Teasing vs chumming: how species-specific is it

[josko]

We all kknow you get marlin on a fly by getting it close to the boat with teasers. Similarly, chumming up tuna prior to flyfishing is the standard way to go. I can't help but wonder about when and with what species what works. Somebody posted they got a white marlin chunking, and Gregg Weatherby (Saltwater edge) used to tease up yellowfin.

Which works when? You also wonder whether tuna give you a chance to cast after you see them show up in a teaser spread?

[backman]

<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>and follow up question to the 1st.&nbsp; How is the boat set up and manuevered if and when something shows up in the spread.</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>We've all seen the anglers in the sat AM shows - one frantically hauling in the teaser while the other casts; whats the captain doing w. the boat?&nbsp; How many teaser rigs are practical to be trolled? Line in a bucket, ready and waiting?&nbsp; Floating line/popper, or sinking line/streamer?</FONT></P>

[Slamdance]

<P><FONT face=gadget size=3>The way I've done it for blue marlin is to have the boat set up with rigs on only one side (starboard for a righty angler). That means a long and short off one rigger and a teaser off the flat line on the stern, and maybe a set-up in the rod holder on the gunnel. the angler sets up on the opposite side in the corner (port for righties) with the rig in hand and about 40-50 feet of line (all you can really expect to get out with a 14-15 weight fly rod) stripped and coiled in a bucket by his feet.

When a marlin comes into the spread the captain does nothing until the angler (or mate) tells him to take the boat out of gear. The mate is working his butt off to get the fish within casting distance and while he is doing that the angler makes a false cast or two to get some line in the air. Once the boat is taken out of gear the angler casts and the fight or depression begins.

I've never tried for marlin (blue) with anything other than a tube-fly with a popper head on clear intermediate or floating line, but that doesn't mean streamers won't be effective too.

[BlackHawk]

How can a right handed angler cast from the starboard side as you suggest? I have always taken to the port side so the backcast is clear of the tower and other structures.

[Adam-Albino]

Steve - Last weekend I watched Stu Apt do exactly as you said. Teasers were to starboard, angler to port. Everything in a bucket ready to go. He was using large deceiver like streamers. May have been tube flies, but without popping head - not sure. I've tied up several 10-12" tandem hook deceivers this week. Things are so big, I'm not sure my 750-grain shooting head will get it down!! May use it as emergency floatation device :-);
<img src=http://photos.netclubs.com/live/photos/v/9/t/2/t2c710a3839h31nr004cfcdhuo/fishman.gif>

[Slamdance]

When you face the stern of the boat (as you do when trolling), port is to your right and starboard to your left.

[josko]

I've seen first hand how incredibly effective chumming live pilchards for sailfish can be. The whole south Florida sailfish strategy is to set up, chum, and let the fish come to the boat. Interesingly enough, they then use the deployed live bait to tease the sail closer to the boat. Is this used anywhere else? Can you chum marlin?

[Slamdance]

I think Steve K's story about the white that hit a deep chunk is something to think about. It certtainly seems reasonable.

[BlackHawk]

Ooops, I misread your first posting. Sounds like we are using the same approach here, starboard side outrigger and port side angler.

[backman]

<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>To Steve K and Steve M's deep chunk for marlin.</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>I've had a sail hit (and drop) a deep bait on a downrigger set at 40'.&nbsp; The captains I've been with all say its entirely possible &amp; even probable to have&nbsp;a sail hit at 40'.</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>If you read Song for the Blue Ocean by Serafina he has a nice chapter on the physiology of the marlin's eye and circulatory system.&nbsp; The marlin's huge eye is designed so it can see in the dim light of the deeps and its circulatory system is designed to feed it blood 1st to keep the eye warm and functioning in cold deep waters.</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>One thing I want to figure out how to do this summer is play the deep game while offshore.&nbsp; All the books say the same thing -if your marking fish &amp; bait deep and not getting strikes on the surface go deep w. chunks, metal or downriggers.&nbsp; WE consistently marked bait at 40' or so all summer long and had only sporadic luck above it.</FONT></P>
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<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>So many things to learn, so few trips to learn them on...</FONT></P>

[josko]

In a former life, I used to acoustically track marlin with Dr. Frank Carey, the well-known WHOI pelagic fish expert. We found blue marlin typically go deep and look for a light intensity comparable to a moonless night. Their eyes are optimized to hunt in that light intensity. Occasionally you'd see them streaking upward, presumably to hunt fish they detected silloueted(sp?) agains the bright surface. Frank was convinced Marlin spend most of the time cruising deep, governed by the light intensity their eyes were optimized for. It was eerie to watch them come up in the water columnn every time a cloud blottted out the sun.