hey everyone, well now with the striper season about to go into full swing, i am thinking of 2 particular things i might change. I am thinking of switching from mono to braided line. the type of striper fishing i do isnt bottom fishin' but it kind is

the type of fishing i do is from the surf i take my 10 foot rod (or 9 foot in some cases) and i wade out up to my chest as far as i can go without going too far (and i am sure everyone has had a taste of too far, in other words getting a little wet with your waders on) and i cast my bait out as far as possible, my tackle consistes of my 15# main line connected to my 40# florocarbon leader and straight to my hook with bait on it. i use no weights and let the bait just drift around. I wade back to the shore with an open bail letting line out as i come back, i then close my bail and tighten my line up, continually pulling the bait off the bottom a little bit with a little jig motion of the rod. i hold my rod instead of using a sand spike so i can feel every little pick up.

So what i am am getting at is that i have heard that braid is alot more sensitive and was wondering if i should make the change to braid for the type of fishing i do. if so what kind of braid should i go with if i want to spool my reel (a Penn Power Graphite 7000) with braid.

Now my second possible change is with my hook. right now i use a regular shank mustad 7/O hook. i have had no problem with these hooks from schoolies all the way up to the big boys. I was thinking about switching my hook to a 5/O Mustad treble hook. My plan was to run the same line and leader set up but attach a snap swivel at the end so whenever i put on a new piece of bait i can put the shank of the treble hook straight through the chunk bait so the barbs are all covered. my reason for this would be so the i can put a little more "UUMMPP" into my cast without my bait going one way and hook the other. and i also think the hook ups will be better in that there will be no gut hooks.

Any opinions on my 2 possible changes would be much help. Thanks everyone

Anthony

Only problem with trebles is you will gut hook, and deeply hook alot of fish.

I changed to braid a couple of years ago and love it. You got to use a rod that has a little play in it. As the braid has little or no streach in it. I do all conventionl fishing and don't have any Idea how the braid works with a spinning out fit. I use Spider Wire 65# It is 15# dim.

I also switched to 6/0 Gammy octpus hooks They are the best IMO. I don't like treble!! To many hooks to play with. Octpus hooks almost always lip hook. You could try circle hooks also to get away from the gut hook up's.

Well this works for me. Good Luck with what ever you do!!

the specialist....i would figure that the three hooks on the treble would prevent the hook from going deep into the fish? i would figure the bend of the hooks wouldnt let it go down too far

:walk: Hi Anthony, Do you use a barrel swivel between your
line and your leader, if not Give it a try. I don't use braided
line myself, I prefer the 15# mono w/a 40# mono leader.
I agree with the specialist and that other fella, don't use
a treble hook, I also prefer the Gamakatsu 5/0 octupus
circle hooks, they are fantastic. I also would recommend
that you don't wade out up to your chest to cast, it is not
necessary and very dangerous depending where you are fishing.
The stripers are in closer than you might imagine. Tight lines
and Bigfish Anthony.:happy:

A lot of people make the mistake of burying the hook in the wrong places. If I'm reading you right, you plan on doing like in the doodle I posted. This type of application will reduce your hook-ups incredibly. If you think about it, the reason you can put more "UUMMP!" with this application is because the spine of the bait supports the momentum of the cast. It won't rip thru this piece.....but will the hooks rip thru when a fish strikes?. If your using fresh bait... the chances are, not enough of the hook will penetrate the predator's mouth to secure the hook up. She will feel the barbs and spit. Now if your using mushy bait (frozen/old)...your idea will work better...but you wanna go fresh everytime if possible. FRESH RULES!!...also, you say you wade out as far as possible to get distance...meaning up to the edge of your waders?:confused:? If your doing that, your losing distance because you can't power up the rod as much...and theSpecialist is right, if you don't set the hook RIGHT AWAY with a trebble, you'll be setting more than one barb..in some nasty places. Go with Braid for sensitivity. And lasty, I'm with MacoJo on this one. Octupus Gami's = #1.

