and a 4/0- or 6/0-star drag reel (Farrington, 1937). The 

 standard hooks were 7/0 or 8/0. Today's equipment 

 permits greater enjoyment through the use of lighter 

 tackle. Experienced anglers usually use 20- or 30- 

 pound (9- or 14-kg) test synthetic (nylon monofila- 

 ment or braided dacron) line and a 2V2/O, 4/0, or 6/0 

 reel. The more expensive modern reels with lever drag 

 controls are preferred, but the older and less costly 

 star drag type is still adequate. Leaders are at least 3 

 m long and of about 60- to 100-pound (27- to 45-kg) 

 test. They may consist of nylon monofilament, 

 stainless steel wire, or nylon coated stainless steel 

 cable. A combination of long length of monofilament 

 or coated cable followed by a short length of wire or 

 coated cable ("Venezuelan rig") is very popular. 

 There is also a trend toward using smaller hooks. 



Surface trolling baits for white marlin take on many 

 forms (Brooks, 1968). Squid is generally regarded as 

 the best bait off Ocean City with balao, mullet (15-18 

 cm in length), eels and strip baits cut from fish also 

 being used. Balao and mullet are the most popular in 

 southern waters. White marlin will also hit artificial 

 lures such as squids, feathers, pork rind strips, cedar 

 and bone jigs, and spoons. 



An important, but not essential, accessory for troll- 

 ing is the outrigger or tangon, a long bamboo, fiber 

 glass, or aluminum pole which is swung outboard to 

 an angle of about 45° from the vertical when in use. 

 The line, after the bait has been let out to the desired 

 distance, is set in a clip which is hauled to the end of 

 the outrigger. This gives an attractive action to the 

 baits in an area outside the direct wake, as well as 

 keeping them separated. It also serves to give the fish 

 a "drop back" when the initial strike pulls the line out 

 of the clip, perhaps making the fish believe that he 

 has stunned his prey and certainly giving him time to 

 take it back into his mouth so that the chances of 

 hooking him are better. When fishing "directly" 

 (without an outrigger) the angler must be constantly 

 alert and ready to give the necessary "drop back" 

 by releasing the drag on his reel at the critical mo- 

 ment. 



Handline fishing is commonly practiced by com- 

 mercial fishermen in the Caribbean. Called 

 "cordeles" by the Venezuelans, the handlines basical- 

 ly consist of one or more hooks fastened to a strong 

 wire leader which is in turn attached to the handline 

 made of hemp or other suitable material (Fiedler, 

 Lobel, and Lucas, 1947). The fishermen drift in cer- 

 tain areas with their lines at various depths waiting 

 for a fish to strike. 



The Cuban criollo line (palangre criollo) is a 

 modified version of the handline. It consists of three 

 lines of different lengths, each attached to a float and 

 connected to each other and to the boat or an iden- 

 tifying buoy by a horizontal line. The interval 

 between the floats is about 12-15 m. The standard set 

 consists of 10 of the 3-hook outfits placed about 90 or 

 180 m apart in a straight line (Farrington, 1971). 



The most widely used and productive commercial 

 method for the capture of white marlin is the 

 Japanese longline. Known as "palangre" or "palangre 

 japonais" to Cuban and Venezuelan fishermen, it con- 

 sists of a horizontal mainline to which vertical branch 

 lines, each consisting of a short length of line, a leader 

 (often of two components), and a hook, are attached 

 at regular intervals. The basic unit is a "basket," 

 which consists of a specified length of mainline with a 

 specified number of branch lines attached. Enough 

 baskets are fastened together to form a set of the 

 desired length. The fishing depth is determined main- 

 ly by the length of the dropper lines which connect the 

 mainline, at each junction between "baskets," to 

 buoys (Captiva, 1955; Yoshida, 1966; Gottschalk, 

 1972). In a modernized variation of the longline, 

 designed to increase the speed of operation and reduce 

 manpower requirements, a continuous mainline is 

 stored on a power-driven reel or drum, and branch 

 and float lines are attached as the mainline is set and 

 removed as it is retrieved (Captiva, 1955; Anon., 

 1966). The physical characteristics of the longline gear 

 vary according to the sizes and species of the intended 

 catch. The fishing depth is also selected to take ad- 

 vantage of the observed hydrographic conditions and 

 the known habits and preferences of the fish whose 

 capture is desired. 



Since the white marlin is very sensitive to water 

 temperature, surface thermometers are useful to 

 fishermen who troll on the surface, whereas 

 bathythermographs are more helpful to longline and 

 handline fishermen. 



5.12 Boats 



Various types of boats are used for white marlin 

 fishing ranging from the large oceangoing longliners 

 and some very expensive sport fishing craft down to 

 outboard motorboats and small 4.5- to 6-m wooden 

 sailboats and rowboats of the Caribbean area. 



Power, too, ranges from a pair of oars or lateen sail, 

 through outboard motors of all sizes, to the large ex- 

 pensive engines needed to power high-speed sport 

 fishermen or 60-m longliners. 



The sport fisherman needs only a roomy cockpit 

 and enough power and range to take him where he 

 wants to go and troll at the required speeds (Jaen, 

 1964). Everything else is surplus equipment depend- 

 ing on how comfortable he wants to be and how fast 

 he wants to travel. Appropriate models are available 

 from the 5.5-m open outboard to the luxurious, expen- 

 sive, twin engine sport fishermen. 



Commercial vessels range from small rowboats or 

 sailboats to converted trawlers and snapper schooners 

 rerigged for longlining (Bullis, 1955) to the special- 

 ized Japanese fishing vessels described by Yoshida 

 (1966). 



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