Big Game Fishing Techniques

Big game fishing, also known as offshore sportfishing or deep sea fishing, is known for targeting only the largest fish of the largest species in the world. Big game species range from many species of tuna (bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye) to swordfish and even sharks like the great white and the hammer head. Big game fish are elusive and will put up the fight of a lifetime, but with the right trolling, chumming and fighting tactics, you'll be mounting the perfect trophy fish sooner than you think.

  1. Trolling

    • Trolling is the most popular and effective way to find and hook most types of big game fish. Trolling is most effective with live bait--the type of bait you use will depend largely on which type of fish you are hoping to hook. If live bait is unavailable, use a lure designed to resemble live bait. To increase your chances of a strike, make sure you have more than one line in the water while you are trolling. The use of an outrigger can help avoid tangling with the use of multiple lines. Use trolling methods with all types of big game fish.

    Chumming

    • Chumming, also known as chunking, is the process of dumping ground bait into the water to attract predatory game fish. Chumming works best with highly predatory big game fish like sharks, but will produce results for most species of big game fish. The fresher the chum the better--if you have a hand held chum grinder and live bait fish, grind your chum on the boat. If this isn't an option, many big game fish bait shops will sell prepackaged chum that works well.

    Fighting

    • Once you've hooked the big one, you have to bring it in. When this happens, notify the rest of your fishing party right away, as the captain will be responsible for maneuvering the boat to help you in your fight, and everybody else must take in their lines to avoid tangling. When hooked, most fish will swim in circles. The object is to tire the fish out to a point that you can reel them into the boat. The pattern in which the fish is swimming means there will be periods when you can reel (when the fish is swimming towards the boat) and periods which you must cede line (when the fish is swimming away from the boat). Since you will not be able to see the fish, you have to "feel" what the fish is doing--reel when the pull on the line is less intense, relax when you feel the pressure. Use a game-chair if one is available. Fighting a fish that likely outweighs you takes a considerable amount of strength, endurance and body mass even without the assistance of a chair.