Found a bumpy ocean and had to change course as much as 90 degrees just to run the ditch to the various spots I fished. There was some life in 90’ but without the surface activity I live for we made the decision to run the last 20 to the ledge around noon. We got to the ledge with about 2 hours to fish and not another boat in sight(all day actually). Marked the first meatball and we started chucking. Fish responded immediately. We dropped more than we caught but had a blast. The ocean laid down nice as we took about 5 “last drifts”. Wahoo, tuna, AJ’s and almacos on the wood and metal and a few firsts for one of the boys. Hate running 70 miles in that slop but one top water bite makes it all worth while.
I buy the big ones like that. I crush the smaller ones with crimpers. I will usually leave the barb on the single that I sometimes use as tail hooks. Pretty much gone all barbless to some extent unless I have new anglers on the boat. Even then I will usually crush them after they get a fish or two.
That’s probably a good idea. We had a dolphin jump out of the box and head first into a bucked rimmed with 25 plugs with treble hooks. It went ballistic and the result was predictable. We had to run to the back of the boat until it died and spent alot of time undoing the mess.
That’s probably a good idea. We had a dolphin jump out of the box and head first into a bucked rimmed with 25 plugs with treble hooks. It went ballistic and the result was predictable. We had to run to the back of the boat until it died and spent alot of time undoing the mess.
26 Seahunt
Angler’s Dream
I only run 1 set of hooks at all times as well. So 1 set for big poppers, 1 set for small stickbaits, etc… It takes maybe 1 minute to change a lure and hooks with a good set of spilt ring pliers. Good hooks are not cheap either and you know they turn to crap after one dunk in the salt.
You will drop a few fish when you first go barbless but it actually makes you a better angler, IMO. You really need to keep the fish tight at all times. It is a whole lot easier to release the inevitable AJ and shark as well. I let quite a few tuna go too. It is just safer for me and the fish as well.
