Trolling in West Palm Beach

Trolling is by far the local anglers and captains go to presentation when targeting pelagics in West Palm Beach. Trolling allows anglers to cover a great amount of water quickly and sub surface depths. There are many styles of lures and baits that can be used when trolling in West Palm Beach and each has its own unique presentation to entice bites. Trolling can be one line or 10 depending on the size of your boat and the experience level of the crew fishing with you. If you want to find out what is biting right now in West Palm Beach, put out a mixed spread and troll around any area that looks different. Vary your trolling speed when not bites as the fish may hit faster moving baits some days and slower ones another.

Understanding various trolling lures head styles in West Palm Beach

It can get overwhelming quickly deciding what lures to put in your spread when trolling in West Palm Beach. The first thing you want to know is how different lures perform based on their head style. Trolling lures with a bullet style head (point in the front) are best used on calm days as they run straight sub-surface. Flat head lure are good for both calm days and rough days. Flat head lures will leave a large bubble trail and because the head is flat, it grips the water when being trolled, where as a bullet head would jump out of the water in rough conditions in West Palm Beach. Cupped nose trolling lures grip the water the best and move around less than a flat head lure. You will want to use these on rough days. There are many variations to all these lures like slant heads and jet heads. If you are just starting out trolling in West Palm Beach, you want to start with flat head lure heads as these will track best without you having to adjust it.

The best trolling spread in West Palm Beach

The number one question our Angler Advisor’s get is what lures should be in my trolling spread? While this answer can vary greatly depending on time of year, species you are targeting and who you ask… there is a simple tried and true answer. 2 Out 1 Back 1 Down!! What does that mean to you when trolling in West Palm Beach? 2 Out – This is going to be either your outrigger lines or if you do not have outriggers, the two lines in front of your corner rods. You want to run a Ilander skirted ballyhoo on one line and a trolling lure on the other like a Boone Dorado Cather. These two will be just outside of your prop wash and will run just under the surface, broaching the surface at times. 1 Back – This is your tuna lure and you want to have either a cedar plug or a small Williamson Flash Feather. This lure needs to be way way way way back in clean water with no bubbles or foam from the boat wash. 1 Down – run a diving plug that will run 10’-20’ below the surface like a Yo-Zuri High Speed Vibe. It is also a good idea to use a heavy mono leader with this as the toothy creatures will most likely hit this trolling lure in West Palm Beach.

Where to go trolling in West Palm Beach

Knowing where to go trolling in West Palm Beach can make a good day a great day. If you are fairly new to trolling or have a smaller boat, you want to work the ledge. Put your lines out at 90' and troll for 20 minutes, if you do not get a bite, move out 20 more feet to 110'. Continue this until you get a bite. Just because you caught a fish in 110' does not mean that is the magic depth for the day. Once you put your lines back out, continue the pattern of moving until you hit 250' and then do the same but begin moving in shallower. If you get several fish at a certain depth, keep working that depth for the rest of the day. If you are not afraid to burn some gas and run out past 1000' then you can do some running and gunning. You are looking for anything that looks "fishy" or different. Weed lines are the holy grail of something fishy. If you find one, you do not have to troll right on it, give yourself a little room so you are not picking up weed on your lures. Rips are another great sign that there may be fish in the area. Anytime you see bait boiling on the surface or being blown up by fish from below, that is a sign to stop and troll around them in West Palm Beach. Finally, anytime you notice a temperature change of 1/2 degree or more, put your lines out and start trolling in West Palm Beach.