Gibbs darter

[beachwalker]

Fished last night on South shore. The moon was a bit of a nuisance until around 11:30pm when some fog and clouds darkened things. The fish began arriving within 20 minutes of things getting blacker.

Threw some swimmers and hooked up 30-36" fish. Great fight in these girls.

Still looking for some of the 30# nylon/wire leader.

Any help ?

[JohnR]

I use 30 or 50 pound Big Game mono leader or 25 or 50# Flouro leader - Seagar or tripplefish - even with smaller blues - rarely use steel

[beachwalker]

John,

Thanks for the reply. I usually use 25 or 30# seagar but recently began having chafe problems down at the snap. The shocker was getting rubbed on the lure (probably) when I was removing the hook) and I broke off twice in one night. Clean 2 " break up from the snap. I have never broke off that way before and paid close attention to the line the next fish I beached and released. There I discovered the wear and the reason for the 25# break.
The reason I can't go much higher than 25# is because I direct tie my shock to the mainline using a double uni knot. This allows me to cast off the shocker instead of the mainline as it can travel into and through the eyes. I beach fish a ton in lot's of wind so casting puts a lot of stress on the mainline at the tip. I had some problems a few years ago with my mainline breaking just above the swivel and began experimenting with the double uni. I never have broke off again there (knock wood !) but, because I am mostly running 12 # stren, I can't consistently get a good uni to work with anything over 25# seagar. So, I have this chafe problem.
I have had some of this nylon/wire stuff kicking around in my box for a few years. I have used it a little for Bonito/Albies. It is steel and doesn't show up too bad in the water. I am hooking up enough to make me think that it could be a solution.

But maybe I should just pay more attention to how the fish comes up the beach and the leader lays.

Any more thoughts ?

[JohnR]

Ahah - I do the same thing often but go mono to mono on my conventional with eels. But I'm also going 20# to 40-50# leader - though I don't use that small of a main line... Have you checked out those Titanium leaders?

[beachwalker]

John,

Uh no ?

Over here the tackle shops are about 20 years behind because no one is REAL serious about beach fishing Bass. Any of us that are develop our own solutions and forget that the rest of the world is actually evolving right in front of us !

Where can I find some appropriate titanium ?

Do you double uni the 20# to the 40-50# ? I am gearing up for a summer/Fall with bait and am wondering about the best main to shock set-up.

Thanks

Name is Neil

[JohnR]

Not sure where you can get it but Got Stripers has used it and maybe he can chime in....

Yes - that's the knot I use but I don't cast the leader - never had a need. I use about 3 feet or so to be strong at the fish and the rocks close to the fish...

Nantucket - where people fly into Bill Fishers and Mr Pew sells honey Lamis with Penn 6500SS reels to tourists. You can find these same tourists at various beaches, especially Smith Point, backwinding their reels. It only get's worse with a higher percentage of backwinders when they see us oddballs with conventionals with the reel up instead of down

[PNG]

I was told by a FL charter guy (sailfisher etc) that seagar (all floros)30lb & up should not be knotted, crimped only. I have given up on the stuff, switched to 50lb momoi(sp?) for plugs. I like jenkia (sp?) for live things cause its softer.
Chris

[UserRemoved1]

Wet it first and it knots fine. It's all I've ever used for bite guards.

[beachwalker]

Definetly wet my knots before I draw them in. A double uni has to be preset at both ends before it can be drawn in. Anything over 25# get's messy with the small line (12lb) Maybe I should switch up to 14, 15 , 17 or 20 ?
I guess with 20 what the heck do I need a leader for at all. for that matter what the heck do I need a rod for ?

Maybe just a good stick of dynamite or something.......




Thanks for all the advice