Jeff Beck and Chris Dawson share some theories on how to fight a king mackerel from a smaller boat. Both will have the angler who is going to fight the fish move immediately to the bow as soon as the fish bites. Beck stressed the importance of each crew member knowing his or her role so there is no confusion when the rod bends over and the reel starts screaming.
The downrigger rod is cleared immediately, provided that it was not the rod that got bit. Either way, the downrigger ball is cranked in to avoid a potential tangle. Once the angler is comfortable in the bow with the fish hooked up, the objective is to keep the line tight. The captain begins a slow turn towards the hooked fish, giving the angler the advantage of not having to worry about crossing any other baited lines while fighting the fish.
Both captains attempt to keep as many baits in the water as possible while fighting the fish, in hopes of a multiple hookup. The captain keeps an eye on the lines to ensure they don’t cross and gives instruction on which lines to crank in or leave out. They pull in only what they have to.
All the while, the gaff man is ready to move in whatever direction necessary as soon as the fish gets close enough to stroke. When fighting a fish to the gaff, a smaller, single-engine boat can actually be an advantage due to the maneuverability and fewer obstructions in the water for a fish to wrap around and get off — one lower unit and propeller instead of two or three.
Be the first to comment