Trolling for Greater Amberjack

[malvizzu]

This summer I would like to try my luck with trolling for Great Amberjack with dead bait or possibly live bait. Any tips regarding fishing gear, bait and method would be greatly appreciated.

[robby017]

Malvizzu, we share the same intention....... if you want we go together, either you come with me, or I come with you...... or we meet and go with 2 boats hehe.

[Swordfish]

Malvizzu, we share the same intention....... if you want we go together, either you come with me, or I come with you...... or we meet and go with 2 boats hehe.

When you go make sure you give me a buzz ta'...

[malvizzu]

Hopefully next weekend I will launch my boat. Will get in touch.

[robby017]

tiehux hsieb Swordfish....... hopefully it should be in days or weeks after the tournament.... well, that's the plan.

[Swordfish]

tiehux hsieb Swordfish....... hopefully it should be in days or weeks after the tournament.... well, that's the plan.

Great.. Mela nisma minghandek.

[malvizzu]

No feedback about my request yet. Come on guys!!! Also what is best - a lever drag or a star drag?

[benri]

Best to use is the guardiano method where you use a removable weight tied to a loop on the mainline.
http://www.supersuba.it/attrezzatura3.html
I would go for a good reliable lever drag reel in the 30lb region spooled with at least 60mm mono. Regarding bait, in my opinion live squid is best.
For rigs, you use a type of rig where the bottom hook is tied to the end of the line and another hook sliding further up.

[skip]

Not into live bait trolling myself, but if you want a good, 30lbs single speed lever drag have a good look at the Okuma Solterra SLR-30 from Norbert.

[malvizzu]

Thanks Benri. Will have a look.

@Skip - in fact yesterday I was at Norbert viewing his range. Very helpful indeed and a fantastic person. As I am a novice at this type of fishing I do not want to go for high-end gear but on the other hand I do not want something amateurish. He suggested a very good Ron Thompson 15-30 lbs and an Okuma Classic Pro. The set up looked great and my only concern was that the Classic Pro has a star drag. Will wait for the Solterra SLR-30 and than decide accordingly.

[benri]

if you're trolling for greater amberjack I would go for a rod higher than the 15-30lbs rod -  don't forget your rod will also be carrying the weight.
I wouldn't suggest a star drag - if it's an okuma you want, go for the solterra or the mighty makaira!

[fisheye]

I would prefer to have the weight on a separate line with a quick release clip attached about 1.5m above the lead. Having the main fishing line going down trough the quick release and the bait about 30m back. If you have a hit you will have to pull up only the weight of the fish and not the 2 or 3 kg lead as well.

[robby017]

but if you are drifting or trolling under 2 knots, you do not need that size of a weight.

[malvizzu]

I would prefer to have the weight on a separate line with a quick release clip attached about 1.5m above the lead. Having the main fishing line going down trough the quick release and the bait about 30m back. If you have a hit you will have to pull up only the weight of the fish and not the 2 or 3 kg lead as well.

@fisheye - that way I need to buy also a downrigger. As I previously stated I am a novice for this kind of fishing and thus would go for something more practical to start with. With the set-up I mentioned I can also use it for lampuki, alungi, tumbrell etc. So one for all at the moment

[lazyfisherman]

I'm not into this type of fishing (I mainly fish from land although I did occasionally use a scaled down version of this "piombo guardiano" for cervjol from a boat) but I think that if you were to use a good braid in your reel rather than a mono you will be using a  thinner line meaning that you will need less weight to get down to the same depth. Therefore it would be much more comfortable and will put less strain on the rod if you are using the guardiano method as suggested by benri.

You will also need to troll at very low speeds (not more than 2 knots) for your bait to remain alive and move well. If I am not mistaken, live garfish (imsell) is used a lot as bait for amberjack. But as I said I fish for small stuff - this is from what I have read and what I have heard from others.