When targeting Pacific Sailfish, we mostly use bait & Switch techniques or troll rigged skip baits. Sometimes however we want to cover more ground and increase by-catch of other species such as Wahoo, Spanish Mackerel, Yellowfin tuna and mahi mahi so occasionally we run lures.

The Sailfish season coincides with the Wahoo season so all lures are rigged on 125lb 49 strand wire. Make the leader long or the sail will use the lure head weight to throw the hooks when he jumps. We tag 4 out of 5 sail hook-ups when using long leaders. We find our lure spreads work best at about 6kts in most weather conditions.

This is what works for us. Its not necessarily what will work in your neck of the woods !

SHORT CORNER

1. Wellsys Medium Talai Purple or lumo green

2. Daisy Chain behind bird Pink squid with blue/pink Mold craft Hooker on the end

LONG CORNER

1. McWhog Blue/Chartruese Rigged in front of a garfish (Ballyhoo)

2. Pakula Cockroach - Purple

SHORT RIGGER

1. Wellsys Medium Turbojet Blue Silver / Green Gold (Evil)

(This is our absolute must have in the spread)

LONG RIGGER

1. Hollowpoint Mahi Sniper Blue/White or Silver/Pink

2. Pakula Phantom - Blue Silver / Green Gold (Evil) or Blue Angel

3. Pakula Sprocket - Lumo

SHOTGUN

1. Marlin Magic Kona Bullet Black/Red

Where we get our lures :

Palm Fishing Australia Melton International Tackle

Lure Manufacturer Links :

# Wellsys Lures

If you want to know what the top Australian skippers use, check out the lead article in the Feb / Mar issue of BlueWater magazine at href="http://www.bluewatermag.com.au/" target="_blank">www.bluewatermag.com.au

Adrian was born on the island of Cyprus and graduated to his first rod & reel at the age of five. Having fished around the world from the Arabian Gulf to the North sea and English Channel, he finally settled for the tropical waters of the South Pacific around the island of Kadavu, Fiji Islands. Director of Matava Resort Gamefishing, he skippers 'Bite Me', the resort's 31ft DeepVee Gamefishing vessel and thoroughly enjoys exploring the light and heavy tackle fishing around the island and Great Astrolabe Barrier Reef. An IGFA Certified Captain, he advocates tag & release and is a keen supporter of the IGFA and the Billfish Foundation.

Adrian Watt,

IGFA Captain

info@matava.com

http://www.matava.com

NAME: Adrian Watt

EMAIL: bitemefiji@gmail

URL: http://www.matava.com/