Hi Marc
As already mentioned its also worth trolling around any surface structure for Dorado, be it anchored or just drifting, or flotsam on current lines. Any drifting objects, once theyve been in the water for more than a couple of days, is likely to provide shelter for small pelagic crabs or fry. And, in turn, some will attract the Dorado. Ive even targeted a pair literally around a plastic bucket. Sometimes you can see them in the water flashing, other times they can be deep or even a couple of hundred yards from the object. But its always worth trolling around such objects.
Another sign to look for is a single frigate bird, not circling but tracking. Theyre often immediately above Dorado or Marlin. (Um
. You might find your 30lb outfit a tad too light for a Blue Marlin!)
Normally if you get a single strike it will be from the larger, more aggressive Bull, but, as
Spitfire mentioned, attendant females will often follow it literally to the transom. Thats why its always worth having other outfits fly or spin gear rigged. Dont gaff the first, just leave it in the water, and either cast a fly or a chunk of bait or a small lure at them. Often you can take several members of a school, providing the first is always left in the water until the action stops.
What lures? Literally anything will work, right up to huge Marlin lures. But for preference I use smallish 6 to 8 surface lures that create smoke trails. They do have small conical teeth but a mono trace, slightly heavier than your reel line will suffice.
As to the tuna I prefer smallish straight running lures that sit just sub surface. And, if theyre the intended quarry, I prefer to set the drag at a third of the lines breaking strain from the outset. You always need to force the issue with Tuna, if you can.
Whilst the Skipjack tend to shoal in the surface layers for large parts of the day the Yellowfin and BigEye will be deep, just above the thermocline. You should be able to pick them up on your sounder. There they can be tempted with livebaits, jigs or chunks fished deep. And there are ways, with bait, to get chum down to that level, but its fairly specialised.
When they detect bait schools though, and start to surface the birds will congregate above them. Thats the time to start to troll around the edges of the school.
Alternatively youll often find, particularly Yellowfin, in company (but beneath) pods of Dolphin. For large parts of the day the Dolphin will just be frolicking but, as soon as they detect bait, they line up (across) and start purposefully porpoising. Then you need to race to get just in front of them, thats where you will normally encounter and get strikes from the Tuna.
The only problem with Yellowfin and BigEye is that theyre often LARGE. And your 30lb outfit really not going to be man enough for the job! Once hooked theyll spook, together with the rest of the school, and sound. And theyll attempt to stay with them. I recall battling one estimated 250 pounder on 30 for nearly 3 hours and, with it apparently beaten, the line popped! Unfortunately Id forgotten that Id push the drag way up past the pre-set after those first dynamic runs to make any headway on the fish. Id literally pushed the drag up until Id taken all the stretch out of the line and it started to sing before easing it back a tad. Something Id forgotten with the fish just 20 away. Cest la vie!
Just one last point, if you have any problems sourcing lures for the smaller pelagics it might be worth contacting Matthias Henningsen. Matthias is one of the skippers I fish with in Ascension Island. I think he finished chartering there at the end of April and will then return to his home in Gran Canaria.
Most of the tackle on his embryonic web site -
http://www.walhallatackle.com/principal.html - is geared to Blue Marlin but hes well worth talking to and discussing possible options. Both Matthias and his wife Emi speak excellent English.
Heres wishing you every success.
Dave
PS Well have to compare notes at the end of May. Ill be fishing the banks off Panama and Costa Rica in the Pacific. Its the time of year when, although therere less Marlin present, the BIG 300lb plus Yellowfin can be there in force. Rest assured I wont be tackling those on 30s! Its going to be either stand-up 80s or 130s from the chair.