Fishing Mentor Wanted D Wilson ??

[IRONPENNDGAR]

Thanks for all the great video and pictures of the is land paradise. I will be on Diego by 15 March 08. Looking for a mentor to teach this old sea dawg the tricks of the trade in DG . D wilson I followed your recommendation on what to pick up, then an old buddie gave me alot of his vintage Digeo tuna /wahoo gear circa 1987. Most note worthy tale of diego from my buddie Mark Mac was the tale of "tink" as your 20- 40 dollar maurder or zuker or n26 rapala goes to davey jones locker as the" tink "of your 50 -100 mono snaps with the bite of the big game monster of the IO. Told me to rigged 80% of my lures with steel leader coverd with mono. What is your two cents , if your still there Mr Wilson ? I Love cold beer and fishing. See you on the rock .

Till we drink to foam
Rich

[FishingLTJ]

The most fun you will have will probably be on the LCM craft! It's all bottom fishing, but loads of fun because of all the fish you catch.

Just ask as many questions as you want here, between me, dirtbag, and dwilson, we can answer a lot of your questions!

You are going to have a blast there!

[DWilson]

Well Howdy there Rich!

Robin got a hold of me already to make sure we get together for a trip when you arrive. My 2 pennies on leaders here? I opt for the steel braided leader with 2x terminal crimps everytime. The wahoo here alone make that a worthwhile investment! My fishing buddy here though opts for the mono and swears by it. He's lost waaaay more lures than I have though and we catch about the same in the long run. Being that supplies are limited here steel works for me!
We won't have a lot of time to fish once you get here, I roll out in the beginning of April to go back to Hawaii... Make sure I show you my fishing map it'll give you a real good idea of where the ledges and different fish hit at.
Look forward to seeing you here.... you lucky dog!
Keep 'em tight!
Dean

[IRONPENNDGAR]

Dean,

Thanks for the post . What size extra strong hooks do you recommend ? Brasspro has a 25% Sale this weekend plus 10 % military discount. My last stop before I leave on 11 March. I should be intown by the 14th give or take a day. Ready to catch a monster. Thanks again

Till we drink to the foam

Rich

[FishingLTJ]

I averaged my time there using size 7 hooks. But, it depends on what you are fishing for?

You will need some smaller hooks for catching bait, it's great for shark and trevally!

or if you get into a school of tuna, just drop the live bait off the side of the boat and hold on!

[IRONPENNDGAR]

Hey Gang

Thank you LT and D for all the great information. Clock is ticking and my time is almost up . I am ready for my venture to DG. This is the name brand wire I picked up in the 150-200 lb version :American Fishing Wire Downrigger Braid: What do you think ? I fish with 20 -30 power pro on my casting rod will this work ? What gear do you normally lose the most ? What should I stock up on the most ?( Pounds, size , material,(mono, flor-carbon, braided steel leader) I am sure there is always fisherman that are in the need . So I dont mind getting a little extra. See you soon.

Till we drink to the Foam

Rich

[FishingLTJ]

Actually, singers and wire. But they are both very obtainable on the island in the navy exchange. If you plan on going the hand reel style that the locals use, you will need some 60-80 pound mono, but you can also pick that up there.

What I found is that cabela's and bass pro shops will ship there no prob. Some of the rods just can't be shipped there, that's what you have to watch.

What do you have as far as lures you are taking for trolling? I would find some small to medium sized skirts for trolling the lagoon. The skip jack and trevally love them.

[FishingLTJ]

Also, I have a killer method that works for small trevally and skip jack from shore. I will draw a picture for you. I don't think it would be easy to explain in words! More to come

[IRONPENNDGAR]

LT,

I followed the advice of Dean picked up some 20 zukers/30 Billy Baites Bombers(Feathers, Plastic skirts) 6 Maurders, all gear ranges from medium to Heavy big game sizes with extra heavy hooks(treble an single 1 -10 sizes) Plus a 10 year old hand me down tackle box full of gear used in Diego Garcia. Thank you . My old friend did give me one plasctic hand reel. I will get some big mono this weekend. Thank you

Till we drink to the foam

Rich

[FishingLTJ]

yea, looks like you are on a better start than most going to DG.