Bloo-

That is how I fish chunks. Definitely switch to braid and here are the reasons. (I switched 4 years ago)

1. distance- you will be able to cast alot further because the diameter of braid is alot less (example Power Pro 30 # has the diameter of 8lb mono). You will not have to wade out as far.
2. the sensitivity is unbelievable, because braid doesn't stretch, you can feel the fish pick up the bait even in heavy surf.

I would also recommend Gammy Octopus circle hooks. I use 5/0 and 6/0 depending on the size of chunk. Because you have the rod in your hands and not in a sand spike you are continuely in contact with the bait. I get about 98% hook ups in the corner of the mouth. The important thing with circle hooks is not to set the hook but just lift your rod and let the rod tighten.....then hang on!

I use the Gamakatsu Octopus for eeling. I also do some bait and chunk fishing, instead of using the Gamakatsu which are quite expensive I use Mustad 92553BL 5/0, 6/0 & 7/0. They have the same bends as the Gamakatsu but they are a LOT LESS MONEY. The hooking is always in the lips or the side of the mouth. Which is easier on the fish, no bleeding for the release.

Just my $.02 worth.

Tight lines, soon I hope:) :) :)

Braid sounds like a better bet for the type of baitfishing you do. Thinner diameter and no water absorption, so your unweighted hook will stay down better. For a spinning reel, assuming no rocks or other sharp nasties, I like 20# Fireline. I tried 65# Spiderwire Stealth for the first time last night, and I don't care what the label says, this stuff is THICK!!!! About as thick as 20-25# mono and waaaaayyyy thicker than 65# Whiplash, the line it replaced.

Bass can swallow a chicken lobster whole, as well as stuff like flounder, scup, choggies, fluke, and crabs the size of a coffee cup's diameter. A treble will gut hook bass if you let them run with the bait too long.

Yep,
I'd definately switch to circle hooks if I was you.
I fish chunks a lot later in the season...I find that the Daiichi 4/0 work great for me.
I end up fishing your style of chunking from my boat, not at night.
I'm also in the process of switching from mono to braid. The only reason that I haven't amde the complete switch is because of price.
Good Luck Monkey,
Rick

Ok well it looks like switching my mono to braid is a definite. i would like to know what braid i should go with, the stuff is expensive and i dont wanna by the wrong braid. so what would be best for my type of fishing (writtin in the starting thread). i would think that i should also go with the circle hooks except i am very skeptical about them. i have read stories of people losing big fish because the circle hook didnt penetrate into the fishes mouth. if someone wouldnt mind explainging the process of getting the hook in the fishes mouth instead of slipping out i would probably switch to circles. I have a feeling that it is gunna take some practice, maybe i'm wrong and it will be easy but with my luck prolly wont :smash: . one more thing, if i use the circle hook with a chunk bait, wont the bait cover up the curve of the hook point and wont that end up meaning the bait stays on the hook in the fishes mouth and that i wont get a hook up at all because the bait will come right out? As you can all see i am very skeptical about the circle hooks because my whole life i have been using regular shank hooks.

thanks alot
Anthony

Oh yeah and bloocrab that picture is the exact way i was going to rig the bait. so thats not good?

I fish the same style as you do. I put on the chestwaders grab a 7' medium ugly stick, a dual drag reel ,(I have shimano baitrunner) , eight turns of 50lb flourocarbon tied direct to fireline, green or moss color 8lb 20lb strength or higher. I use 6/0 circle hooks like the other guys. I find the moving water and I use felt soles! The circle hooks are nice to catch and release. I like braid because I can feel every little bump and that is important to me when early season bass hit so softly and then drop the bait. Thats what works for me. Be safe and have a nice summer everyone!:cool:

