How Many MONSTAHS Did It TAKE,,,,,,,,,,

[Clogston29]

sometimes you just don't land them

with a glass rod and mono, i'd really concentrate on the hookset with eels, don't think you'll be able to set too hard, so give it hell

if they take you in the rocks, don't be afraid to take the line off the pickup and let them go just holding the line between your fingers and applying enough pressure to keep slack out. once they move out of the rocks, just start the fight all over.

and don't be afraid to let them run on a looser drag. they usually wear themselves out that way and are more controllable in close. if you fish a tight drag and don't let them run, they tend to dive for obstructions more.

just a few ideas that i've found have helped me, but sometimes the fish wins. Its part of the fun (i think )

[RIROCKHOUND]

[QUOTE=Clogston29;647697]sometimes you just don't land them
with a glass rod and mono, i'd really concentrate on the hookset with eels, don't think you'll be able to set too hard, so give it hell[Quote]

First off, by your definition of 'Monstah' almost no one in this thread have landed one, with a few notable exceptions...
But on 'Decent' fish...

I agree 100%.
As a mono/composite rod guy (1201m) Hookset is vital. I fish next to a guy who fishes braid and stiff graphite. he flicks his wrist and is hooked up
And I fish Mustad hooks....

I learned by watching a crew from Newport that specializes in chunking and big fish. Drop the tip, extend your arms, AND when it comes tight, set the hook.Your reel should be behind your ear!

other than that, it's half luck, half skill and half circumstances

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

First off, by your definition of 'Monstah' almost no one in this thread have landed one, with a few notable exceptions...
But on 'Decent' fish...

I agree 100%.
As a mono/composite rod guy (1201m) Hookset is vital. I fish next to a guy who fishes braid and stiff graphite. he flicks his wrist and is hooked up
And I fish Mustad hooks....

I learned by watching a crew from Newport that specializes in chunking and big fish. Drop the tip, extend your arms, AND when it comes tight, set the hook.Your reel should be behind your ear!

other than that, it's half luck, half skill and half circumstances

thanks Bryan for more wise words,,,,,,,,,,,

by monstahs, my attention grabbing title, i meant 50's and up
or the trophy variety of our beloved species. i like mustads as well, but have difficulty
in finding them regularily and big enuff. will have to buy them buy the gross from the Boyz
at the Edge or from Kevin or at Sam's the next time i get to NPT.
Kay prolly has them as well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i will look into it for next season.

the Owner hooks i've found to be excellent, as you said Steve.
they are tough to find in Saugus as well. am very willing to try any product at least once,
although i DO have considerable confidence in the Gammi line.

THANKS a million to everyone for contributing so generously!

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by Clogston29

sometimes you just don't land them

with a glass rod and mono, i'd really concentrate on the hookset with eels, don't think you'll be able to set too hard, so give it hell

if they take you in the rocks, don't be afraid to take the line off the pickup and let them go just holding the line between your fingers and applying enough pressure to keep slack out. once they move out of the rocks, just start the fight all over.

and don't be afraid to let them run on a looser drag. they usually wear themselves out that way and are more controllable in close. if you fish a tight drag and don't let them run, they tend to dive for obstructions more.

just a few ideas that i've found have helped me, but sometimes the fish wins. Its part of the fun (i think )

well said Josh and thanks for your insights. and YES!!
it is the best part of this surfcraziness that we ALL aspire to,
letting them take all the line they think they can. i LOVE that part.

only this biggun from last year i let almost spool me four times and
she took me straight into the boulders in my avatar(dead low/the water in the foreground is about 4 inches deep) at the start of the second run. that is where she began to rub me after the last run, and i chose to try to bring her up after strumming the line to no avail~~~

her head was turned, she hunkered down and i had about 3 wraps of line left on my spool
when she began to rubb me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,4 pumps and she was gone. i could feel my line ticking back and forth off of the rocks before i stopped her the 4th time and i could feel it getting weaker and weaker with each turn of the reel. should've replaced the spool line from the 38#er, a 30#, and a 25#er the night before same tide/same place/ALL on eeeeeeeeeeeels. the saddest part was that this was the AM of 9/21, bro,,,,,,,,,,we fight and we learn!!

my hook sets seem to be fine. bow to the cow, 1-Mississippi, 2-Mississippi, 3-Mississi; with a verrry loose drag. then i roll it into her maw, thanks to Vic for that, and tighten the drag only slightly. i use 6/0 to 8/0 Gammi Octo's (depending on the beefiness of the snake) that i snell with Ande 60 pink or Ande 50 IGFA and have never had one snap. i only cross her eyes after she's taken it for awhile,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,had no problems with them coming unbuttoned, so faaaaar.

thanks again Clogston, for yer helpful suggestions.