Floating method

[ryno1983]

Im wanting to float bait down for snapper.

I understand the rig and that the principle is cast and let your bait float to the bottow hopefully to get hit on the way down. So what happens if it doesnt get hit on the way down? Do you wind in and repeat the process again?

Thanks for the advice.

[mackmauler]

the bottom is a good spot to be fishing, but generally its a quality issue, there is all sorts of shit that will get your bait. if your at anchor u can work the bait up and down but drifting norm ull be off the mark after a throw and ull have to go round again.

[dhess]

Depends how far the fish are off the bottom but the way I usually do it is let out line until I find the bottom, then tension it up and wind it up a few meters off the bottom and put the reel into free spool again. Repeat until you get smashed.

Like Rob said if your drifting there is usually no point having your bait down once your off the mark. Bring it up and redrift otherwise you will be bringing up sargent bakers and scorpion cod. Although I have caught a few nice tuskfish off what looked to be an otherwise barren bottom away from the main shows on the sounder.

[rumrunner]

the guys un the charter boats say to let it float down, and when it hits bottom bring it up 1-2mtrs, and then make slow long movements up and let it float down again untill bang!

goodluck with this weather tomorrow man!

[dhess]

Yeah conditions aren't great but you should be right. The wind has died off nicely off the gold coast.

[ryno1983]

Well tomorrow is off cause the guys havnt finished fitting the gps and sounder. So looks like friday or saturday. Not keen to head out first time in the rain to.

[MichaelJ]

like whats previously said let it drift to the bottom then bring up little bit then float back down again but if your drifting just bring it back up after hitting the bottom but leave on botom for litle bit just incase

[jeff f]

another method when using braid and a spinning reel is to keep the sinker in your hand ant let out 15-20 meters of line then drop the sinker overboard and let it freespool to the bottom.then wind up a few meters and the sinker wil fall very slowly to the bottom sliding along the line toward the bait.

the weight of the sinker keeps you in touch with the almost free falling bait.when you feel a hit wind like buggery anmd strike or use circle hooks and let it come up tight.

[goldnugget]

Jeff f....I like your method with the sinker. Even on a river with a decent current, makes for dificult casting with a long leader on a boat. I'll have to try it next time I'm out in the boat.

Jason

[jeff f]

another way too get your sinker away from your bait ies to wind the sinker up hard against your rod tip then cast.

the bait and sinker will separate for quite a few meters