or even the covering board, particularly on a big fast fish. Use heavy braid rather than cable - it doesn't "strum" in the water and has a thinner diameter hence less resistance. Use at least a 3m lead line from the release clip to the main line - this avoids them tangling. If you fish short handed on a smaller boat, consider an electric downrigger, it is much easier to grab the rod and flick a switch, rather than to have 2 people in one corner getting in each others' way. Finally with a Z wing, it is recommended to crimp in an in -line safety line (from the lead eye of the swivel in front to the lead eye of the swivel in the rear) as early models were known to have weak spots.
Thanks Miles...will have a look.
And thanks bcd 63....what I actually am after is how do you DECIDE how deep?
Or do you look at how deep marks are when they show or do you just go by gutfeel when you are looking for the fish?
It is most probably the subject of another thread, but the combination of vertical temperature variation with depth as well as whereabouts (depth) of baitfish MUST impact on where the fish are?
And thanks bcd 63....what I actually am after is how do you DECIDE how deep?
Or do you look at how deep marks are when they show or do you just go by gutfeel when you are looking for the fish?
It is most probably the subject of another thread, but the combination of vertical temperature variation with depth as well as whereabouts (depth) of baitfish MUST impact on where the fish are?
thika, good question. Much depends on your target species and knowing their preferred temperature range. The first thing is to see if and where the thermocline is. For some fish, this is like a barrier and they will not go through it, for others, it is their main resting area and they only leave it to feed. In the Cape, longfin generally will sit above the line whilst yellows (depending on the variance between surface and thermocline) will be in the mixing area. For marlin, blues will be around the bait - so find that and you will find the fish. Use the same rule of thumb, are they feeding on skippies, yellows, dorries etc. In turn, what are they feeding on - baitfish, squid, flying fish etc. Each of these has a preferred temp range (and this can differ per area). Find the right temp, you will find the right bait and hopefully the billfish will be close. For blacks, I ALWAYS used to run a big livie on a deep downrigger and stick it right on the top mixing layer of the thermocline. That used to pick up over 70% of our fish.
Thanks again FinS,
Next year I want to look for Y/F out of Saldana, and there are not so many outfits targetting them from there, so I would imagine more often than not, I will be out there by myself (well, during the week in any case)
Having run out there, one would want to approach the search sort of scientifically, which I will have ample time to do.
Stemming from that are my questions
I lived and fished for years from KZN South Coast and after moving to Mpumalanga, the Bazaruto area. Fuel was a lot cheaper till recently, and catching each and everytime was less important!
I am also no expert at fishing.....more a mixture of being out there, fishing, camping on the islands and numerous otherwise inaccesible beaches, lots of diving and even waterskiing in the ocean....there are very few rivers north of Coffee Bay in the Transkei that I have not yet explored, from the SEA side!
So this serious fishing is a new chapter for me and I still don't understand how you see the thermocline on the sounder...or does it show up because of the salinity difference?
If you have time on your hands I would appreciate you IN my boat!
Till then
Stay well
Next year I want to look for Y/F out of Saldana, and there are not so many outfits targetting them from there, so I would imagine more often than not, I will be out there by myself (well, during the week in any case)
Having run out there, one would want to approach the search sort of scientifically, which I will have ample time to do.
Stemming from that are my questions
I lived and fished for years from KZN South Coast and after moving to Mpumalanga, the Bazaruto area. Fuel was a lot cheaper till recently, and catching each and everytime was less important!
I am also no expert at fishing.....more a mixture of being out there, fishing, camping on the islands and numerous otherwise inaccesible beaches, lots of diving and even waterskiing in the ocean....there are very few rivers north of Coffee Bay in the Transkei that I have not yet explored, from the SEA side!
So this serious fishing is a new chapter for me and I still don't understand how you see the thermocline on the sounder...or does it show up because of the salinity difference?
If you have time on your hands I would appreciate you IN my boat!
Till then
Stay well
Hi Miles,
You asked for a picture of my boat ..... See below and this was when we towed it to Langebaan where 6 of us "lived" on it at Mykonos in a berth for about 6 days. What a complete jol for novices... We would wake up as early as possible on the boat and just get done and head out to sea.... Great fishing and great experience!
Some of us got into "trouble" with the better halves as we stayed two days longer than planned... man! These things happen! Good clean FUN!
