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| Spero Kartanos - the man responsible for our fishing success. |
One of the most common questions we get asked is "What do you use to catch all those fish?"
Well yes! We do OK on Our Dreamtime in the fishing department but it's all due to our wonderful marina neighbour, Spero. He is known far and wide as THE FISHING GURU of Moreton Bay where we've been based for much of our time since buying our ketch. Day after day he returns to his berth beside ours loaded up with his bag limit of fish and fortunately for us, and you, he is very free with his help and advice. It has worked brilliantly for us all over the coast here so it should work for you. Following is all the details of the rig Spero advised us to use for trolling behind the boat in his own words.
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| For Spero it's all about getting your lure down to the fish |
SPERO KARTONAS
Diving boards and catching pelagic is not new in
the world but they have become the choice of fisherman in Moreton Bay since we
started writing about them a few years ago. Of course the pros have been using
them for a lifetime but it has been so much fun to show fisherman starting out
how good it is to get a few for a fresh feed on the table, I thought I would go through how I rig as I have had good success over many, many, years mostly
for school mackerel and bonito but also for spotted mackerel in the Bay and the occasional
tuna. (NOTE by Dreamtime Sail - We've had good success with Spanish Mackerel amongst the Great Barrier Reef as well)
As most know the Yamashita boards are now no longer
available. However, there is talk of someone about to reproduce some which would be good. The delta boards were fantastic till they played around with a proven formula
and made them heavier and they did not swim at all and the K5 copies of the Yozuri
orange boards are simple to rig and work well, but don't have the movement of
the white boards. In their favour they don't drag as much water so a lighter rod, reel and line is the advantage and do catch fish.
I have attached a few photos for all to see.
How I rig the boards1. Main line 25 to 30 lbs. I never use braid for one
simple reason when you are trolling at 6 knots plus and the fish hits you want
plenty of give in the line to cushion the hit and you will pull the hook
especially if you're drag is a little tight so nylon is very forgiving, Also slow the boat down but keep it in gear and wind in slowly and constant pressure as
you are using single hook any slack in the line the mackerel will shake the
head and you will loose the fish.
2. Snap swivel to the front of the board and towing arm half
way. This Tends to dive to 12 to 14 ft (3.5 to 4 metres) depending on how far behind the boat you
are towing them. The further back the deeper they go so if you are catching
grinners you are too far back. Depending on the depth you are trolling in, 30 to 40
ft (9 to 11 metres) is all you need to be behind the boat.
3. 30cm trace from back of the board to a swivel and then
2 mts to spoon 3 inch work the best in the Bay with chrome or chrome and yellow
or gold the best or Smith jigs in white or chrome, (NOTE by Dreamtime Sail: When we sail north amongst the reef we use a larger spoon to suit the larger fish up there) I all ways tie direct to back
of board with locked blood knot, NOT a loop and always put a notch at the back
of the board to keep line straight. I use 30 to 50 lb trace as I prefer to lift
the fish into the boat without gaffing also getting them out of the smiling
assassins mouths (dolphins) helps also NO swivel on the spoon. Its suppose to
have the movement without spinning.
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| Spero notches the rear of the board which keeps the line in place. |
4. A trolling rod 6 to 10 kilos are ideal and an
overhead 15 to 20. I use a Penn 15. It's is all you need and fill it with line. Bringing in fish is easier when the reel has full line .
4a.. Orange boards must have swivels either end. so I use same set up but no swivel between board and lure apart from the one end of
the rope at back of board.
5. Oil you're swivels every now and then and ball
bearing ones work the best for less line twist.
I have added one of the first ever Yamashita boards
made out of wood so any wood working experts might be able to make a few..
UPDATE _ Since posting this blog we've been told a lot of people have had trouble finding the dive boards / paravanes that we use in our "Spero Rig" for fishing from the boat. They are normally available by mail order from Watertower Bait & Tackle at Manly, Queensland. Hope this helps. Cheers R & K
So good luck and happy fishing.
