Round House Round Two

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MakoMatt said:
Using Bunker or other live bait of similar size for Stripe Bass I like 10/0 Owner Circle Hooks. Very good hookup ratio. Look at the size of a Striper’s mouth. They open quite large. I also like using monofilament line for this type of fishing. No braid. Shoulder the rod with enough drag to prevent backlashing. Don’t rush to grab the rod, take you time, leave it shouldered, slowly increase drag, and then pick up the rod and bring the fish in.

And keep your distance from the whales.
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I've had excellent results with the 8/0 circle hooks on Stripers in the past, but usually with bait and/or on smaller Bass. So, I was a surprised they didn't work this time.

In this particular circumstance I have a feeling the size of the fish and the size of the bait (Snagging is not very selective) may still necessitate a larger hook. I've got all winter. Maybe I'll snell up a few bigger hooks just in case.

Right now I'm running mono on everything, but I'm thinking of taking the braid plunge. That's a subject for another thread.
 
Avenger said:
Thanks. I guess I feel a little better that I wasn't fishing for jellyfish with a net.

It was still disappointing. It would have been nice to get a picture of that fish. I'm sure it was comparable to the one the captain brought in. Just bad luck.

Sigh, there's always next year. :(
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I know I'm repeating myself but Big Bass were likely caught a few times. They'll spit a bait if it doesn't feel right. I remember standing on the Meadowbrook bridge back in 80s watching one big bass after another ignoring whatever I or anyone else threw in front of them. Same scenario with schoolies and it's a bite on every cast!

FYI -If at the end of the day you have a couple live ones try swimming them around the bridges inside. Bass migrate out of the bays as well as along the beach. Always caught some nice ones at the bridges around Thanksgiving
 
Repeat away. I appreciate the insight. I don't usually do live lining so I could definitely learn to do it better.

In this case I just got a bare hook back, but since we can't see what went on we can only speculate. I probably didn't have the ideal rigging since I just pulled the hook up through the bait's upper jaw. Some people I've seen wire or lace the hook to the bait's upper jaw so the entire hook is free of the bait. So maybe the bait itself interfered with the hookset. Maybe it was already fishfood and the hook just didn't penetrate or didn't settle into the corner of the jaw. Why they call it fishing and not catching.

That's part of why I was thinking a bigger hook. But I was working with what I had. I was lucky enough to be snagging the bunker with a Hopkins single-hook jig. That's how thick they were. Otherwise I'd have just been jigging, and that sure wasn't working. Someone mentioned Swim Shads so I'm going to add a few big versions of those to the arsenal as well. It figures, I own enough tackle to open a store but only small ones of those.

We're going to have to put a little more effort into our liveline and bait game. I finally broke down and bought a proper Foodsaver so I'm looking to start brining and freezing bait packs so we don't run into a bait drought like we did this season. Gone are the days when my dad and I used to go out with a bunch of sabiki rigs and fill a garbage can with mackerel to freeze. It looks like we're switching to bunker and I'm going to have to learn to use a castnet too.

Good tip on bringing them back to the bridges. The washdown pump which feeds the livewell on my friend's Grady has an intake problem. That's on our winter list, so if we can make that work we can keep exploring live-lining.

My other issue is I've never been happy with the Shimano Baitrunner Reel and am looking for other options. I've already written a novel here, so that's another topic for another thread.
 
Avenger said:
Good advice. We do have a couple of spoons onboard for trolling, but they're huge.

One of my objectives this winter is to do a better job of organizing and storing my tackle inventory. Maybe I'll find big shads and smaller spoons.

Of course, that's my objective every winter. :rolleyes:
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I'm not talking about the mojos. Something like this. I meant to say flutter spoons not bunker spoons.

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Avenger said:
Repeat away. I appreciate the insight. I don't usually do live lining so I could definitely learn to do it better.

In this case I just got a bare hook back, but since we can't see what went on we can only speculate. I probably didn't have the ideal rigging since I just pulled the hook up through the bait's upper jaw. Some people I've seen wire or lace the hook to the bait's upper jaw so the entire hook is free of the bait. So maybe the bait itself interfered with the hookset. Maybe it was already fishfood and the hook just didn't penetrate or didn't settle into the corner of the jaw. Why they call it fishing and not catching.

That's part of why I was thinking a bigger hook. But I was working with what I had. I was lucky enough to be snagging the bunker with a Hopkins single-hook jig. That's how thick they were. Otherwise I'd have just been jigging, and that sure wasn't working. Someone mentioned Swim Shads so I'm going to add a few big versions of those to the arsenal as well. It figures, I own enough tackle to open a store but only small ones of those.

We're going to have to put a little more effort into our liveline and bait game. I finally broke down and bought a proper Foodsaver so I'm looking to start brining and freezing bait packs so we don't run into a bait drought like we did this season. Gone are the days when my dad and I used to go out with a bunch of sabiki rigs and fill a garbage can with mackerel to freeze. It looks like we're switching to bunker and I'm going to have to learn to use a castnet too.

Good tip on bringing them back to the bridges. The washdown pump which feeds the livewell on my friend's Grady has an intake problem. That's on our winter list, so if we can make that work we can keep exploring live-lining.

My other issue is I've never been happy with the Shimano Baitrunner Reel and am looking for other options. I've already written a novel here, so that's another topic for another thread.
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Just so you know, I miss more than my share of fish using circle hooks. Lol

Sometimes I'll just use the bunker head instead of the whole, live bait and I'll hook up more consistently.
 
OVERBORED said:
Just so you know, I miss more than my share of fish using circle hooks. Lol

Sometimes I'll just use the bunker head instead of the whole, live bait and I'll hook up more consistently.
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Oh, I don't claim a perfect ratio by any stretch. I miss enough hookups. But using circles, if I follow procedures similar to what @MakoMatt outlined, when they're hooked and pulling drag they're usually well hooked.

I'm probably just judging this one more because it was such a big fish. :(
 
Once I started using this technique, very few and I mean very few came unbuttoned. The key is the circle hook getting a good look at the target. Notice the bottom of the hook. That “protector” on the hook keeps the clip from running up the hook and fouling it up.

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longcast said:
Once I started using this technique, very few and I mean few came unbuttoned. The key is the circle hook getting a good look at the target. Notice the bottom of the hook. That “protector” keeps the clip from running up the hook and messing it up.

View attachment 121203
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Ooh! 'Splain please.

This looks like what I was talking about with lacing the hook to the bait's head.

What and where is this rig from?

I need details damnit!
 
Chinacat said:
Pretty sure we had a talk about this one LC
Cool rig which I believe is made by a couple of Moriches guys and its called the bait bridle?
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Thank you!

That looks like part of the equation.


That's what I was looking for. A fast way to rig a livie when the bite is on. Not letting the bait interfere with the hook.

Now the part about the "protector." Hook orientation. I'm sure I can wind up some rigging floss around the hook. But a specific technique would save time and engineering.
 
Avenger said:
Thank you!

That looks like part of the equation.


That's what I was looking for. A fast way to rig a livie when the bite is on. Not letting the bait interfere with the hook.

Now the part about the "protector." Hook orientation. I'm sure I can wind up some rigging floss around the hook. But a specific technique would save time and engineering.
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No need. Just buy the hook.

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Avenger said:
Thank you!

That looks like part of the equation.


That's what I was looking for. A fast way to rig a livie when the bite is on. Not letting the bait interfere with the hook.

Now the part about the "protector." Hook orientation. I'm sure I can wind up some rigging floss around the hook. But a specific technique would save time and engineering.
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I also put the hook through that little rubber piece to hold it better.
 

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