Deep fishing Spaniards

[UNDEROVER]

Just wondering of those who target them, different techniques utilised for targeting these tasty speedsters when they're deep in the water column?
I suspect jigging (types, action), live baiting etc, but as I'm yet to really explore this aspect, any feedback will be well recieved.:)

Cheers, Matt.

[bblaze]

I am no expert but have been shown some tricks by a few that helped me score a few. They were of the opinion live bait was the most successful method. Single hook on wire into the bait fish with a free swinging hook. Read somewhere by cutting and trimming of the fins of the bait fish you can make him swim level or down, we used a very slow troll.
cheers
blaze

[UNDEROVER]

Yeah, I heard about the fin trimming exercise somewhere as well. The methodology behind it from the person I was talking to was that the fish had to swim a bit harder to maintain it's "line" if you like, and thus giving off a lot more vibration/wounded baitfish signals which apparently increased strikes.
Yet to try it though.
Any idea on the cost of a decent downrigger?
I guess that'd be the next step to be able to effectively troll deep for these fish as well as covering a bit of ground at the same time, and what are the depth limitations of downriggers?

Cheers.

[roverrescue]

Hiya Underover,
Ive never fished for mackos down south, all my experience is up on the GBR.

With respect to "down deep" - a good techinique to target them is around wrecks and reefs in 40ish meters is using jigs (80-100gm) wire assist hooks with a short 10cm wire leader. Fast retrieve through the bait schools.

Lazy ass macko fishing revolves around a pille or gar under a ballon when close to reefs, 20ish metres of water.

Or my favourite is when the pelagics are on the chew chasing fusiliers, throwing stick baits at the mackos, having them leap 4 feet out of the briny and nail the sticky on the way back in!!!

Good fun - reasonable chewing

Steve

[UNDEROVER]

Hiya Underover,
Ive never fished for mackos down south, all my experience is up on the GBR.

With respect to "down deep" - a good techinique to target them is around wrecks and reefs in 40ish meters is using jigs (80-100gm) wire assist hooks with a short 10cm wire leader. Fast retrieve through the bait schools.

Lazy ass macko fishing revolves around a pille or gar under a ballon when close to reefs, 20ish metres of water.

Or my favourite is when the pelagics are on the chew chasing fusiliers, throwing stick baits at the mackos, having them leap 4 feet out of the briny and nail the sticky on the way back in!!!

Good fun - reasonable chewing

Steve

Hey Steve,

are your wire assist hooks attached via a haywire twist with single strand, or crimped nylon coated? And are they attached to the top, bottom or both ends of the jig?
I've done loads of surface spinning/luring for spotties, tuna and the occasional spanish, but if they are not actively feeding or I'm fishing around noon when the fish are deep, I usually go in for a breather or chase a few reefies.

Cheers...

[roverrescue]

I have pretty much narrowed my wire choice down to single strand soft stainless. Haywire twists as you say. The SS wire will never be the limiting factor in your rig. single strand SS can be a little stiff but it works for me?

BUT just recently went fishing with a skipper who uses 49 strand non coated SS wire and crimps... I spose Ill have to go try something new.

S

[UNDEROVER]

Steve,

as far as jigs go, are you using the benchmark chrome jobs or are you using the more expensive knife jig style?

[Bearman]

Here's another way of catching them! The bait is on the top of the esky!:D

[UNDEROVER]

Yep, that'll do it! :eek:

I'll have to admit using the same lures on the big sea mullet that were impossible to throw a cast net over up at Cape York...

The trick was to get them before they sank.

[Bearman]

That one was taken in about 20M near a reef edge. Had to dive over the side and grab him before he sank.

[roverrescue]

WRT jigs, generally knife style but I usually use cheapo ones - always pink.
Another deep option is to troll River2Sea Downsider 200s. They get down over 10m and spanos, doggies, hoo and fin just love em...

S

[UNDEROVER]

Now you mention that Steve about the River 2 Sea minnows, I have used the Manns Stretch 20's for reasonable results at Double Island Point near Fraser Island.

I'm usually trolling a section of the point where there is a bommie just out from the headland and the depth is only in the 35ft range depending on the tide.

So I guess that puts the lure in the bottom half of the water column and well within site of the Macks.

I might invest in a few jigs for xmas as there is some good water to the north of Coffs where I usually fish, that holds good numbers of Sambo's, AJ's and Kings when the Macks aren't running.
Got into a few of these a couple of weeks ago on my plastics outfit which gave the little 4000 sized reel I have a rather toasty warm drag! :D

[roverrescue]

10m water is pretty shallow... we normally troll the 20m contour about reef pressure points and bait schools. Along the 20m contour I wouldnt bother with a real deep diver, XRap 30 would be the deepest I would run.

But out at the ribbons working the drop (80-2000m) is a different story.
Its in these deeper waters that the R2S downsiders excel.

In 10m water I would run a pair of Halco Laserpros, or a laserpro and XRap 20.

S

[UNDEROVER]

My other thought was jigging the likes of the Halco Tremblers. They work well in the top half of the water column accounting for quite a few fish, so I figure dropping them to the bottom then cranking flat out back to the surface should achieve reasonable results.

[UNDEROVER]

Rather than starting a new thread, I thought I'd continue on with this one...

I'm curious to know if people have been chasing Macks with most attention being paid to the water temp rather than bait balls and reef areas?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I guess it'd probably take out people living north of maybe Bundaberg, where the water temp is consistently higher?

Here in Coffs, the water temp will fluctuate quite a bit depending on the predominant wind at the time which will either push the EAC against the coast or off it.

I'm struggling to get consistent results on these fish since moving here and I'm attempting to find an alternative that may improve my catch rate. I'm thinking that they may be riding the warmer currents and hopefully feed a bit more readily... :confused:

Would love to hear some thoughts.

Cheers.