Trolling Lures - Offshore Fishing Basics with Roddy Hays

Between Roddy Hays and RJ Boyle, there is a wealth of worldwide offshore fishing experience, especially for big game pelagic species. These seasoned fishermen have spent a lifetime catching blue marlin, wahoo, and tuna in destinations like Madeira, the Azores, Bermuda, Hawaii, New Zealand, the Bahamas, and Australia. Their time on the water pulling baits and lures has translated into a wealth of trolling lure wisdom.

Roddy Hays is a true innovator in the world of offshore fishing. Despite being a bit elusive, he is quite open about sharing his knowledge. He has roamed the oceans fishing for big fish and setting world records. His lure designs are cutting edge and often misunderstood. In this video, he sets out a general assortment of lure heads and walks you through each of them one by one. He and RJ examine how each design performs in the water, under calm and rough sea conditions, and discuss where each is best suited to swim in the different spread positions.

It is fascinating to watch and listen as these two big game fishermen dissect different trolling lure head shapes. They discuss the unique hookup characteristics of long head lures run in the shotgun position, the digging and surging of cupped heads as they carve their way through the water, and the effects of adding jets to relieve pressure on the lure. They also delve into the versatility and productivity of slant head lures or super plungers, which originated with Hawaiian lure developers.

For beginners, RJ selects several lures that he likes for an offshore trolling spread when targeting blue marlin. He explains why cupped face, slant heads, tubes, and bullets all work well at various times and for various fish. He also discusses how the design dynamics and quality craftsmanship of a lure affect its swim characteristics.

Watch and learn from two great fishing minds as they share thoughts and experiences on what has worked for them around the world. Year in and year out, certain lures always catch fish. With this video, you'll gain a unique perspective on how certain shapes and sizes work in the spread, the ideal sea conditions to run them in, and how changing rigger positions affects action. You'll also learn how the length and contour of a lure head determine how the lure swims.

Stay tuned for more insights and never stop learning about the art of offshore fishing.