Thanks for stopping in. This BLOG is intended to provide an open forum for both Sportfishing Charter boat Captains and Recreational boats and their crew. Reel Draggin' Tackle provides the Greenstick BIRD and all of the mainline and tackle for this very exciting offshore fishing methodology. These are cutting edge fishing techniques and we draw a distinct line between commercial fishing and recreational fishing. That specific (and legaly defined) line is with respect to how you rig your drop lines. The comercial Greenstick fishing boat deploys a mainline and four to six droppers that are physically attached to the mainline. The mainline has a breakaway that when loaded it departs and the crew uses an electric winch to pull in one or more tuna at a time.
To legally fish a recreational Greenstick, the droppers must release from the mainine to a rod & reel that can be fought by an angler. This BLOG will focus on the recreational methodology and not the comercial. As we learn and explore different techniques, the Recreational Greenstick Fishing method will evolve and Reel Draggin' Tackle intends to lead the way.
The Mainline
The mainline for recreational Greenstick fishing is 300 feet of 250# to 400# monofiliment. At Reel Draggin' Tackle we use Lindgren-Pitman Premium line, red for 400# and smoke blue for 250#. From the reel, we start with 100 feet of Jerry Brown Hollow Core whipped to 300 feet of of either of the 250# (blue) or 400# (red) Lindgren-Pitman mono mainline.
The mainline consists of seven drop rings using stainless steel split rings spaced at 30 or 50 feet and connected to the main with brass ROMAR HEAVY DUTY SWIVELS.
These are the Drop Rings. We use long line release snaps and rubber bands as release clips to keep within the Federal Regulations of Recreationally fishing the Greenstick. Here is what it looks like:
30 comments
Best information can be obtained by calling POP in Hawaii. Speak with Neil or Oscar. Really great guys and will walk you through the entire process. They have a great working relationship with the orginial greenstick and hybrid inventor. IMHO they have a wealth of knowledge and experience of what works and what does not.
Capt Keith Neal
Teaser Sportfishing, LLC.
I have done that. It takes more work from the crew, but very effective.
Why not have a roller troller or similar release clip to adjust the " dropper ’ length?
Yes, but that would be a commercial rig. To comply with federal regs each dropper must release from the mainline to a rod/reel.
Could you simply run everything off a rod and reel? In other words take a 130lb outfit, run a bird off it, then space out droppers off the same line using long line clips? The line from the 130 would just attach to the greenstick with a breakaway line.