Planers can also be used in place of the heavy ball in a downrigger setup. Lures Probably the most critical element of successful fishing while under sail is selecting the right lure for the conditions. This is in part determined by boat speed. Since the number of lines and lures that can be pulled behind a sailboat is limited, it s important to have at least one lure that can consistently attract game fish to the boat. A string of artificial squids, called a daisy chain, usually does the trick.
Daisy chains consist of three to five or more small artificial squid in various colors.
Sometimes an artificial flying fish or a small bird is tied ahead of the squids, serving to splash the water like a feeding fish or an escaping flying fish. Tied well, these knots are very reliable, but sometimes there is no substitute for crimping the leader to secure swivels and hooks. The tackle shop will do it for you, but eventually you may want to get a crimping tool. They resemble the tool used to crimp electrical fittings, but use a different-sized crimp. Daisy chains catch the attention of nearby game fish and will catch anything from a 10-pound bluefish to a blue marlin or a big yellowfin tuna.