Offshore Live Baiting And Circle Hooks

Originally posted by hodgie2411 on our old Yuku forum


With the big Red Snapper weekend rapidly aproaching I thought that I would share my thoughts and experience on how I have been live baiting these fish. I am no expert so I can only tell you what has worked for me in the past.
Reels: as most people know who fish with me I do like Shimano and Avet however your choice of Reel is up to you. Gear Ratio is not nearly as important as the drag is. Conventional star or lever drag it needs to have a little back bone. Most of the reels I use have a Max Drag of at least 20lbs. I know plenty of people that use those big Penn Senators and they are a proven reel to catch almost anything that swims.
Rods: this another personal preference and when live baiting I like a stout rod in the 30 to 50 lb line class, I only say this because when fishing offshore I am attempting to put fish in the cooler. Lighter rods have more bend and whip, they will tire out a fish but with so many predators around I try to get the fish up and in the boat ASAP.
Line: again I like braided line and I have a personal preference, braided lines are all different these days so to classify them as one is wrong. Some love the stuff some hate the stuff and it has take me years to master the knots associated with the stuff. Monofiliment is still as good as ever and it is very easy to use, handle and untangle wich is not something I can say about braided line. In any case your mainline braid or mono should have some backbone to turn a fish. Braided line I go no less than 50lb test and as far as mono most I know go with 50lb or more as well.
Leader Material: My Father in law is old shcool and his goto leader is 80lb mono, I have tried to switch him over to Fluorocarbon leader but he does not see the benifit in the cost? I have proven to myself more times than not the benifit of Fluorocarbon leader and but this is in my opnion only.
Hooks: Mandated circle hooks are to be used while bottom fishing these days, I switched over years ago to almost all circle hooks for every type of fishing I do.There are benifts whereas I am not gut-hooking and therefore killing many undersized or no take fish. Cirlce hooks do work well when the hookset is applied properly and the biggest challange is how to get a good hookset. Human reflex to pull up on the rod when you feel a bite has to be ignored. Allowing a fish to eat the bait and apply progressive pressure is a skill set that takes patience.
I have tried all types of circle hooks and for offshore live baiting a Super Mutu or Octopus does the job well. Lighter wire hooks will work but I have seen them break at the shank.
Set Ups: with all said above the my terminal tackle set up is rigging my mainline, (braid), to a shock leader 60lb Fluorocarbon about 3 feet long. I then put a decent size egg sinker on 3 to 4 oz depending on the depth and current. The sinker will slip through the shock leader and then I tied that to and 80 to 100 lb barrel swivel. I then use about 6 to 8 feet of 40 or 50 lb flourcarbon leader from the swivel to the hook. I am currently in the process of experimenting with the terminal knots to the hook. I have always used a regular uni knot with a lot of luck but as of late I am told that circle hooks are better used as a snell? I will report the my findings somewhere down the line.
These last few months offshore Ponce I believe I have caught the majority of all the Red Sanppers on a live Grunt. Pinfish/ Pigfish would be a great bait if available but cut bait, squid, cigar minnow, ballyhoo, spanish sardines and mullet will all work if they are around.

Good luck to all this weekend and catch them up, be safe and have fun. I have to work this weekend so I will miss out.
Tight Lines
Hodgie

 

Hodgie

Very nicely said...

Sam

 

Commercial Mustad Circle Hooks that I use for deep dropping with my Kristal electric reels.....

I think they are still the strongest hooks on the market... will bring up the largest of fish...

I also have a few other brands that are lighter...

Sam

 

Originally posted by hodgie2411 on our old Yuku forum

Sam where do you find the commercial Mustad hooks? The only place I have found them is Cudjoe Sales in the Keys. I have been looking everywhere for them in place of using those Owner Super Mutu's that go for 3 bucks a hook. The ones that I have found around town are all inline and I really perfer offset.

 

John, Get with me and I'll hook you up with some...
I have two of these trays 1/2 full...
and I will look up the name of the place I got them

Sam