[floridadeckie]

probably the smartest answer i've heard so far is that there is no real answer. marlin don't really see color all that well, or at least as well as you and i see it. what they focus more on is the contrast of the silohuette (sp?) against the bright sky. even though it seems to be counter-intuitive, pull darker lures on overcast days and lighter colored lures on brighter days. and it doesnt hurt to have one dark lure among a bunch of lighter lures, and vice versa. also, your speed depends on the boat, conditions, wind, lures, position in the clip, etc. a good skipper is always monitoring how his baits or plugs are running and adjusts the speed of the boat or position of the lure accordingly. but if just want to know what lures to pull, you cant go wrong with a Blue/white islander with a fat horse ballyhoo tucked up inside it or a purple/black/silver senior mold craft widerange

[Capt'n J]

Just a "little ta do" about Marlin Lures. I tried the jock strap with a 12/0 for a day and that ain't it.

One thing that is consistent in Hawaii is the billfish love to be antagonized and nothing seems to get it done better than stripes. Blue and Red, black and blue, blue and silver. I don't know the science behind it but flashing stripes at billfish seems to p!$$ them off pretty good. Then they start busting things up all over the place.

Just another day in Paradise. Hawaii update. It's been beautiful here on Kauai but he calm waters have slowed the bite. We are looking forward to the next temp band to arrive in a day or two and then its TUNA TIME!

Mahalo,

Capt'n J
http://www.deepseafishingkauai.com

[gamefish]

I agree wholeheartedly with floridadeckie....

Originally Posted by floridadeckie

probably the smartest answer i've heard so far is that there is no real answer. marlin don't really see color all that well, or at least as well as you and i see it. what they focus more on is the contrast of the silohuette (sp?) against the bright sky. even though it seems to be counter-intuitive, pull darker lures on overcast days and lighter colored lures on brighter days. and it doesnt hurt to have one dark lure among a bunch of lighter lures, and vice versa. also, your speed depends on the boat, conditions, wind, lures, position in the clip, etc. a good skipper is always monitoring how his baits or plugs are running and adjusts the speed of the boat or position of the lure accordingly. but if just want to know what lures to pull, you cant go wrong with a Blue/white islander with a fat horse ballyhoo tucked up inside it or a purple/black/silver senior mold craft widerange

In my personal experience and assuming that you are fishing in the right area as first and foremost determined by water colour, temperature and all the other natural signs, go for contrast with the sky, which is the background against which fish see the lure.
I do believe however that the first step is the boat itself which acts as the primary teazer, so I fish my lures as close as possible to the boat without burying them in the white water, and as fast as possible, without having them jump and tumble. (Even considering using flat line clips to reduce the angle between the line and the water surface to keep the lures down in the water)
I do not consider myself an expert, but with a hookup rate of over 95% on lures, and around 50 assorted billfish under the belt, I can honestly say that in my case colour and size seems to be of secondary importance despite the fact that I favour darker lures (black&red, black&purple, darkblue&white) I am also not in the habit of constantly changing lures out on any particular trip, but try and concentrate to vary my speed constantly to suit the direction of troll. as long as the birds want to eat my lures - I am very happy!
I often think that the lure makers catch more of us, than fish with all the fancy colours.....
Tight lines guys
Gamefish

[jimbeam]

Originally Posted by Warren

What is everyone using to catch the larger blue marlin ?

A slightly offset diamond pattern can be used as a basic lure placement set-up, making adjustments as you see fit. I like to place the largest lure, usually a large swimming head, very close to the transom on either side, approximately 25 feet back. The next lure would probably be at about 45 feet back and should be a straight runner or pusher either with a flat head or conical face, depending on water conditions. This lure should be run off of an outrigger. The third lure back should be approximately 75 feet out, off the stern, and could be just about any style of head. To complete your diamond pattern set-up, place the fourth lure on the other outrigger about 90 feet back...Popular Blue marlin lure colors would be green/black, dorado, flying fish and petrolero

Fishing with bait: Bonito, skip jack or Yellowfin tuna make the best bait for Blue marlin. Live bait should be used when trolling or drifting back around banks or pinnacles or amongst feeding porpoises or tuna.

For tons of more info regarding catching a blue marlin and many other fish along the mexico coast check out fish found in costalegre

[redneck_billcollector]

Dang near anything pulled behind a bertram 31 with twin desiels. Those boats attract marlin like nothing else on this planet. If I have the choice of an airconditioned modern boat or an ol' bertram 31, I'll fish the bertram. With that being said, if I am trolling lures, I will always have a wide range in the color scheme of whatever bait seems to be the most abundant in the spread. The good thing about wide ranges is I can get 5 spreads of wide ranges for the price of a few "kona heads" and wide ranges catch marlin.

[Patudo01]

Let me have use of a cold molded Carolina or Florida boat in the 40-foot class and I'd fish against a fleet of B31s with no fear. Not to mention keep drier and more comfortable in the nasty stuff.

I'd back a wooden Sampan with a single diesel as a pure fish raiser against the B31 too. Nice vessel it certainly is but to say that it attracts marlin 'like nothing else on this planet' - Gah.

[anyfishinsea]

For me, there are four or five lures that you have to have for blues. I always carry the following:

Lumo Sprocket (don't leave home without it - make that two) (long rigger)
Joe Yee Super Plunger (Black/Purple) (short corner)
Magilla Gorilla (Dorado or Blue/pink) (short corner)
Mold Craft Wide Range (any color - anywhere - except shotgun)
Islander (Blue/white) (shotgun)

[BOSTMAN]

I make saltwater trolling lures for the pro's they have me make all kinds of heads and colors.80% of the head shapes are slants med size 12" in length and the colors are 80% dark blue and dark purple.they like the lure to smoke when it snaps out of the outrigger so there is no downtime very very key to keep the bite on they say. just some input from a lure maker.

[UKChris]

In my limited experience I have to agree that the 'best' lure/colour varies each year. For the past five years I have fished the same place, same boats, same time of year and brought a couple of 'the hot lure' from last year - without success.

So, I have spare Lumo Sprocket, Black/orange Wide Range, Red/black Pakula Mouse, Boone Jet - this year's hot lure was a Sprocket in colour #130 - well, it's good for the lure makers and tackle shops, but the excess baggage charge is mounting!

Chris

[Amabledc]

el diablo blak/pink-clear. i have 5 blue marlin in july
in Cabeza de Toro, Dominican Rep.,