Hey guys, looking for some tactical advice on setting the hook, or going from nibbles and bites to actually landing fish. Been doing a lot of feeding vs catching lately. Trying various drag settings from totally lose to moderate. Fishing mainly breach and Fort area on sullivans right now. Caught my first hammer the other day but lost something big in breach inlet after about 5 seconds. Thanks for the education.
Dave Williams
Try circle hooks. Has increased my hook ups. Don’t jerk back with these, just slowly reel in when you get some nibbles. Good luck
do work live life
Dave, that was most likely a bonnet head ( they look like hammers ) - and probably a big sting ray that you lost. I second the circle hooks.
You’re more than likely using hooks that are too big. If you’re feeding fish and not catching them switch to smaller hooks.
Capt. R. Killin
“Day Tripper”
Shamrock 20 cuddy
Ford 351W
X2 on the smaller hooks. Shorter leaders and weight after the hook WILL help. I use jhooks 99% of the time, fish set themselves.
“There’s a fine line between fishing and standing in the surf like an idiot.”
What type of hooks do you use? I would recommend using circle hooks…you do not have to worry about setting the hook. The hook will do all of the work for you and will also help to avoid gut hooking a fish. One you see that something is messing with your bait, leave the rod until the fish picks it…only pick it up when the rod has bent over and started to pull drag. Then all you you have to do is pick it up and start fighting. It’s interesting to see how long it takes a fish to pick up the bait…sometimes a big redfish or shark will take it aggressively the first time and take off…other times it may take a couple of strikes as they are lazily sniffing around the bait, examining it, and flipping around. Even when you see these multiple strikes and it seems like you may have the fish…let the rod sit until it is fully bent over and the fish takes drag. Hope this helps!
Connor Malark
When fishing beachfront and getting a lot of nibbles but not fish hook size is likely the issue. Circle hooks are also fantastic for catching most fish, however if you are in a bunch of Whiting and small sharks I fink J-hooks to be more effective. I’m not saying circles won’t work but I feel like the little sharks don’t always have enough pull power to pierce their skin with a circle. Whiting have a small mouth and IMO it’s easier to get a J-hook in small mouth fish than a circle.
Right now the beaches should be loaded with whiting and small sharks. They are great fish if you just love to go catching.
I would be interested in other’s experience with small shark/whiting on circles.
First, Most, Biggest
I want to catch them all
The shark was a small hammer caught west of ft. Moultrie. Gorgeous fish. Justsmall. I’ve caught bonnets before and know the difference. If I can figure out how to post a pic I will. I’m using 5/o circle hooks right now with a few variations every now and then. I picked up a bluefish rig with smaller j hooks to try but haven’t had much time yet. For the most part I’m using frozen or cast net mullet and guessing by the bite size I’m losing the tails to blues. Generally very narrow.
Dave Williams
Hobie Outback w/Mirage Drive
Here we go…like I said, it was small but very cool.
Dave Williams
Hobie Outback
Touche, looks like a hammer to me, also looks like he got a little lovebite
2000 Aquasport Osprey 175 CC
5/0 hook it definitely too big for whiting and baby sharks. I use 2/0 or 3/0 hooks for small surf fish. Use small pieces of bait. Once you catch a few Whiting or Blues put one on a big rig and sling it out.
Jack Taylor
Thanks jack. I’ll downsize today and see how it goes. Should I be rigging my finger mullet with two hooks? I go through the lip usually and they just take the back.
I did toss out the last whiting I had and on three separate retrievals came back chopped in half until I had just the head. Again, feeling like I’m missing fish without a rear hook.
Dave Williams
Hobie Outback
Nice little scalloped hammer. I caught one about 4 feet or so in Copahee Sound a couple of years ago on my yak.
Boat drinks, Waitress I need 2 more boat drinks!
quote:
Originally posted by 843healthguy…I go through the lip usually and they just take the back.
Sooooo…hook them through the back??? or cut the head off. Dead or alive, when I use finger mullet in the surf, I will cut them in half,run the hook (when targeting big Reds 6/0 3x circle), deep and through the other side. Gotta remember, most surf FISH, have small mouths. Even a 2/0 circle sometimes is big. How long are your leaders? I would keep it, here again for “FISH”, 6" or less. If a fish picks up your bait on long leadered slip rig and swims toward you, the line will stay tight on the swivel. The fish can chew on your bait util…well…until aint nothin’ left but the head.
Dparker…thanks for the Homer Simpson moment. The obvious answer was right in front of me. They aren’t biting heads so why hook the head? Duh. I’ll try it tomorrow morning. Taking the morning of to go either to 30 or 12 on si as the tide goes out. You guys have any feelings on those areas. I really don’t want shark this time. Taking my daughter who is happy catching anything. I’ll use my 2/o and 3/o hooks to start. Had a big ray on yesterday but we cut it loose when we saw a pup swimming with it.
Dave Williams
Hobie Outback
quote:
Originally posted by 843healthguy…I really don’t want shark this time.
…don’t use Mullet…
…or any cut bait. Get some fresh shrimp from the seafood market.You could still catch sharks, most will by small, but fun for the kids. And get some, </font id=“size2”> smaller hooks</font id=“size1”>. Down to a #2.
Happy to report much success with size 2 hooks. Went out Saturday, found a great spot , caught 3 flounder, 2 sheep, 2 trout, and a red. My first slam. Thanks all!
Dave Williams
Hobie Outback
Nice !
Jack Taylor
Having trouble feeding fish myself. Using #2 circle hooks and smaller J hooks on my double drop rig. How short of leader should I use on my fish finder. Any tips on baiting hooks?
quote:
Originally posted by mountaineerHow short of leader should I use on my fish finder. Any tips on baiting hooks?
I don’t use finder rigs in the surf, if I did, 12" length max? Double hook your bait. In one side, through, and back through. With circles run the point well through, important with cut bait chunks. With shrimp I leave the point buried, it’s soft enough. And leave the shell on, helps ALOT. Never a problem. Honestly though, in the surf, weight after the hook works best, IMO, assuming rod is in a spike and line is tight. If a fish just taps your hook you will know. Either it pulls the rod down and hooks itself or knocks it slack.