Blue Runner
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Blue runner, hard tail jack, yellow jack and runner are all Caranx Crysos. Whatever name you attach, they’re great bait for larger fish. They are very hardy in the baitwell and can swim surprisingly fast for long distances on the hook. They commonly grow to 12-14 inches but are said to reach 20 inches. The only way to catch them is with hook and line. The most common rig used to catch them is the multiple gold hook set-up offered by several manufacturers (Hayabusa and Daiichi) that are attached to your line with a weight at the bottom called a SABIKI. Slowly jig these around a wreck, on the edge of hard bottom, or around marker buoys. Blue runners are also frequently found over sand bottom and in the surf line along the beaches. For the best results, use the rigs in a #8 to a #6 size (these are the smaller hooks, and sometimes hard to find). The larger #10s and #12s work great for the larger ones, but I find the #8 to be the best all around size. For trolling, hook the blue runner through the cartilage in the nose. If you’re using a larger runner, add a stinger treble hook  back towards the farthest tip of the dorsal fin pinned just under the skin. These are very fast swimming fish, so be sure and watch your lines carefully. If you are trolling too slowly, you will find them crossing, especially if they can see each other. If you are drifting or fishing from an anchored position, you will have to be working on them constantly to keep them from tangling. However you fish the blue runner, hang on tight, because they are a great "big fish" bait. One of the best King Mackeral baits around. |
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This page was last updated November 25, 2003 |
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