Fishing for Marlin
on the Reef
The lures have also come into their own with the sonar fishing style.
Being able to turn around faster on a mark and present the spread again is a definate bonus as well as being able to stay on faster moving tuna schools.
Considering a typical bait troll speed in the range of 5-6 knots versus a typical lure troll speed of 7-9, lures will get you where you want to go faster and they have certainly caught plenty of big fish.
Luke will typically troll lures when moving between spots on the reef. Not only the speed getting you where you want to get faster but driving in a straight line rather than hugging the shape of the reef and saving baits over the openings are major positives.
Fishing Wide: Certainly later in the season when the weather fines and we have the opportunity to fish wide on the tuna aggregations lures come into their own.
There is in fact a great fishery off the reef itself and being able to access it again comes down to a combination of good weathers and lure trolling speed. They also bring blue marlin into play which you’ll more often find a bit off the edge as well.
Bigger yellowfin tuna aggregate ‘offshore’ in the Coral Sea and traditionally are more prevalent as the water warms towards the second half of this season. Obviously a target species due to their eating quality the marlin enjoy them as well!
Trolling lures out wide isn’t just an easy or time filling option but it’s a good producing strategy at the right time! Grander giant black marlin on lures are great fun!
Bycatch: Lures tend to have a better hookup rate on lures for the toothy creatures in particular wahoo for example that will snip a dead bait and miss the hooks (typically head rigged), but will not be so fortunate on lures.
These days we predominantly run a single hook rigs as opposed to the doubles we used to run. Generally the hookup rate on big marlin on the lures is surprisingly good!
Bait for marlin
Lures for marlin
