Before you go sign up for all those fancy sport fishing charters, maybe it’s a good idea to know a few of the basics concerning marlin fishing. Here are some quick tips you can immediately begin to implement as a beginner.
Simplicity Wins
Ask professional anglers the greatest lesson they’ve learned through the years, and they will tell you it’s keeping it simple. Too many beginners get caught up in the hype of having the right lures, rods and gears that money can buy while having no idea how all of it is used. This is something even I have fallen guilty of doing, but I’m working on it now. What you should work on is fine-tuning your techniques. To do that at the beginning, you need to focus on a few pieces of gear. You’ll end up catching a lot more fish that way.
Quality Trumps Quantity
While I did point out that you needn’t get all the gear in the market, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get the highest quality gear you can. Rather than go for five game outfits that are just good enough, limit yourself to two or three that are top-notch. Because you’re going to be struggling with just one fish most of the time, you should invest in maximizing your chances of landing said fish by investing in equipment that will prove its worth when the time comes. This is true for pretty much all of your equipment: hooks, crimps, lures, leaders, swivels and lines.
Preparation Is Key
Once you have the right gear, you need to spend ample time understanding it. That means learning the drag curve of the drag system on your real. Have you ever wondered what things are when a marlin is pulling violently on your line? What happens to the drag pressure on your reel when you spool rapidly empties? Do you understand how two-speed gearing works?
Much of the secret to successful marlin fishing lies in the preparation you do before you even leave your home. Set your harness and gimbal belt while you’re still at home. Sharpen your hooks and rig your lines to make sure everything is just right. Rather than rig dozens of lures, prepare five or six of your favorites and make them perfect.
Tips on the Water
Once you’ve got everything working just right, you’re ready to get going on the water. When you’re starting out, don’t throw out too many lures, In general, three or four is probably the right amount. The fish will come because of the boat before they even get attracted by the lures anyway. Having fewer lures won’t be too much of a distraction. You will also have to clear less water when you get a strike and chasing a fish will be much easier. Always have at least one lure close to the boat, one in the back of the boat, and one in the clear water. You can fill in the gaps as your confidence builds.
Live Bait
If you’re going to be using live bait, don’t use too much — two is more than enough. Make sure you stagger them so that you don’t have tangles in tight turns. Your reels should be in free-spool if you don’t have any outriggers. Do that by elasticizing the line to the rod tip or a bollard.
Good marlin fishing is about fine-tuning and then more fine-tuning. It’s also about keeping things simple. With that, you can spend more of your time looking for the right fish and catching them.