AJ fishing techniques

[AJ hunter]

That's interesting that they got them to come to the chum slick. I only seem to get sharks, cuda, and when lucky, cobia. The commercial boys drag a white rag around at the surface until they get them fired up. Hasn't worked for me but one of these days I'll get one of the old timers out on my boat and see how they do it. I will have to post some photos up before I can link them.

[awesum]

I recall seeing a TV show several years ago ..... I think it was Ralph Delph .... or somebody, that was fishing with Dick Butkus and they were casting to and catching AJ somewhere off the Florida coast.

I'm pretty sure some of the plugs were surface Rapalas. I thought that was unusual but they didn't. Some of the AJs were in the 40's.

[fishr1989]

Originally Posted by AJ hunter

I tied up a couple of world-class sabiki rigs following the instructions using a 130 lb fluoro mainline and two dropper hooks with 100 lb fluoro and 9/0 hooks. They look impressive. Nice the way the knot keeps the hook away from the mainline. I am just trying to think about what rod and reel I would possibly want to use, if I were to hook up on both droppers. Right now I am leaning toward my Penn Fathomaster 600 because I don't have a winch on my boat :-). I don't think G. Loomis has a rod for this application.

this might work
PSR72-80RSU
60-100 pelagic series all roller
Welcome to G.Loomis

[fishr1989]

Originally Posted by Ragman

Great report AJ hunter! I missed this somehow! Any pics?

I've read reports of AJ's on topwater, but have not personally done so!

I read where they came up because of all of the action that was created by a chum slick.

The guys ran out of live bait and started throwing topwaters and had hook ups.

I'm going AJ fishing in Key West on the 11th of March, and will try the OTI poppers I have for AJs after we catch a few on jigs or if I see them on the surface. It will be an interesting test of the theory.

[AJ hunter]

How was the fishing fishr1989? We went out near Big Pine a couple weeks ago. We slayed them. We caught and released 25 AJs on each of 2 days on gogs and blue runners. They were big boys and girls 40-60 lbs cause we could see eggs coming out of the vent and milt in the males.

[fishr1989]

Originally Posted by AJ hunter

How was the fishing fishr1989? We went out near Big Pine a couple weeks ago. We slayed them. We caught and released 25 AJs on each of 2 days on gogs and blue runners. They were big boys and girls 40-60 lbs cause we could see eggs coming out of the vent and milt in the males.

didn't get any aj's in march, the weather was too bad, there was too much current. so we went sailfishing, got my first sailfish, and later that week, i caught a 200lb lemon shark on a jigging rod. It was a great trip, most of it was on the fly rod, had an absolutely banner day on the 'cudas with my 6wt, what a time that was

'08 Stella SW vs Sailfish

200lb lemon shark on Barefoot Jigging rod

[AJ hunter]

Originally Posted by fishr1989

didn't get any aj's in march, the weather was too bad, there was too much current. so we went sailfishing, got my first sailfish, and later that week, i caught a 200lb lemon shark on a jigging rod. It was a great trip, most of it was on the fly rod

Sounds like you had a great time. Certainly, a couple of things to remember when you are old. I saw a couple of sailfish chasing bait while I was getting my bait early in the morning. Made me want to give em a go but I was after AJs those days....Next time.