Taken to the rocks... What do YOU do?

[decksweeper]

I tighten down and horse them through it. knock on wood---been very lucky with 50# PP....

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by decksweeper

I tighten down and horse them through it. knock on wood---been very lucky with 50# PP....

The fish isn't in a boulder field you can "weave" them through. I'm talking about the fish nosing down with a rock between itself and you, actively rubbing off the plug. OR wedging the line in the cracks between a boulder or three.

[Back Beach]

Open the bail or free spool. Got my best fish last year doing this. Couple of my old cape buddies still fish commercially with 50# pp and do serious damage in the rocks. When they have a large fish that goes into the rocks, they free spool or open the bail, lay the rod down in the boat, and check every few minutes to see if its freed up. These guys catch enough fish to make you puke, so its advice well taken. It will work more often than it fails. Works from the surf too. The trick is knowing when to stop horsing and give in a little, which comes from experience.

[In The Surf]

Wow, just saw a somewhat similar question and so is the answer. In these areas I use 3-4 ft of 60-80lb Orvis Mirage Fluoro leaders. Learning to play the rocks can be tricky and takes a knack to develop but can be done by most anyone. Once they sound into the rocks you want to keep even pressure but not a ton like your trying to horse them. I like to maintain contact for a feel of what they're doing. Don't want to get rubbed which is why you want some pressure on them. When you feel a little give bring them up/in. If no give at all I may bow the rod or take a wrap or two off to let up for a second or two to see what happens. Trying to encourage the fish to do something like turn, give, relax, swing the other way around a rock or whatever so I can get back to reeling in or the fish taking line.
This has worked many times even when fish have fully encircled a rock and cinched the line down. I have lost one maybe two decent fish in some of the boniest areas employing this technique but landed many nice ones. Hope this helps.
__________________

[piemma]

Originally Posted by JFigliuolo

The fish isn't in a boulder field you can "weave" them through. I'm talking about the fish nosing down with a rock between itself and you, actively rubbing off the plug. OR wedging the line in the cracks between a boulder or three.

Had one straighten 3/0 3X strong, 3years ago at a reef in Narragansett. 1:00 AM, full moon, flat calm and this moose takes my black joined pikie that Ii just finished making. I could feel her rubbing the plug on the ledge. After about 2 or 3 minutes....nothing but the plug comes back with the metal lip all bent to hell and the front treble is mangled with one tine straight as and arrow.

[Pt.JudeJoe]

Originally Posted by JFigliuolo

The fish isn't in a boulder field you can "weave" them through. I'm talking about the fish nosing down with a rock between itself and you, actively rubbing off the plug. OR wedging the line in the cracks between a boulder or three.

In that case you gotta give him slack and hope for the best because if you keep the line tight you KNOW you are gonna brake off.

[tattoobob]

once the bass gets down in the rocks and I can't move it I give the line some slack and hope the fish feels that and comes out. I have won and lost this way

[zimmy]

I had this dilemma in a spot in the canal where I got cut off by large bass twice. A couple weekends ago I hooked a good one at the same spot. After a while I could feel the line rubbing. I pretty much had control of the fish, but the angle was an issue. Several times when I felt the tension and rubbing increase I dropped the rod and let the line go slack for a good while. Each time when I did this and then started reeling, the rubbing had decreased. Eventually I got the fish past the trouble spot. I took it slow and got the fish in by gently working against the current since I knew the line was likely damaged. Got the fish in, my buddy unhooked it while I grabbed my camera, took a few pictures and released it. When I picked up my rod, I started to reel up the slack and found that my jig wasn't there. I went down where the fish was unhooked and found my braid was cut off about a foot above my 30 in. or so mono leader. Must have been really frayed and broke completely when my buddy unhooked it, although he had no idea. I can't imagine how close I was to losing my 3rd big bass at this spot (which may have lead to some good deals on buy and sell) , although I knew I was in trouble during the fight. Turned out to be my personal best. Anyway, the point is the slack seemed to help big time.

[NIB]

Well I know one thing for certain..If u are not winning any battles u have to make a change.
The key is to keep ur head.U have to stay calm so u can figure out what is going on an how to approach ur next move.I prefer to loosen up an wait em out.It's a fine line.Ideally a limp line lets the fish think it is off.U have to watch it (the Line) don't end up in more junk.
U give em too much line they might rap u up then ur basiaclly dead.Sometimes it happens so fast there is nothing u can do.
I went over this in another thread.I like a drag on the loose side. I can always cup the spool.I hate loosening it during the battle.Leaves me in a position where I have no idea of where my drag is set.I also prefer a 11 ft rod.This gets me a higher angle alot of times I can get the line over,around rocks.Plus the long rod gives me plenty of line to bow to the fish when they get near ya for the last ditch effort escape.There are times a good hit will almost pull u off some preacarious perches.Thats another reason for the loose drag.Along with the fact i use braid an the no stretch factor.If I had to fish up there I might go to mono.I been a braid guy so long tho not sure i could do it.

[Slingah]

Originally Posted by NIB

Well I know one thing for certain..If u are not winning any battles u have to make a change.
.

no better advise on surfcasting has been givin than this....I'm serious...
adapting....still my biggest hurdle...

[cheferson]

This season when fish have been making long runs, ive started to smack my rod. As soon as i smack my rod the fish stopped dead in there tracks. I dont have a lot of experience doing this , but every time i have tried it has worked.

[NIB]

Originally Posted by Slingah

no better advise on surfcasting has been givin than this....I'm serious...
adapting....still my biggest hurdle...

Thanks..
The old adadge, U have to pay ur dues.Still applies.
Sure u know of the story of the guy with the white rod,reel upside down,landin a 48 lber on a scup rig in the middle of the day.(True story)Thats fish suicide.U've read all the books, u have the right gear,U learn ur favorite spot, u know where they will lie.An when the big girls come by,U loose every one.Sooner or later u have to figure it out.Or take up golf.I think every good angler has lost there share of good fish.Face it if u where not a good angler u would not even have the chance.It's all about balance an scales.U can't win em all..I remember one time Livelining a Bad (good) jetty.I broke four good fish off in a row.I went to 80 lb braid an 100 lb leader with the intentions of standing em on there heads an draggin em in.I figure I a 250 lb man whats a 50 lb fish gonna do to me.
Ha..Said the fish..
I came to the conclusion that brute strength is not always the answer.
Next time it happened to me I just let em go an killed em on the end of the line.Dragged the fish back 30 yds.6 inches at a time