Balloon Fishing with a Twist?????

[gman]

yeah 20 years later he will be on a fishing board when someone posts embarrassing pictures of his life's fishing adventures ... hmm sound familiar LMAO

[Deep_Sea_Gull]

That's a great shot gman. Thanks for sharing.

[gman]

thanks, I told Anthony last night I have to split time offshore and inshore this year. He wasnt too happy LOL

[bunile]

Yes I did get all excited. I have a really big LAUGH, thanks for taking the time to read this BUB!

[Reaux]

[quote=gman

If you really want to get creative buy a portable balloon inflator and inflate the balloons with helium and send them up with some floss. The giant bluefin tuna fleet off Massachusetts uses balloons to drift live bluefish for giant bluefin ... very effective for big fish.

Definately effective in other parts of the world so I'm sure it would work down there

**honestly the bad thing about balloon fishing is all the plastic that ends up in the ocean[/QUOTE]

Getting in on this thread a little late, but . . . .

Gman is right balloning is used in other parts of the world, like Steep Point Australia. Steep point is a pretty weird place where the Aussies fish for pelagic fish (Spanish - look like Wahoo to me, Tuna, even Sailfish, and other species) from cliffs. They commonly, when the wind is right, employ ballons to send there bait out. Here is a how they do it.

"This is an example of one of many types of Balloon rigs used to carry large baits out to sea from the rock ledges at Steep Point.
You obviously need a wind at your back to force the balloon away from you and out to open water. This in turn "drags" the bait out as well. The bait cannot sink as the balloon is constantly pulling it to the surface..this creates a splashing effect which attracts the catch, once the bait is taken ..the catch will dive deeper..the balloon is dragged down to the waters surface and the 6 kilo line will snap..releasing the balloon and leaving you to play the catch...The vision of your balloon floating off the surface into the horizon is a pretty surefire indication that something has taken your bait, not to mention your reel drag screaming into life.."Although, because of the amount of line you have in the water, usually 300 metres or more...you will see the balloon go..long before your reel will let you know you've been taken."
You can also attach the balloon line to your main line using a snap swivel. This method will allow the balloon line to make its way back to your rod tip as you reel the fish in...saving the balloon for the next time. The helium in the balloon usually lasts one day.
The longer you have the balloon line...the straighter out you will go...pretty important to remember this when ballooning amongst other fishers. The last thing you need is to be going across the other fishers lines. This can lead to arguments and trouble that you dont need.
If you, or others in the vicinity of your bait "hook up".... its common courtesy to bring your line in.. to avoid tangles and the possibility of you.. or your fellow fisher losing "maybe" the catch of a lifetime. Most fishers will do the right thing, pull their lines in and allow you to bring your catch in.
Tip: Pear shaped balloons tend to spin a lot more while out at sea...use a round balloon if possible..if not..then use an extra swivel near the balloon in the balloon line."

And here is their URL, it's worth a visit. Steep Point

Reaux

[Uncle Russ]

Reuax: Good diagram, but a few points and questions:

1. I would trust your designation of the (6 kilo) strength of the balloon line a lot more than the designation (6 lb) in the diagram. I think 6 lb. would break before the fish struck.

2. I consider myself an environmentalist, within reason, and I can certainly understand and respect folks' concern about adding any plastic to the crap we put into our oceans, but in reality, I doubt very much whether all the balloons lost by all the fishermen in all the oceans in all the planet amount to a hill of beans compared with what China, for example, floats down the Yangtse River in 30 seconds on a good day. And then, I would wonder how many of those get eaten by fish and how many of those are adversely affected. Not saying it has no impact--just that common sense would tell me it is minimal. I suspect most, though not all on this board, would agree with that.

3. What in the hell does "...with swinging suicide off the 4'th mean??? It apparently refers to the little hookie doodle above the line of joined hooks. Never heard that term before. How do you hook the bait on that rig?

