Alungi/Albacore Trolling/Catches

[fisheye]

We caught 2 one 5kg and one 7kg we caught them while troling about 3 to 5 km outside filfla but by 8.30 we head to head back we were restricted by time. One was caught at about 7.00 on a deep diver with a 500gr lead while the other was caught on a surface lure half an hour later. There were some boats around and from what I could see some of them caught somthing too. 

[shanook]

NO NO DJS u will definitely not land a BTF )especially the over 50kg ones) by grabbing it from tail by hand......if u had a tail noose yes but not by hand. Alungi are different

[reuben485]

Thanks for the advices shankook and bigboy. I dont have a vhf but i got a gps. As for saftey I have them all. I will wait for the wind to be force 3 or less. Will let you know if i catch something.

[ForTuna]

Thanks kris

Fortuna you forgot to mention when all 4 rods took off at the same time looooll

E ija hin minnhom telqu l 4 qasab f daqqa

[bigboy]

Mela ahna c champions tal gurnata

[polidmar]

guys .. i'm just starting to fish for alungi for the  first time

.. is any place 6-12miles out of malta good for alungi or do you have to follow certain angles, bearings, directions etc.  I'm talking about the south of malta [filfla area] mostly?
.. sajd bir-rixa book recommends trolling speeds of 4-10knots [but thats a hell of a difference] .. what is the most likely speed to allow for a bite? 

many thanks for all your help.

[The_Gaffer]

Hi Polidmar, and welcome to the forum.  Your best bet is to troll at a speed of 6 to 6.5 knots.  The range you mention is good as well.  Anywhere in the 6-12 mile range out on the west coast (filfla area) is a good place to troll for alongi.  As soon as you arrive at the 1sst ridge (l-ewwel xifer) deploy your lures, and troll the area well.  Look out for surface activity, splashes and other boats which might have hooked up. 

[polidmar]

Thanks for your feedback Gaffer. By 'troll the area well' .. does it mean that you troll in circles (diameter large enough to avoid messing the lures together) or troll diagonally zigagging?  Or should one just release the lures and head straight out?  So if you see commotion [perhaps shearwater] should i steer into them?

[Jonathan]

Hi Polidmar,
We're usually talking about biggish areas so trolling in circles is not exactly suited.
As for boat speeds, yep in our book we did mention a wide range as it depends on the type of lure that you're running.
My recommendation would be to first pick the lure that you intend using, drop it in and see at which speed it swims best. Good luck

[toxictuna]

polidmar, if u go on a sat/sun you will get your answers... there will be some 20-30 boats all trying for the same fish.... just follow some of them...

[skip]

Thanks for your feedback Gaffer. By 'troll the area well' .. does it mean that you troll in circles (diameter large enough to avoid messing the lures together) or troll diagonally zigagging?  Or should one just release the lures and head straight out?  So if you see commotion [perhaps shearwater] should i steer into them?

Go to Whitesails nr the Blackpearl (Msida Marina) buy the admirality chart of Maltese waters which will show you the bottom contours and the ridges (xifer) and then run parallel with them, effectively parallel with the West coast. in some areas you go across but that's why the map is useful.

No circles.

[sajjiedf2]

Anyone catching alungi near Filfla?

[shanook]

not up to yesterday only single catches

[sajjiedf2]

Ahhh.. too bad. Seems the peak of the alongi season have alredy passed. Tough luck.

[sajjiedf2]

Please keep us informed of catches.

Thanks