I'm heading to St. Vincent/Grenadines in a couple weeks (bareboat with Sunsail) and I hear the fishing can be good. I dont want to lug my rod/reel down there, so I thinking about rigging a hand line. I read about cruisers that use them all the time. But I cant imagine pulling in a tuna or wahoo by hand with monofiliment line. Does someone have a better idea? Or at least some experience with this? Thanks. Bob
Fishing Hand-Line help...
- Thread starter rfrye1
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The Way they do it
The way they do it in Mexico is use a coke bottle or something similar for a reel. Wind the line around the bottle, hold the bottle by one end, and point it where you want to cast. Cast the line like you would throw a lasso. Gives you something to hold on to, very important when a very big fish is on. No way most hands could stand hanging onto just a line with out cutting them or slipping with much of a fish on. It also keeps the line in one place, and no tangles with your feet or someone elses. As you "reel" in, hold the bottle, and wind the line around it. It's an easy skill to teach yourself, and would be suprised if you didn't see some natives doing it down there. You can even buy a rig like this in Mexico, but it comes on something resembling a popsicle stick, which doesn't work very good for me. An old fashioned coke bottle seems to be the reel of choice in Mexico.
The way they do it in Mexico is use a coke bottle or something similar for a reel. Wind the line around the bottle, hold the bottle by one end, and point it where you want to cast. Cast the line like you would throw a lasso. Gives you something to hold on to, very important when a very big fish is on. No way most hands could stand hanging onto just a line with out cutting them or slipping with much of a fish on. It also keeps the line in one place, and no tangles with your feet or someone elses. As you "reel" in, hold the bottle, and wind the line around it. It's an easy skill to teach yourself, and would be suprised if you didn't see some natives doing it down there. You can even buy a rig like this in Mexico, but it comes on something resembling a popsicle stick, which doesn't work very good for me. An old fashioned coke bottle seems to be the reel of choice in Mexico.
Trolling
The "little board" is called a "Planer" and is available at any good sporting goods outlet. Well worth the money. Get two.
The "little board" is called a "Planer" and is available at any good sporting goods outlet. Well worth the money. Get two.
Hand Lines
During my four years sailing in the tropics we never used rods or reels. A long strong monofilament was required along with a yellow squid-like lure. We wrapped the line around the flag staff and barbeque bracket in a series of loops when landing a large mahi-mahi or tuna. Gloves are a really good idea. When I sailed with some locals, they would use extra heavy line on a huge yo-yo and trailed the lure probably 100 yards behind the boat. When bringing the catch in, they pulled directly on the line, allowing the mono to pile up in the cockpit. Somehow they did it without getting snarls.
During my four years sailing in the tropics we never used rods or reels. A long strong monofilament was required along with a yellow squid-like lure. We wrapped the line around the flag staff and barbeque bracket in a series of loops when landing a large mahi-mahi or tuna. Gloves are a really good idea. When I sailed with some locals, they would use extra heavy line on a huge yo-yo and trailed the lure probably 100 yards behind the boat. When bringing the catch in, they pulled directly on the line, allowing the mono to pile up in the cockpit. Somehow they did it without getting snarls.
1/4" rope
I work offshore on the rigs and platforms. Anytime we see someone with a fishing pole, we know they are new out there. We generally use 1/4 black nylon rope and sometimes black polypro which is readily available on the rigs. The line is just dropped in a 5 gallon bucket as we 'reel' in hand over hand over the hand rail and rarely ever gets knotted. We use old pipe fittings for weights milk jugs for floats. The hooks are usually attached with stainless steel wire for leaders. When in a strange place, watch the locals. Most Carribbean islanders are fairly poor and fish is a large part of their diet considering its free. Tony B
I work offshore on the rigs and platforms. Anytime we see someone with a fishing pole, we know they are new out there. We generally use 1/4 black nylon rope and sometimes black polypro which is readily available on the rigs. The line is just dropped in a 5 gallon bucket as we 'reel' in hand over hand over the hand rail and rarely ever gets knotted. We use old pipe fittings for weights milk jugs for floats. The hooks are usually attached with stainless steel wire for leaders. When in a strange place, watch the locals. Most Carribbean islanders are fairly poor and fish is a large part of their diet considering its free. Tony B
license?
When I was in the BVI, I read a story about a couple who were Americans and sailing out of the American VI, were apparently "caught" fishing without a license. The man is in jail and the woman was able to get out somehow. It was a terrible story about someone made an example of by the BVI authorities and wound up in a awful jail. Anyone else hear of this?
When I was in the BVI, I read a story about a couple who were Americans and sailing out of the American VI, were apparently "caught" fishing without a license. The man is in jail and the woman was able to get out somehow. It was a terrible story about someone made an example of by the BVI authorities and wound up in a awful jail. Anyone else hear of this?
Bob F - Reel on Stern Pulpit!?
Other than a fishing pole, I have seen a "conventional" (not "Spinning") reel mounted on the stern rail. It was held on with SS clamps. The reel was, obviously, always left attached to the stern rail and used to retrieve the fish. It also allowed the user to set the drag and 'play' the fish. I used to pole fish from my Catalina 25 when I had it, but haven't fished while underway from my 37' Hunter.
Other than a fishing pole, I have seen a "conventional" (not "Spinning") reel mounted on the stern rail. It was held on with SS clamps. The reel was, obviously, always left attached to the stern rail and used to retrieve the fish. It also allowed the user to set the drag and 'play' the fish. I used to pole fish from my Catalina 25 when I had it, but haven't fished while underway from my 37' Hunter.
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