Help - Fishing For Alungi

skip · April 22, 2008, 12:19:46 CET

Joe, upload those pics to the gallery under Miscalleanous and then once they are there I can link them in your post as I can't extract the pics from the word doc without losing resolution.

The_Gaffer · April 22, 2008, 12:25:31 CET

OK, will do

Gazzetta · April 22, 2008, 12:29:01 CET

Very nice boat mate !!!

Regarding the reels, so do you think the Okuma Magda 45 DX is just a toy when trolling for albacore ? $:-\$
Will it manage to overcome the albacore's force ?

Chris

skip · April 22, 2008, 12:38:46 CET

Nice machine, love the fact you only use 7.5litres per hour at 18 knots, verus our 50 litres per hour of petrol in my dads 32 foot boat. It's been sold so as you might have read, am looking for an 18 foot center console to make life more affordable.

Have a good read in the Offshore fishing >5nm boards as there's also a section for organised trips/cost sharing if that would be of interest to you. And there's some good info the Equipment, Technique and Tips section. Am sending you a private message concerning another issue.

The bluefins are about, so far I have only encountered them in one spot and in abdunace. I'm not sure what this area has as the bottom contours are nothing special but they seem to hang around in this area. Bluefins are supposed to start in June up until July but whether they make it to Maltese waters is all dependant on commercial fishing activities further West of us in the Med near the straits of Gibraltar.

If you're up for it, Medina Bank is around 80nm miles away and fantastic for fishing, that's where the big blues hang out and thus the commercial fishing purse seiners.

The 10-20kgs bluefin seem to hang around right into Lampuki season well into September, so far I have not caught any in the June/July season that is supposed to be abundant for them.

Great post about the your encounter with the bluefin. As gottie mentioned elsewhere you might want to consider putting Spectra backing on your reels in order to increase your line capacity without needing to change your reels.

In case you're interested I have a new Penn International V 30Wide Single speed lever drag reel that's up for sale, that will hold 900 yards of 30lbs line but I've spooled it with 750yards of 50lbs mono.

If your drags gave out on you consider getting a new set of HT100 drag washers and then either use them dry if you want maximum pressure or wet with Cal's drag grease for maximum smoothness losing some drag pressure. However I think that fish was just a little too big for your outfit.

One thing I've seen is a video of a similar occurance and the skipper turned the boat in the direction of the fish and went towards it at pretty high speed to recover line as the angler moved to the side and reeled in like crazy. I believe it was a marlin as the fish was near the surface, so wouldnt work too well with tuna that love to dive!

If you're into the idea, would love to go out fishing this summer as a group of boats, keep the fish in the area, it's more fun and pool our knowledge. You're also welcome to come out fishing with me, we'll pop over to that spot I mentioned if you like.

Skip

benri · April 22, 2008, 12:41:43 CET

Thanks for all info guys. Very interesting. This year should be my first year fishing for alongi and I just can't wait! It's becoming more difficult! What is the best time to be out fishing e.g. at daybreak? Do alongi bite all times or are there just specific times please? Where do you go out of filfla - e.g. in line with dingli, blue grotto, etc.

skip · April 22, 2008, 12:43:38 CET

Quote from: Gazzetta on April 22, 2008, 12:29:01 CET
Very nice boat mate !!!

Regarding the reels, so do you think the Okuma Magda 45 DX is just a toy when trolling for albacore ? $:-\$
Will it manage to overcome the albacore's force ?

Chris

It should be fine for Albacore up to 10kgs, if you get a big one you might run out of line/drag!

skip · April 22, 2008, 12:46:12 CET

Hi Benri, they say the morning is best but I've never caught a single fish before 8.30am ever! Maybe just unlucky or not in the right place at that time. Alungi caught up until around 1pm, nothing in the afternoon nor the evening for me.

Bluefin up till 4pm.

The West coast is where you want to be, starting from 5nm abeam of the freeport, running up in that area then along the ridge heading out past filfla and then parallel with the West coast at whatever distance you feel comfortable at. You can go all the way up along side Gozo abeam of Dwejra and have good results from personal experience.

The_Gaffer · April 22, 2008, 12:54:19 CET

Am I up to the idea???....is the Pope Catholic?....sure I'm up to the idea...I would be delighted to go out fishing either as a group of boats, or as your fishing mate. As for drag washers, I purchased the very same ones you mentioned from cabelas....but I greased them. Recently I have a keen interest in Shimano TLD 25, I can get a good bargain on the net.
You know, blue fin are every offshore fishermans dream, they put up such a big fight. Have a feeling that this season will be a good one

The_Gaffer · April 22, 2008, 13:03:03 CET

Hi Benri,

In my experience, dawn is the best time to start. As day break occurs, make sure you are in position with your lures in the sea. Alungi seem to like early breakfast. Skip was spot on as regards the area. you can get strikes at 5Kmiles out of il-mara, and then just head up the ridge towards filfla, taking a turn towards the east just as the ridge drops off. Read the other posts in this section, you'll get all the necessary info.
Tight lines!!
Joe

gottie · April 22, 2008, 15:37:16 CET

Daybreak is definately the best time for albacore. If you really want to boost your chances for albacore you have to start trolling before daybreak. This year I had an instance where I caught 7 in an hour and then it all went dead as the sun became brighter. On the other hand there were days where the only times I got strikes was around midday in brightsunlight. But daybreak is surely the best time.

Gazzetta · April 22, 2008, 15:40:21 CET

Quote from: skip on April 22, 2008, 12:43:38 CET
Quote from: Gazzetta on April 22, 2008, 12:29:01 CET
Very nice boat mate !!!

Regarding the reels, so do you think the Okuma Magda 45 DX is just a toy when trolling for albacore ? $:-\$
Will it manage to overcome the albacore's force ?

Chris

It should be fine for Albacore up to 10kgs, if you get a big one you might run out of line/drag!

Have you ever esperienced this ? What's the best thing to do if such thing happens ?? Maybe cut the line and tie an empty tank to it

Chris

benri · April 22, 2008, 16:16:07 CET

Please excuse my stupidity but what /where is the ridge?

skip · April 22, 2008, 16:46:50 CET

Chris,

I have a Penn Commander 30 that just about ran out of line, so I turned up the drag and the fish caused the 37kgs Rapala snap swivel to open up like a pin and I therefore lost the fish. Either way I was about to run out of line, you wouldnt believe how fast it goes off. The only way you could tie, would be to attach the jerry can/tank to your rod/reel and throw the whole thing in. There's NO WAY you could stop the line and attach!

skip · April 22, 2008, 16:48:24 CET

Benri,

Underwater ridge/ledge where you have say 200 meters on one side and then a drop off with 500m on the other side caused a ledge in the seabed. Buy an admirality chart or similar of the West coast and you will see the depth markings and you can see where the ridge is, even plot your GPS course along it, after checking where the current is to see which side you track along.

Gazzetta · April 22, 2008, 18:46:30 CET

Hi Guys,

Thanks a lot for your explanation guys !!

Quote from: skip on April 22, 2008, 16:48:24 CET
Benri,

Underwater ridge/ledge where you have say 200 meters on one side and then a drop off with 500m on the other side caused a ledge in the seabed. Buy an admirality chart or similar of the West coast and you will see the depth markings and you can see where the ridge is, even plot your GPS course along it, after checking where the current is to see which side you track along.

From were can I buy an admirality chart ?

Chris