float lining

[tugger]

what are your diferent methods for float lining on reefs ?

mine is simple with either pilchards, cuttlefish or fresh strip bait

i use my main line which is monofiliment and run a sinker straight onto a 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook and either thread the pilchard from the tail first then have the barb of the hook coming out of the head then do a half hitch with the line around the tail and run the sinker onto it. otherwise with the other baits just pass the hook through the bait a couple of times and run the sinker down onto the bait again.

then freespool the bait out till the fish strikes and the sinker should be small enough so the baits doesn't race down to the bottom under the boat but run out on a nice angle downwards. it should stay off the bottom to keep away from undersize fish and in the zone of larger fish.

i have heard of running lumise tube that glows down the line near the hook for added atraction and also preventing chaffing from toothy critters.

[jeff f]

i like to hold the sinker in my hand and let the bait out 10 or 15 meters before i drop the sinker over the side with the reel in freespool for a few seconds then controll the descent

works best when theres a bit of current

[tugger]

i'll have to give that a whirl next time jeff

[Malcolm]

So when a certain amount of line comes off the reel do you wind in and start again?

[dhess]

I use a slightly different rig with two snelled 6/0 or 7/0 gamakatsu octopus circle hooks. I put the sinker between the hook and the swivel.

I will let out line as quick as possible using the lightest sinker possible. I like braid as its thinner and sinks faster meaning less lead required. Another benefit of braid is near zero stretch so fish hook themselves on circle hooks without needing to strike. Conversely mono is probably more forgiving as it sinks slower and keeps you in the zone longer.

Because I only really ever fish on the drift if I see a promising show of fish up off the bottom on the sounder, I can crank my bait up about 20-30m up off the bottom and try to float it down through the show as my bait drifts over it. Takes a bit of guestimating how far your bait is behind the boat but can be very effective. Interestingly will sometimes get smacked by tuna or AJ's on the way up as they see the bait running to the surface and suddenly stop when I re drop.

[dassa]

I rig my bait a little diffrent with a 2 hook snell rig 4/0or 5/0 circle with the top hook through the top of the head coming out the bottom jaw and the second down near the tail that way it covers creatures that take the tail or one that one that take the bait head first.Keep the weight to a minimum and I use a trace of between 1/1.5 meters

[daveylad]

The only problem I can see with the method Tugger is using is that it only catches the bigger ones at "Boat rock" :laugh:

[tugger]

yes i do then check the bait and do over again but most times if your in a good spot that rarely happens as your hit on the first drop

Malcolm wrote:

So when a certain amount of line comes off the reel do you wind in and start again?