Anthony, IU would use $14 fire line and stay with of the top of My head Your 94150 hooks that Im sure Your sharpening. You will find on the pick up as You hold Your rod verticle just drop and let line go tight and whack the fish, You will find it works good unless your getting Bumps and some Big fish Bump ever so slight.
The way You described the way You fish is a pissa way of chunking and thats how I did it. only rod was pointed at water /conv Gear/ (ditch) ansd some other spots that han calmer seas.
I would stay away from trebles If I was You.
and You may want to try circle hooks If You want to try some thing different. I set the hook on circles fast and hard.
But I founfd on Bass up to 45lb that You could not pressure to hars due to ripping out hook some times.
nothing like a 94150 in the tounge:D

Anthony-

For the type of fishing you mentioned (surf chunking), I'm still a fan of 25 lb. mono with a few turns of 40-50 mono shocker.

Sensitivity is a two way street. I've found that under certain conditions, a bass delicately mouthing a SURF chunk/bait can get spooked when it feels a certain level of tension on your braided line. That's where the extra stretchiness of mono might be helping you.

I'm not sure the extra sensitivity you get with braid really helps you with SURF chunking...I don't fail to detect any hits on mono.

As far as casting distance goes, believe me, you'll get more TROUBLE FREE casting distance out of mono than braid, even though braid has inherent advantages.

If mono is working for you now, why change it?

Don't get me wrong, I happily use braid for other applications (plugging, jigging, BOAT bottom fishing, etc).

One thing I would change is to use 4x strong circle hooks and NOT trebles.

When I first started using circle hooks, I really hated them b/c they forced me to fish a little differently (no sticking of the fish, let the fish run off with the bait and let the hook get the corner of the mouth). But, my distaste for circle hooks eventually became vastly outweighed by my dismay of unintentionally gut hooking fish.

Just my $0.02.

-WW

Fishweewee i am glad you said that, it made me realize why change anything? i havent had any trouble with my equiptment (knock on wood), i am thinkin not changing anymore. staying with my 15-17# mono and sticking with same hooks, for some reason i have never (ever) gut hooked a fish (knock on wood again) with my regular shank hooks. does any body see a problem with this?

anthony

nope what type hook u using?? 94150??????

Anthony, take it from a guy who used to spend a LOT of time and money experimenting with the latest and greatest in tackle...

Sometimes, undertaking change just for the sake of changing your old habits might not be the best thing to do.

If it ain't broke, no need to fix it!

-WW

No BM i am using a mustad 3407. its a 7/O regular shank hook.

oh ok . long shank?

yea, long shank, is there a better hook i could get in means of stronger in the same style. Mustad good or bad? i Bought a case of these hooks when i started saltwater fishing 4 years ago and the pack of 50 is running slim. so i need to get some more hooks for this season. just wondering if there is a better alternative hook of the same style and shank. i like this style hook, hasnt failed me yet.

I feel another art review coming on...

The theme here appears to be "penetration"

:laughs:

:laughs: awww i like fishy art :happy:

Originally posted by Anthony
yea, long shank, is there a better hook i could get in means of stronger in the same style. Mustad good or bad? i Bought a case of these hooks when i started saltwater fishing 4 years ago and the pack of 50 is running slim. so i need to get some more hooks for this season. just wondering if there is a better alternative hook of the same style and shank. i like this style hook, hasnt failed me yet.
go get a box of 94150 I think You will Like them

...the 92554 Mustad isn't a bad choice either, but I'll still pay the $$ for the Octopus Gami's...(not the circle hook either):yak5:

I use a circle hook if the rod is going to be in a spike but prefer a gami octopus if the rod is in hand. It's hard to resist wanting to cross their eyes when you feel the take.

For cut bait, I had much better luck last season with cutting bait into a longer, thin filet (feeding the hook point through a couple times) rather than a chunk, especially in the dog days of summer. I'm guessing the movement may have helped.

As far as the braid vs mono question, if Penn makes a spare spool for the 7000, you could probably pick one up for short money and load it with braid. It's definitely worth a try for certain types of techniques and will give you greater options without having to commit to one or the other.