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Offshore Insights: Positions in the Offshore Trolling Spread
19
Nov
Nov
Offshore Trolling Positions
When you’re trolling offshore, it takes hours of patience to be ready for those few minutes of absolute mayhem when a fish strikes a bait. Few things are more important than being on the same page with the rest of your crew when a fish decides to show up in your spread offshore. Knowing the name of each trolling bait position is an important skill… it can win or lose a lot of money when you are fishing a tournament. Check out this illustration of offshore trolling positions from Sport Fishing Magazine to see the names of the different bait positions in the spread.
This picture shows an 8 line trolling spread with 2 teasers- a rather complex presentation. It covers most of the standard line positions you may find on a boat offshore trolling in the USA or Caribbean. Many boats pull only 4 or 5 lines- usually the left and right rigger baits, the left and right flat line baits, and a shotgun bait. Regardless of your trolling technique, make sure every member of the crew knows the name of each bait position before the first line hits the water.
Offshore Trolling Positions Dictionary:
-The Spread: The assortment of lines and trolling lures pulled behind the boat when offshore trolling
-Left Long Rigger: The outside (further) outrigger bait on the starboard side of the boat
-Left Short Rigger: The inner (closer) outrigger bait on the starboard side of the boat
-Left Flat: The corner bait on the starboard side, not pulled on the outrigger
-Shotgun: The bait behind the riggers and flatlines, pulled in the center of the spread
-Deep Shotgun: A secondary shotgun bait, positioned even further back than the “shotgun”
-Right Flat: The corner bait on the port side, not pulled on the outrigger
-Right Short Rigger: The inner (closer) outrigger bait on the port side of the boat
-Right Long Rigger: The outside (further) outrigger bait on the port side of the boat
-Bridge Teaser: A lure or chain of lures run without hooks in order to tease fish up into the spread. Bridge teasers are run from stationary reels positioned in the bridge of the boat. Often a dredge or daisy chain
Good Times & Tight Lines-
Bluefin USA