With the game fishing season in full swing it might be timely to hone your skills on some proven lure rigging techniques.
THERE are few more exciting events in the world of fishing than having a skirted trolling lure crunched by a lit-up billfish. I’ve spent countless hours over the years gazing intently at a spread of billfish pushers, ever in hope of seeing a big beakie explode on a carefully rigged artificial creation working in the wake. Australians have been at the forefront of developments in the world of trolling artificial lures for billfish. Names such as Peter Pakula, Arch Livingstone and Joe Ritchie are synonymous with the pursuit of billfish on artificial lures in this country and are considered key figures in the development of this most exciting form of game fishing.
This time of year is considered the prime marlin fishing season at many of the hottest game fishing ports around country, especially along the East Coast. So this month we’ll look at how to rig a skirted lure, particularly for those anglers looking to tackle their first billfish. Talented young game fisherman Ben Job has done an excellent video demo for fishingworld.com.au which shows the best way to effectively rig a skirted lure. This instructional clip provides intricate detail into the rigging techniques required to provide you with the best chance of bringing your first lure caught billfish to boat for tag & release.
Terminal tips
While there are a tremendous variety of skirted billfish lures and rigging combinations available these days, the video on the Fisho website outlines a standard billfish pusher rig which is capable of coping with all manner of billfish up to and including sizeable blue marlin. The video rigging demonstration of the Polu Kai billfish pusher provides instruction on the classic shackle rig popularised by world-renowned game fishing authority Peter Pakula. This rig revolutionised lure trolling for billfish in the 1980s and is still the preferred rigging technique today.
To start with, you will require a length of 400lb hard monofilament leader such as Rovex Mono Leader. For those anglers fishing wind-on leaders, Ben recommends rigging the billfish lure on an eight-foot hard monofilament trace. Competitive anglers should always ensure that their leader lengths and lure rigging complies with the relevant GFAA and IGFA regulations. Working with heavy hard monofilament leaders really requires the use of the correct crimping or swaging tools. If you don’t want to buy your own, then most serious tackle shops located around our coastal game fishing ports will have these available and should be able to provide instruction on correct crimping or swaging techniques. Keep in mind that you will need to invest in the proper equipment, such as a quality crimping tool, if you decide that you want to make up your own trolling lure rigs.
To attach your 400lb hard mono leader to the snap swivel on your wind-on Ben recommends employing a crimped loop to the end of the leader utilising a 2.3mm crimp. A short length of armoured spring is slid onto the leader loop prior to crimping to protect the leader loop from wear through contact with the snap clip during hours of trolling. Be sure to only use crimps specifically designed for use with monofilament lines. Wire crimps or swages are not recommended for this task.
The next step in the rigging process is to thread the skirted billfish lure onto your 400lb hard mono leader. This is followed by a small rubber ball cock washer, which is readily available from any plumbing supplier. Ben pierces a small hole in the washer with a leather punch to ensure the washer is a tight fit on the 400lb hard mono leader. The washer performs two vital tasks: firstly, it protects the crimp from damage from contact with the back of the lure head and, secondly, it holds the skirted lure up the leader away from hooks and fish during the fight.
To complete the leader we need to crimp a loop to the leader end which features a stainless steel thimble to protect the loop from wear through contact with the hook shackle while trolling, during the fight with the billfish and during the tracing process. Once again a 2.3mm crimp is used for creating this loop. Be sure to fully close up the stainless steel thimble with pliers prior to crimping it in place within the leader loop. You can now attach your two-hook shackle rig to your 400lb hard mono leader. Ben recommends tightening the shackle pin with pliers to minimise the risk of the shackle coming undone while fishing. Two-hook rigs are recommended as it is generally accepted that they provide an improved hook-up rate with billfish. They can be purchased ready made from tackle shops or you can make your own up to suit your lures.
Check out the illo opposite for details of the the rig. Combined with the how-to clip on the Fisho site, this should help you DIY rig skirts like a pro!
If you decide to make up your own two-hook rigs, and if you’re a competitive game angler, they must be constructed to comply with GFAA and IGFA regulations. Most anglers make up their two-hook rigs on stainless steel wire to provide a degree of protection from the razor gang. Hook configurations are a topic of regular debate. Ben rigs his hooks at 180 degree to each other, while my good friend and noted billfish authority Peter Pakula always recommends 90-degree rigs. I’d be happy to go with either, as long the hooks are razor sharp. Happy trolling!