Thanks,

Russ

[SkeeterRonnie]

WalMart sells a small helium tank complete with balloons for $30.... inflate a ballon, tie it about 3o feet from the bait and send it out. been curious about this for a couple years now... i betcha tuna would be all over a big bait. you could really float some line out there- probably even straight 130 braided witha 6 foot shock leader of 100# flouro.

[gman]

Originally Posted by SkeeterRonnie

WalMart sells a small helium tank complete with balloons for $30.... inflate a ballon, tie it about 3o feet from the bait and send it out. been curious about this for a couple years now... i betcha tuna would be all over a big bait. you could really float some line out there- probably even straight 130 braided witha 6 foot shock leader of 100# flouro.

you could put wire on it and the fish wouldn't see it as long as teh bait is ontop of the water

[Reaux]

Originally Posted by Uncle Russ

Reuax: Good diagram, but a few points and questions:

1. I would trust your designation of the (6 kilo) strength of the balloon line a lot more than the designation (6 lb) in the diagram. I think 6 lb. would break before the fish struck.

2. I consider myself an environmentalist, within reason, and I can certainly understand and respect folks' concern about adding any plastic to the crap we put into our oceans, but in reality, I doubt very much whether all the balloons lost by all the fishermen in all the oceans in all the planet amount to a hill of beans compared with what China, for example, floats down the Yangtse River in 30 seconds on a good day. And then, I would wonder how many of those get eaten by fish and how many of those are adversely affected. Not saying it has no impact--just that common sense would tell me it is minimal. I suspect most, though not all on this board, would agree with that.

3. What in the hell does "...with swinging suicide off the 4'th mean??? It apparently refers to the little hookie doodle above the line of joined hooks. Never heard that term before. How do you hook the bait on that rig?

Thanks,

Russ

It's not my diagram Russ. Went searching for more information but can't get into their forums (three different browsers none get in) but before things closed down I did find a few things out. Yes their diagram says 6lb. but that is wrong as others were talking about 30lb. for the balloon tether line. I haven't the faintest idea what a swinging suicide hook is; but from other descriptions before their site went nuts it is apparent that for whatever reason they commonly rig five hooks in some sort of gang fashion.

Finally they do mention that the balloon can be released to the main line via a snap swivel - I can't find the actual diagram of this set up but suspect that there is a second line that is connected to the main running line via a snap swivel. I guess what happens is that when the balloon tether line breaks (the one connected to the three way swivel) that the second line - the one connected to the snap swivel then is free to run up to the rod tip. I surmise they either leave it there for the duration of the fight of they or someone else opens the snap swivel and removes the line and balloon from the main running line. I suppose, if the balloon doesn't break first, that this would be more ecological correct.

Okay, the site is working again. Here is a quote:

"We use 4 to 5 9/0s ganged with a 1.5m 80pd multi strain wire leader. The Ganged hook's are connected to the leader with crimps and then to the main line. We use 20kg for the main line. From the main line we have a swivel that is able to run up and down the main line freely and to this swivel we attach a light line such as 8kg for the balloon line. We make our balloon line about 20m long. We use the large 90cm balloons."

Steep Point Forum - Powered by vBulletin Open General Chat most of their ballooning discusions are in there.

And a little more from their Gallery section. Pretty amazing that they can catch blue water fish from the cliffs.

"Anglers come from far and wide to Steep Point to try their luck at the most western point of the mainland.
The most popular form of fishing here is ballooning where big baits are carried several hundred metres offshore by gas filled balloons.
This form of fishing, which has become hugely popular in the past 20 years, offers land based anglers a chance to catch the fish of a lifetime.steep point
Spanish Mackerel are the main target, and some huge Spaniards have been taken this way, as have Cobia, Shark Mackerel, Tuna, Yellow tail Sea Kingfish .and big Sharks. Even Sailfish are abundant in these waters, and it is not uncommon for an angler to attract a crowd around him as a"Saily" puts on a spectacular show.
Steep Point is one of the few places in Western Australia where you can fish with the wind at your back on most days.
Steep Point actually faces North East, which means you can fish with a South Westerly wind, not many places in the country you can do this."

Reaux

[Uncle Russ]

Thanks. That truly is amazing.