You asked for a picture of my boat ..... See below and this was when we towed it to Langebaan where 6 of us "lived" on it at Mykonos in a berth for about 6 days. What a complete jol for novices... We would wake up as early as possible on the boat and just get done and head out to sea.... Great fishing and great experience!
Some of us got into "trouble" with the better halves as we stayed two days longer than planned... man! These things happen! Good clean FUN!
Attachments
Nice! How is the Fortuner coping on the slip? Is it a diesel? Thanks Fin-s for some very good info. I need to get a ball for my downrigger as it came without one. I decided to mount it on the trolling board second to the left-most rod holder. Still would like it to be removable though. Aparently a rubber band is a safe way to connect your line in stead of using the clip?
Regarding the thermocline I am pretty sure I have seen it on the sounder when snoeking - with sensitivity at high, and the "fish-ID" turned on it shows as a line of fish at one constant depth. My finder shows nothing when I have the fish-ID switched off. Weird machine.
Regarding the thermocline I am pretty sure I have seen it on the sounder when snoeking - with sensitivity at high, and the "fish-ID" turned on it shows as a line of fish at one constant depth. My finder shows nothing when I have the fish-ID switched off. Weird machine.
will101 wrote:
Hi will101...
My fortuner is a Auto 4litre Petrol and the last time I launched Freedom1 with it in Langebaan a couple of times, had absolutely no issue with the van. All other launches are done bythe yard's tractor like yours....
The fortuner goes Into 4X4 and it glides along ... scary how well Toyota designs these vehicles... and I was never a Toyota fan. Definitely converted after this vehicle ........ Took it to the Atlantis dunes a while ago and that was a blast. It amazed me the way it performed.
I remembered a group of guys standing in their vehicles (great looking Fords, Toyota bakkies, Isuzus, etc ..... stickers and all) .. the real manne. When we came along at the base to check out the incline and best approach, they teased like hell about this 'fancy looking' city kar that would never make it up ... en 'outo matik nogal' --- (say this with the right slang to be effective.
Their mouths hung open when the Fortuner just glided up in a very effortless manner .... but I was impressed by the fact that the group came over and withdrew the comments and we had a jol on the dunes as a group!
What I love about it is .... Wash and clean it, and the next day it is ready for my collar and tie job! ............ Waiting for the fishing the weekend again!
Hi will101...
My fortuner is a Auto 4litre Petrol and the last time I launched Freedom1 with it in Langebaan a couple of times, had absolutely no issue with the van. All other launches are done bythe yard's tractor like yours....
The fortuner goes Into 4X4 and it glides along ... scary how well Toyota designs these vehicles... and I was never a Toyota fan. Definitely converted after this vehicle ........ Took it to the Atlantis dunes a while ago and that was a blast. It amazed me the way it performed.
I remembered a group of guys standing in their vehicles (great looking Fords, Toyota bakkies, Isuzus, etc ..... stickers and all) .. the real manne. When we came along at the base to check out the incline and best approach, they teased like hell about this 'fancy looking' city kar that would never make it up ... en 'outo matik nogal' --- (say this with the right slang to be effective.
Their mouths hung open when the Fortuner just glided up in a very effortless manner .... but I was impressed by the fact that the group came over and withdrew the comments and we had a jol on the dunes as a group!
What I love about it is .... Wash and clean it, and the next day it is ready for my collar and tie job! ............ Waiting for the fishing the weekend again!
Alrick Le Roux
New member
Hi i live in Gauteng and want to buy a boat for cape tuna fishing, will a 15ft cat be big enough?
Alrick Le Roux wrote:
Boet,
The bigger the better in our Cape Town waters.... I promise you!
I have been out at sea on a puuuurfect day , correct forecast and all, and the weather will change ... Boeta- dit raak grrrroooot.
But saying all that, I have close friends who have 19ft cats and they go out when the weather is better but ... they have been skippering these CT waters for year! Jare lank.
Hope this helps but I still believe ... In this case, size does count.
Boet,
The bigger the better in our Cape Town waters.... I promise you!
I have been out at sea on a puuuurfect day , correct forecast and all, and the weather will change ... Boeta- dit raak grrrroooot.
But saying all that, I have close friends who have 19ft cats and they go out when the weather is better but ... they have been skippering these CT waters for year! Jare lank.
Hope this helps but I still believe ... In this case, size does count.