Pursuing marlin off St. Augustine demands exact tactics. It's a long 55 mile, one way, run to billfish waters. This is battlewagon territory, and the preferred method to target blue marlin is to raise them. Bait spreads intended to draw blue ones from the depths differ from boat to boat. Most boats will slow down to 4 or 5 knots, skipping natural baits across the wave tops.
All baits have one common element.
Big enough to capture the attention of blue marlin. Captain Cavin Henry and Jimmy Vaughn, campaign Vaughn's 48 foot Viking, Pipe Line , on many bluewater ventures. Pipe Line 's successes are many, including winning the El Pescado Grande in 1998. Vaughn's strategy is to finish ahead of the competition. Pipe Line has a good chance.