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gdavis · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:06 am Post subject: Surf/Jetty leaders

Does anyone have any tips on the best surf/jetty leaders to use when targeting reds/drum? I know I'm going to need some spider weights for the surf but haven't found any good leaders in which to use them. Anyone have any ideas on how to keep my line held down on the surf but away from snags at the jetties? I'm headed to Corpus this Tuesday for a week of fishing and have almost zero experience in the surf so any advice in the right direction will help.

HighTide · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:52 am Post subject:

I make my own double-drop leaders and use 60# mono. That's usually pretty stiff and won't tangle. I also don't use snaps either. Use a commercially available double-drop leader as a template. On the hook, I just crimp it in. For the weight, I use a Fast Link from Breakaway. That way, I add the spider weight when I get ready to cast. PM me if you need more info.
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HighTide

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If changes in barometric pressure cause your joints to hurt, do pilots and divers have a lot of joint pain?

Big John · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 2647

I used to tie double drops leaders, but went to single drop leaders when I realized I only ever caught hardheads and seaweed on the bottom drop. So now I tie single drops and have a better success ratio as well.

I like 60 or 80 lb mono. As hightide said, both are stiff and normally don't tangle. I use a cheater swivel (a three way swivel), I like the biggest black ones I can find. I tie 3 pieces of mono to the line, one about 2 foot long, one 3 feet and the third, three feet 3 inches.

I then tie on a heavy black double swivel to the 2 foot piece, and two big black swivel to the others. I put my weight on the slightly longer side, and a 8-0 or 9-0 circle hook on the other. The circle hook is a must, because I don't want to gut hook an oversize big ugly or red.

Put on a big peeled piece of shrimp and let fly to the 2nd gut. I also like the crab cold water fish n chunks this time of year in white or bone.

This set-up puts the bait up in the water colum a little over store bought, so you avoid most bottom feeders, and right where most reds and blackies are swimming. Also give the bait more play in the water, and that extra movement = more strikes.

Good luck!

landlocked beachbum · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:12 pm Post subject:

And the knots [instead of crimps] are much less prone to failure and lost fish!!! Shocked

I don't use crimps, period. I've seen and/or had them break too many times.
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Dave

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein

Big John · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 2647

HighTide · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:51 pm Post subject:

What knots do you guys use for tying 60 or 80# test mono?

Though I've never had a crimp fail, have had a Red twist his way out of a spin clip. So for that reason, don't like to use them on the hooks.
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HighTide

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If changes in barometric pressure cause your joints to hurt, do pilots and divers have a lot of joint pain?

Big John · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 2647

I use an improved clinch, but I only loop the main line 4 times. Pull it tight by hand - it won't come together completey with this thick of a line. The get a little spit on it, and pull completely tight with needle nose pliers on the end, and the main line wrapped around your hand a few times. Do not ever attempt this with anything less than 60lb test, or it will cut your hand. Beside anything less will know up in the surf.

Great for the surf, do not use around t he jetties though. There stick to a lemon rig.

http://www.animatedknots.com/improvedclinch/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

landlocked beachbum · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:02 pm Post subject:

I gotta say that I was out in CC bay years back and we were into reds from about 9-15 lbs, maybe some bigger. The boat owner supplied the terminal rigging but I was using my own rod and reel. His leaders were double drop with 50 lb mono and 50 lb swivels. I had one fish pull a swivel apart at the boat when I thumbed the spool a tad to lead her to the net, another broke a supposed xxx strong treble, but no line breakages. My reel was spooled with 30 lb test and the drag was set looser than that, so it doesn't say much for the other stuff! Shocked

I trust a well tied palomar and uni, in that order.
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Dave

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein

gdavis · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info guys. I'm a palomar guy. That knot has not failed me yet. I don't like swivels either. I will be making my own leaders I suppose, and need to figure out how to work those spider weights so my line stays tight.

landlocked beachbum · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:14 pm Post subject:

Here's a video from the North American Fishing Club [I'm a life member] that shows the Palomar going against the "Fishing Fool", which is nothing more than a uni with a double loop around the hook eye and one that I've been using for a few years now. They don't get any stronger than these two!

http://www.fishingclub.com/ExtraContent/ExtraContentDetail.aspx?id=148176
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Dave

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein

Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 3974

Silver_King · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:15 pm Post subject:

MAke sure you use good quality "LEADER MATERIAL" mono. 80-100# So its less likely to tangle in the rolling surf. Cheap regular fishing mono sucks for leaders cause of tangles if you ask me.

Breakaway pulley rigs come with circle hooks and cast super far and never tangle. But on the jetty it will really suck to loose those.

kingkilla or tunakilla gots the good stuff too like mentioned. his email is... jlzeplin@hotmail.com

Also to avoid snags reel your lines in super fast and hold your rod tip striaght up in the air. Always keep an eye on your line to make sure its not begining to roll parallel to the jetty. if it wants to either your sinker is too light or you need a surf weight. Good luck. On the jetty your pretty much gonna loose tackle no matter what you do Laughing

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landlocked beachbum · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:02 pm Post subject:

Especially if you're fishing where 80% of the good fish are..................
CLOSE to the rocks!!!! Wink

Sounds like a lemon rig thingy to me!
_________________
Dave

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein