The green machine is said to have caught more fish on
recreational boats than any other lure. Aboard Daybreak, green
machines have been the most productive long term lure by far.
There are very few tuna trips where a green machine is not an
integral part of the spread.
The original green machine was a lure produced by
Sevenstrand. The rig is simple and durable, with a bullet
shaped acrylic head, large eyes and a long green vinyl skirt.
Today the green machine comes in a variety of colors and
variations. Several companies produce nearly identical lures,
although some anglers will fish only the genuine Sevenstrand
version.
Rigging is simple, the lure gets a 8/0 - 10/0 southern tuna
style hook, and 28-32 red beads on the line to properly space
the hook.
Green machines are often used on the USA east coast,
configured with a large bird, and daisy chain of artificial
squid in front. This rig is sometimes the long center line,
and is known for catching fish in that position.
Green machines are also combined with other rigs. Local
anglers will often add a green machine behind a spreader bar
or daisy chain of artificial squid. Green machines are also
run on the flat lines behind a bird, or without other
teasers, anywhere in the spread. A simple, single green
machine on the long rigger is often the lure that saves the
day, when fish are fickle and bites are scarce.
Green machines catch a wide variety of offshore fish,
including dolphinfish, bluefish, cobia, tuna, skipjacks,
bonita, false albacore, king mackerel, wahoo and billfish.