Q: This may seem like an odd e-mail but here it goes. Last weekend I was fishing a tournament in Curacao and was hooked into what we thought was a grander for 7 hours on 50-pound-test. We managed to get the leader in hand four times but couldn't get close enough to sink the gaff. Now, I've caught big marlin before, including a 1,086 in less than an hour, but never met one as stubborn as that one. Losing that big fish made me think of ways to make my 35 Bertram a little more maneuverable in reverse. I thought I read somewhere that custom props back down better … do you have any ideas?

-Captain Kenny

 

A: Changing your boat's "maneuverability in reverse" is not the answer. Any changes you do make will be minor — even if you change the rudders, the reduction gear ratios and the props, all of which affect your boat's handling in one way or another. Some fish are just tougher than others, but from your question I suspect you almost always back up on the fish.

A 35 Bertram handles pretty well and should get around nicely with one ahead and one in reverse, especially if you use the rudder in conjunction with the engine in forward (which many expert captains do not do when maneuvering on a fish or around a dock.) 

I wonder if you use your rudders when backing and turning and if you use the rudder angle indicator function on the autopilot? You will always be able to make corrections quickly if you know exactly where your rudders are pointing. (Be careful though, some rudder-angle indicators are slightly off and will ruin your ability to correct when you think the rudders are centered!)

Most importantly, do not just back around following the fish. Spin and go forward and get in front of it, especially if it is up-sea from you. No boat backs well into a sea or chop. Try pulling from one side, then the other, to make the fish change directions. You want to be up-sea from the fish as much as possible. If he changes directions, there's a good chance he'll pop to the top and tail, and then you can finish the job.