It’s 10 a.m. in the Northeast Canyons. We have a handful of yellowfin and a bigeye on ice, fulfilling the crew’s desire for red meat. In my younger days, I would be preparing my spinning rods to go pot-hopping for mahi or possibly changing into my swimsuit for a canyon bath. Knowing the midday doldrums rarely produce bigeye bites, we are ready for a change. Over the past 10 years, daytime swordfishing has taken over as the most popular pastime for sportfish captains looking to burn a few hours before the sunset tuna bite. With large electric reels and window-sash weights, they search the deep for the gladiator of the seas. It’s true that a big swordfish next to the boat is one of the most exciting—and sometimes scary—scenarios a crew can experience. However, not everyone is interested in this “glorified fluke fishing”—hours staring at a rod tip, wondering how effectively that bait is fishing 1,500 feet below the boat.
(Note: On The Water is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.)
For tournament anglers, the answer is easy. Blue and white marlin are worth the most points in a tournament situation. And in most years, the winners of the Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard tournaments have been crews that capture the most release points for these fish. While hand-cranking a swordfish during a tournament is legal, this is an efficient use of time by only the very best of deep-drop captains. But what about the hundreds of anglers who venture offshore without the pressure of a tournament?
Most seasoned anglers have seen a big blue marlin in their spread. Maybe a big blue marlin ate a ballyhoo intended for tuna, or more likely, it was seen for only a moment as it batted away at a spreader bar with its bill. However, blue marlin are rarely found inside of 100 fathoms. White marlin, however, are commonly found inside the 30-fathom curve south of Cape Cod. They are occasionally found in state waters (within three miles of shore) off the coast of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York.
White marlin can be targeted using a variety of tactics. It’s common for one to eat a spreader bar, follow a popper, or even be seen slowly swimming along the surface. Because of their beak-like mouths and noncommittal way of attacking a trolled lure, they can be difficult to land on standard trolling tackle. J-hooks have a hard time finding purchase in their bony maw. Trolling a canyon spread with a mix of spreader bars, ballyhoo, and skirted lures does work and will catch marlin consistently, but what if you wanted to increase your hookup and landing percentage?
A dedicated, dead-bait trolling spread will accomplish just that for a crew committed and diligent enough to fish circle hooks. Put away the 50-wides and roller trollers. For this approach, I’m talking about small baits, small circle hooks, and light line. A Shimano Talica 25 loaded with 25- or 30-pound-test monofilament is ideal for pursuing white marlin in the Northeast.
The Northeast Marlin Spread
This basic marlin spread can be endlessly fine-tuned to effectively target “whitey.”
1) Dredges
Whether fished from outriggers, a designated dredge boom, or even a handline, the subsurface dredge is one of the most effective billfish teasers. However, a two- or three-tiered dredge with rubber or natural baits and a 10-pound trolling lead is a cumbersome apparatus. It is debated whether or not a dredge will raise marlin on its own, but it absolutely brings marlin closer to the boat and keeps them in the spread longer. It is important that the captain can see a fish when it appears so a hooked bait can be presented.
2) Bridge Teasers
Commonly fished from electric or pancake-style reels from above the captain’s head on the bridge, bridge teasers can also be fished from the rod tip. Comprised of squid chains, natural ballyhoo, mackerel baits, or even a large chugging lure, bridge teasers create the most surface commotion and bring billfish right to hand. These teasers are fished two or three waves back in the spread above the dredges, in clean water when possible.
3) Short Riggers
Short-rigger baits should be aggressive and loud. A medium chugging lure in the 10- to 14-inch range will catch the attention of a billfish as it falls back from the teasers. These lures are the only baits in our spread that contain J-hooks and can be fished on traditional tuna tackle.
4) Long Riggers
Long-rigger baits are a finesse offering to weary billfish. A naked dink ballyhoo rigged on a 6/0 circle hook is a natural, subtle presentation. This is where experienced crews start to separate themselves from the casual offshore angler. Crew members will stand, eyes fixed on the spread, thumbs on their spools and reels in free-spool, waiting for the tap of a marlin on the end of their lines.
5) Pitch Bait
Holding lines in the cockpit, ready to drop back to a billfish as they attack a surface teaser or dredge, is the most effective way to target white marlin. For white marlin, the pitch bait itself is usually a dink ballyhoo rigged on a circle hook—with or without a chugging head. For blue marlin, it’s a horse ballyhoo or Spanish mackerel on a larger outfit.
Why Go Light?
Light tackle boasts several advantages for white marlin; most importantly, light drag is the name of the game. Two to five pounds of drag is all that is needed for these acrobatic speedsters. Speaking of speed, this is where the speed of a Talica reel comes into play. Marlin can change direction quickly and tear off hundreds of yards of line in seconds. This is one reason thin-diameter monofilament is used as topshot. It slices through the water, preventing excess pressure from pulling or breaking light wire hooks. Also, light tackle is easily fished from the hand, unlike a bulky 50 wide. Do not fear the incidental hookup with a stud tuna or blue marlin on a 20-pound-class setup. Thousands of big tuna and blue marlin have been landed on a Talica 25 spooled with 30-pound mono.
Vigilance Catches More Marlin
Preparedness and alertness will pay dividends for committed crews. In fact, this extra effort is usually what separates the best crews from everyone else on the water, a great example of what helps 10% of anglers land 90% of the fish.
When a marlin appears on a teaser, pull the teaser away. Do not let the fish get a mouthful of plastic. Drop a pitch bait back to it or reel a rigger bait up to it, and stop right next to the fish’s eyeball. A lit-up, aggressive marlin, searching for the teaser he just lost, will pile on a properly presented bait. Allow the fish to turn and start taking line before slowly moving the drag lever to strike.
Spot and Stalk
These tactics are great for anglers willing to dedicate hours pursuing marlin. But, what about a white marlin an angler might encounter when going to and from the offshore tuna grounds? For such a situation, a single ballyhoo can be carefully trolled in front of a tailing fish or a bait can be cast in its direction. Marlin will often chase or slash at a popper or stickbait, but a well-presented live bait will be much more effective.
A live eel, scup, mackerel, or bluefish, rigged on a circle hook and cast into the path of a tailing marlin, will often be devoured. When live bait is not available, a dead ballyhoo can also work. There is no need for a 300-gram popping rod and Stella 18000 here. A 10000-size spinning reel, like a Shimano Saragosa or Twin Power, with 30- to 50-pound braid is all that’s needed for a fun and exciting battle.
Related Content
The Skillie Project: Tagging White Marlin with the Billfish Foundation
WATCH: Sight Fishing Marlin from a Bay Boat
LISTEN: The Art of Daytime Dropping for Swordfish with Capt. Max Dispoto – OTW Podcast #52
