OFFSHORE TROLLING & TEASERS

Daisy Chain

A single line of squids or small lures spaced a foot or two apart, trolled like a little string of baitfish to raise billfish and mahi.

DepthSurface, trolled

ActionLine of splashing bait

WhereBlue water, weed lines, FADs

LevelIntermediate

How to fish it

1
Choose your type: a hookless teaser chain only attracts fish, while a hooked chain has a hook in the last squid or a rigged bait or lure at the end.
2
Run a teaser chain close to the transom or from a teaser line; run a hooked chain from a rod like any other lure in the spread.
3
Troll around 6-9 knots and keep the squids skipping on the face of a wave.
4
When a billfish comes to the hookless teaser, reel it away from the fish and pitch or drop back a hooked bait (bait-and-switch).

Billfish often follow a teaser for a while; keep someone watching it at all times.
Have the pitch bait or lure rigged and ready before you put the teaser out.
Mahi will hit the squids of a hookless chain hard; reel it in fast if they start chewing it up.

Leaving a hookless teaser in front of a hot fish too long until it loses interest.
Running the chain too long behind the boat, so the squids sink and tangle.

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