You will need the big mono for the ocean master, if you are going to use your own gear. The boat captains there use 80 pound mono, some actually use mono leaders last time I was there. But I always strapped some wire on the end, I think 150 pound type. They sell spools of it there. That way you protect your investment on the lures you have purchased.

Any other last minute questions before you fly half way round the world?

[IRONPENNDGAR]

Clock is ticking and my sea-bag is getting filled with fishing tackle. Does anyone on the island need anything from lures to terminal gear. What are the hot colors ? Any partilcular lures or terminal gear ?? Last Call !

All big game lures 33% off. Line and Leader 33%- 40 % off
SKIRTS 50 % BIG GAME HOOKS 33 % off.


Till I get to the rock !

PS: I am addicted to Big game tackle and the pretty colors !~

Rich

[DWilson]

Sorry Guys,
Been offline for a bit. Season's gotten really really slow. 5 boats went out last week... only 1 hit and it wasn't all that impressive.
We've been taking out the mako's in the lagoon and bottom fishing for fun. Hopefully the catch will pick up and I'll have a productive trip before I leave.
Rich, sounds like you are on the right track, make sure to bring a purple rap they hit often and the wahoo tend to tear them up pretty bad. There are none on isle at this time and haven't been in over 6 months.
Time's passing pretty quick and i think I'm looking forward to going... will miss the fishing here though!
Keep 'em tight!
Dean

[IRONPENNDGAR]

Dean,

Is that a purple rapala ? What size ? I picked up some purple maruaders and couple of purple/ black stripes rapala style lures from bass pro. Bottom fishing . Is that with jiggs or live bait. I need to leave soon, my wife is ready to start the count down clock for me. She is honey-doing me to death . She is also getting a little PO from all this tackle I keep buying. I told her this fishing gear is like money on the island. Thanks again for all the help.

Till we drink to the foam

Rich

[DWilson]

Hey Rich,
The Rapala should be the purple body (painted wood torepedo shape) with black stripes, with two hard points for swivels/hooks. Make sure it's the one with the metal tongue so that it can be adjusted if it's running wrong. I went to the rapala site to make sure I gave you a model number but when I put in magnum all I got were a bunch of new plastic ones without the tunable tongue. I could swear though it was a magnum though. Think its the CD22 model about 9" long.
Go to the picture I posted of the basic lures I use here:
http://www.myfishsite.com/forums/pho...e.php?n=64&w=l
and look to the dead center... see that beat up rap? That's a hot one as well as the two purple (yes they look blue) Yo-Zuri's in the lower right corner. The pink blue and white med jet head skirt is a hot one for tuna and sail fish and the dark skirts are nice for wahoo. Oh, bring some small bright and I mean bright orange skirts..... great for Trevally and none on the isle. Man, you are going to love this place fishing wise and if you like tropical isle... well, what can I say?

Keep 'em tight!
Dean

[IRONPENNDGAR]

Dean,

Thanks again for all the great information. I will have to do so more searching today. I picked up a couple of non tuneables purple with balck tiger stripes basspro salt water brand. I will look harder today for some of the rap's. Have you had any luck with butter fly jigs for bottom fishing. I have read alot about the use of them and seems they may work . What colors for bottom fishing jigs if they are applicable?thanks again brother. I am ready to do any kinda of fishin once I arrive. The honey-do list all done just preparing for the trip .

TIll we drink to the foam
Rich

[FishingLTJ]

Butterfly jigs will work wonders. When you get there you will see that some people swear to cut/live bait for bottom fishing, and some that only use jigs. I personally made the switch to jigs the last week there and I caught twice the fish. But I also have used wahoo belly and cut barracuda, both produced a lot of results!

[IRONPENNDGAR]

Brother Dean,

Hows the weather for this weekend looking for a possible trip ?? I leave VA today for the milk run flight to DG with its 4-5 stops ? I should be on the island some time late on the 14 th of March around 1800. What do you think ? Any plans for ST Pattys day on the island ??

I am addicted to big game fishing lures and all the pretty colors

Till we drink to the foam

Rich