Trolling & Big Game Equipment

What equipment do you need for trolling and big game fishing?

In trolling, what matters most is the depth your lures are running at and how wide an area they cover. A downrigger uses a weight to take the lure precisely to the depth you want, and a release clip lets the line go when a fish strikes. The fish is then played directly on the rod without any extra weight on the line. Planers take lures out to the side of the boat's path, while divers take a lure deeper without a separate device. With lures running at several depths, you find the level the fish are using that day much faster.

Rod holders keep the rods firmly in place along the gunwale and at the stern, allowing several rods to fish different depths and distances at the same time. Trolling swivels, snaps and leaders are built to withstand constant pulling and line twist.

In big game fishing, outriggers spread the lures across a wide area to each side of the boat, so several lures can run at once without tangling. Teasers and dredges imitate a school of baitfish near the surface and draw large predators up behind the boat.

Once a big fish is hooked, the fight can go on for a long time. A fight belt supports the butt of the rod, and a harness spreads the load across your back and legs, so you can keep going against a big tuna or another large ocean fish.

Check fittings and moving parts before every trip and rinse everything in fresh water afterwards, because salt wears mechanisms down quickly.