Seems like it could be a lot of fun in a school of rat reds, and after google searches it appears people catch some pretty big stuff with these things. Is this basically hand line fishing? What is the art to casting this thing and how do you apply drag?
“If you had to tell someone how good you are, then you probably aren’t that good”
02 Carolina Skiff 175 RG Honda 90 -
I’ve been taking kids snorkeling on patch reefs here in the keys and have them use those underwater to fish while snorkelin around. It’s neat seeing them pull up fish after watching it take the bait. I caught a 4ft nurse shark with one a few weeks ago and it was a pain in the ass. e
yella bote
black motor
It is a hand line. I tried one years ago down in Stuart, Fl. The rig we used wasn’t near as fancy. The Cubans I met were just using a beer or soda can, crimped a little in the center(like an hourglass), and wound with mono line. I caught a couple of small mangrove snappers.
It’s basically like a big spinning reel. To cast, you need to hold it so line will spool off the ring(like a spinning reel). If you are right handed, hold the spool with your left and the weighted line with your right. Let out about 3-5 feet of line above the weight and swing it around a couple of times and let er’ rip. It took me a while to get the trajectory right.
Good luck.
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
Used to use these almost exclusively growing up in Aus. With a little practice, you can get your cast accuracy as good as (if not better) than a rod.
Grass roots reef fisherman almost exclusively use these, especially on head boats. Less cost outlay for the boat, less maintenance, no one getting hit in the head by rod tips as people try to boat fish.
Sit a small rubber maid box between your feet and just let the line loosely coil into as you retrieve. Can’t beat the direct feel of finger to bite and it is a load of fun when something decent hits.
If you really want to try it out though - stay away from the braid unless you have an affinity for stiches, cut up an old bicycle inner tube as finger protectors and have a go.
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with the unarmed
Aus-Sea II
Glacier Bay 2690 Twin Yam 150
I used 'em trolling out stern of sailboats. Off Bermuda have caught Tuna, and lost a wahoo that bit through the mono. Beats carrying a rod onto someone else’s sailboat.