One of the most effective ways of putting meat on the deck during the hot summer months is by pulling planers. Deadly for kingfish, wahoo, bonito and blackfin tuna, local charter boats make a living by fishing with planers year round, proving the technique works. When water temperatures begin to heat up, the fish tend to congregate in the cooler water deeper in the water column. Trolling with planers is a great way to get baits down to where the fish are.
Planers come in many sizes ranging from small to extra large. Though boat speed is certainly part of the equation, planer size will dictate how deep your bait will run. Generally speaking, the larger the planer, the deeper your bait will get. Keep in mind that the bigger planers require heavier tackle because they create more drag in the water.
My planer set ups consist of Diawa Saltist 30 wide reels mounted on bent butt rods rated for 30 to 50 pound line. The reels are spooled with 50 pound monofilament with a 100 yard top shot of 80 pound braid tied to a heavy ball bearing snap swivel that attaches to the planer. I like to fish a #3 planer in one corner and a #4 planer in the other corner so that one bait will run a bit deeper than the other. Connected to the business end of the planer by a ball bearing snap swivel is an 80 to 100 foot length of 60 to 100 pound monofilament shock leader. Attached to the end of the shock leader by a swivel is a double hook sea witch. Reel Deal Bait and Tackle in Fort Lauderdale carries a wide selection of planers and pre-made yoyo rigs along with everything else you’ll need to get tight.
When targeting kingfish, my baits of choice are bonito strips or strips of dolphin belly. To rig the strip bait to the double hook sea witch, insert the first hook through the skin side, about a quarter inch from the top of the strip. Then, carefully measure the strip to determine the proper placement of the second hook. It’s critical that the strip lays flat so it won’t spin.
As mentioned earlier, I like to utilize both a #3 and a #4 planer. The #4 is my long and deep bait so I like to deploy that one first. The #3 is set closer to the boat so it fishes a little shallower and won’t get tangled with the long bait. Depending on the direction and speed of the current, the best trolling speed varies from 3 to 6 knots. When a fish hits, the planer will trip and rise towards the surface. You’ll want to reel the planer all the way to the rod tip. Once the planer reaches the tip of your rod, be sure to back off on your drag in case the fish decides to take off. From here, it’s time to hand line the fish slowly towards the boat so you can end the game with a gaff shot to the head.
If you are heading offshore to target dolphin, it’s a good idea to incorporate a planer into your spread, especially once the sun is high in the sky and heating up the surface temperature. Getting a bait down 15 to 30 feet below the surface can sometimes be the difference between a good day or bad day. In this case, the sea witch and strip bait combo will work, but you can utilize a snap swivel at the end of your shock leader to attach a ballyhoo rigged on wire so you are covered in case a fish with zebra stripes decides to crash the party.
Good luck and tight lines!
~ GENE DYER