Fish Aggregation Devices

[anthropisces]

Please post your experiences with fish attractors. I hunt in Florida and am trying to transition to the bluewater.

I've seen some Dolphin recently on broken weedlines but I have also spent a lot of time simply floating in the empty abyss. I saw a pretty large hammerhead swim by which just made me think "oh great". But I soon forgot it. Otherwise, I am trying to get a handle on how to most effectively hunt this resource.

I have read about hunting transitions and such, that is all well and good. But I also am interested in how to attract fish if it can be done (short of tying bonita fillets to my thighs).

On the reef, I've suspended some home-made fish attractors from my anchor line with limited success. I've had some amberjack visit a cluster of 5 gallon pails I had down at 60'. Otherwise it was just curious Ocean Grey Triggerfish (which ended up tasting very good fried).

I've got some ideas for very large attractors that I could deploy out in the blue water. These are based on tarps, with floats and weights in the appropriate spots.

I am wondering what sort of devices have been deployed by the spearos here, especially devices that proved to be effective.

If it would bring the right kind of fish in, I'd be willing to roll out some pretty elaborate (and large) devices. It is very clear and seemingly empty in the deep blue out here. The sportfishermen pull in all manner of large fish though by trolling. I simply want to emulate their success by trolling myself and some large array of stuff and harvesting the fish in our style.

 

[LOLO]

disco ball 6" or 8" tie on a weight or float if it sinks
if you get some fish let me know

 

[Shadowkiller]

Most countries have laws prohibiting the use of private FAD's, so I would check out your local state regulations.

If you want to moor a permanent structure you usually need radar reflectors and have it entered into the shipping hazard register so that ships know about it. Thats IF its legal to do your own.

If you want less permanent stuff, I would try the good ol flashers near existing surface materiel like kelp paddies or logs.

 

[anthropisces]

That disco ball idea is interesting Lolo.

I am not considering a permanent device. That is definately against the law here in Fla. I was thinking of a 20' x 30' tarp, suspended vertically with the top edge about 30' below the surface.

I already have my boat on the surface, so floating a tarp up there doesn't seem to be much different.

I have suspended things that are small and have had some fish show. I'm hoping for some real attraction though.

 

[Huan]

Throw out several pages of newspaper, and mark them, you will need to know the way the tide works to find them again.
or else palm branches these are cheap and work well.

 

[Tim1]

I agree with Huan, floating newspaper is a great attractor especially for mullet in flat calm conditions. I've noticed that bubble streams and the ripples coming off an anchor rope attract garfish.

Generally, 'structure' placed in an area devoid of natural cover should bring bait fish close and the larger fish will follow...

 

[anthropisces]

I found a huge roll of flourescent orange mesh. It is used to build temporary fences for civil engineering and environmental projects. It was lying on the side of the road. I'd estimate the roll has about 500' on it.
I took it out on a rather rough day and unrolled about 70' of it into the abyss. It was kind of dim and the viz was perhaps 30'. I wasn't out for long. It just felt kinda creepy with that thing trailing off into the gloom like that.
I am going to continue experimenting with deploying it though. I'll keep you guys posted.
I'm going to add some flashy stuff to it. I'm sure its possible or even probable that I'm using a gigantic fish repeller.

 

[land shark]

I would think a string of cd's would do the trick.

 

[Amphibious]

I have used Dodgers (Flashers) with great sucess. buy them from any salmon fishing store. cheap and work.

 

[anthropisces]

I am going to pick up some flashers. It is funny though "any Salmon Fishing Store..." not in Florida

 

[Amphibious]

well you should just move to a place with some Salmon then


mine look like the one in the upper right, I have 5 hanging in series with a 12oz ball at the end, they hand about 20ft below my float and flutter nicely as I swim. be warned though, I've had fish hit them and run hard enough to rip the gun from my hands.

http://www.wisnersinc.com/Fishing Info/Fishing images/Flashers.JPG

 

[Trident]

Hey guys I frequent florida and on my boat is a 10x10 ft. silver tarp (home depot) and tied at each corner is a little water bottle for flotation and to keep the hole thing in a constant shape I use a cheap PVC frame that I made tied to the corners as well (also you can cap off the ends so it traps air and ditch the bottles it is just more cumbersome that way).

Set up takes about 5 minutes and I usually get out just off shore before sun up and deploy the tarp with a 50 -100 ft rope attached to the boat and anchor or drift the boat till well after sunrise! Usually I go take a nap and sleep the rest the morning in the boat (booze) and by 10:00 I slip in and start whackin fish like crazy.

The best thing I find that hangs out under it (and my 30' boat) are barracuda! Great shooting and great eating!

Good luck - oh you could try hanging some reflectors or cds off each corner of the tarp - never thought of that will try that this fall Thanks for the idea.

I also though about drifting my wife out there and see what she brings... After all she attracted this bottom feeder (rofl)!

Don't know if this is against the law though!

:t

 

[Trident]

I am going back down this winter for some R&R and want to know if you guys have any other ideas... I also heard that scraping or scratching the bottom draws the fish out too. If this is true you could plant the same rig just off the bottom (not on the reef but off in the sandy area) and come back in a couple of days and behold!

Once again this better not be done without the proper permits or double checking with local laws. I knew of a couple of bahamians that would make lobster huts out in the shallows and do the same thing... Sounds fishy rofllet me know what you guys think.

Lets keep this one going I think we could be onto the next VELCRO idea :t

 

[ROBERT REYES]

A real fad, is exactly what ask for in your post, but then as I read you call it a fish atractor, atractor are basically flashers, and all of the above will work as flashers, I guess instead of newspapers you could use playboy magazines and get the bigger bulls .
But a real aggregating device, should be left in the water as long as posible, only to be broken by time, and as some have pointed out they are not legal in most places, unless you put them underwater deeper than say 40-60 feet from the surface.
It works wonders and tuna ,wahoo, dorado, ect, you will always find them close to anything floating in blue water , the longer the time the better your chances, many places like Hawaii have agressive FAD
inplementation, and its a real shame that its not the same everywere.
As any avid rodnrell fishermen knows, anything floating a long time in blue waters will gather a lot of fish, and as spearos, it is an incredible oportunity to spear some of the fastest, best tasting, awesome looking and hardest fighting fish of the planet.
http://www.dfw.gov.mp/fisheries/fresearch/fresFADs.htm
http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/gis/maps/fad_dlnr.jpg

 

[azulll]

 

[Trident]

Those are some nice diagrams!

Anyone lay up a horizontal platform on the ocean floor yet. Also I overheard a couple of guys at the local boat store saying the electronic fish attractors for marlin and such really work if given some time.

I wonder if we could design a unit with a battery in it to power such a device and place it off shore for a couple of days or a week. Something to look into as well for legality.

Anyone wanna help to design and test such a rig in florida?

 

[Ronioc]

When using Tarp, it should float on the surface, it will give out shade and emulate thick weedline shelter.