FIVE TIPS FOR MARLIN
WE’RE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU TO “LISTEN TO YOUR GUIDE.”
THIS IS BASIC, OVERDONE AND IF PLANS INCLUDE A
CHARTER IN CABO OR PUERTO RICO FOR MARLIN, CHANCES
ARE YOU HAVE FISHED WITH A GUIDE BEFORE. SOME ITEMS
THAT ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED OR UNKNOWN IS OUR OFFERING HERE.
HOPEFULLY THESE MIGHT HELP YOU WITH SOME OF THE
OTHER STUFF YOU MIGHT HAVE OVERLOOKED.
1. Stay Alert
You should be watching the teasers. A good captain & mate will be on top of things but there have been countless times when one of the anglers has spotted a fish before one of the working crew. Stay alert so you don’t miss any chances. Binoculars can help too, especially on a calm day, but if your are prone to seasickness, avoid them.
2. Take a few practice swings
You will be casting a large fly on a heavy rod with a heavy line. It won’t feel normal if you’ve been casting a 6 or 8 weight. A 14 weight feels like a baseball bat compared to a 6 weight. Don’t worry about it, just focus on getting the fly behind the teaser. Most times a 25 foot roll cast will do it. Stay focused on the fish and not how pretty your cast is or how strange the heavier gear feels. You definitely want to “choke up” and take a few swings before hand.
3. The Double Fly
Sometimes despite how good the fly is, you might need two. If you are not using the Trey Combs double hook style fly, you might want to try the double fly. Tie a popper fly & baitfish fly together using a 4-6 inch piece of 100 lb mono. Tie one end to the hook of the popper and the other to the eye of the baitfish hook (or vice-versa). This will increase the number of actual hookups.
4. Quick change
Use a quick change loop connection to connect your tippet & fly. Be ready to change quickly when on the boat. Sometimes the need may arise for you to change flies for one reason or another and a loop connection is always the best way to go. Marlin have great vision, but at 30 mph, they won’t be leader shy. Have different popper & fish color combinations in singles & double fly ready at all times. Don’t forget to make your loop big enough to pass the fly through.
5. Use your muscle
Unlike the finesse required for flats fish, sometimes you need to muscle a billfish, especially on the fly. If you are using a typical 9 foot fly rod, you will struggle to lift the head of these powerful fish. When you can pull on him with gentle consistent pressure, gradually adding some drag and gain line in that manner. When a fish is sounding, there is nothing you can do except try not to lose too much line. When the fish is jumping, this is our opportunity to work aggressively and take as much line back as you can. The fight could take an hour or more at times so do anything you can to speed things along, take advantage. It’s better for the angler but especially better for the fish.
