Tactic combines sail, trotline
Like the red sail he has used for decades of success, Chis Olivo stands out among a sea of fishermen.
The 64-year-old Olivo isn’t hard to spot when he is in pursuit of a school of reds just off the causeway connecting Corpus Christi to Padre Island. He stands out from the crowd of anglers by his homemade sail line fishing rig marked by a small red sail anywhere from 200-400 yards out in the bay.
When given the choice between sail lining and the conventional rod and reel, Olivo’s choice is clear.
“I’d pick this, absolutely,” he said, referring to his sail line.
“It’s been a low tide here, but it’s getting better,” Olivo explained while casually adding a 30.5-inch red to his stringer. “In August the reds usually run through here, but this year they’re behind. I usually only have to run about 100-150 feet of line.”
It’s not unusual for Olivo to crank in three or more slot reds on a single line during this summer-to-fall transition.
This year marks Olivo’s 40th anniversary of sail line fishing.
This unusual passion has been rooted in him since his early 20s when he was apprenticed in the craft by his 72-year-old fishing buddy, Ramiro, a local pioneer of the sail line technique at the time.
Olivo chuckled as he realized how long he’d been in the game; “I can’t believe it myself,” Olivo said while rigging his line with fresh-cut mullet. “I was 24 when [Ramiro] got me into it. Ramiro was the one that started the whole sail line thing, as far as I know. He made me a sail line rig, and then I started making them.”
This craft later proved to be quite a profitable trade for Olivo, as the popularity of sail line fishing grew in the Corpus Christi area. For his current setup, Olivo repurposed the
windshield wiper motor from a 1973 Ford. Junkyards are an important supplier in his production process and help him retain a profitable margin. A handheld power drill motor, an on/off switch, and some soldering complete the electric component of the spool. He mounts the spool on a piece of 3/4-inch conduit pipe. The spool is equipped with a simple bolt-and-spring tension component, which allows him to adjust the drag and the speed at which the sail pulls the line out.
Between the spool system, the trotline, and the sail, he spends an estimated 25 hours building a full sail line rig. Olivo’s cost of production varies.
“A few of the components alone cost me $100 each,” he said.
He sells his finished product for $700- 750.
When it comes down to technique for sail lining, Olivo’s model is straightforward.
“I leave it in one spot for 15 to 20 minutes, then reel it in a few feet and repeat. You’ll see a float pull to the side if you have a fish,” he said. “When the front end of the line drops down into the water, there’s usually about two or three fish on.”
From there, he engages the spool motor and anticipates the haul. Binoculars are a must-have, since he lets out up to 500 yards of line.
According to Olivo, one can’t just pick up and go sail lining. His trips are contingent on two criteria: boats and wind. He avoids any area he knows to be frequented by boaters, and of course, an opposing wind trumps any reason to try sailing a line.
Olivo has narrowed his options down to one reliable spot where the southeast wind, which prevails most days in the Coastal Bend, swiftly carries his sail northwest across a shallow flat void of boat activity. His spot perfectly fit the bill for sail lining success, but as always, the proof is on the stringer.
“I’ve caught 26-inch specks and 37-inch black drum,” Olivo said.
Olivo’s long-time fishing “compadre” and sail lining convert, Raul Flores, chimed in with his account of a costly school of oversized reds.
“I had to hold on to my truck. They were dragging me in,” Flores said. “It was 100-pound test line, but they bit through it and took my sail and 12 hooks.”
Olivo’s passion for the unique fishing method and favorite fishing spot was clear.
“I told my wife to cremate me and bring my ashes here when I die,” he said. “And after I retire this year, I’m going to be here every day.”
