I have gut hooked multiple undersized trout and a couple reds the last two times out on Carolina rigs. I started cutting the leader at the hook, to give them a chance at surviving, don’t know how well they do. Then I have to re-rig.
Current setup is braid to 60lb 2-3 ft stiff leader, egg sinker, to barrel swivel, 10-20 inches of 15-20 lb leader, circle hook. Hook size 1/0 to 2/0 for skrimp and fm. Occasionally 4/0 to 5/0 but that seems to big for some baits. Weights 1/2 to 1 oz generally seems to get down.
Any suggestions? Or is this normal? Shorter leader im thinking, and possibly a stop above the wieght, so it has a fixed range of travel. More weight? Hook size? Another post Stonoman said 2 oz and 6 inch leader, others vary length.
Id hate to be killing juvenile fish cause of improper rig. Thanks
T
Try a shorter leader if you can, I use 8-10 inches of leader on the bottom, and 12-24" under a cork. The shorter the leader it gives the fish less time to run and swallow the hook before the weight catches the hook and sets it, also keep your line tighter in the rodholder
If you bottom fish for trout or red fish you will gut hook more of them using circle hooks. No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it.
8-10" leader helped none for me. Only takes about 3" to put it past the point of no return… or at least if you want the fish to have a fighting chance on releasing and not filleting to get your hook back.
Your rig screams rod holder. If so, try lighter sinker, line and rod. Hold it in your hand, not the holder. You will detect the bite earlier and therefore mouth the fish. Buy a dehooker as regardless of technique, you will eventually need it. Thanks for considering conservation.
Good luck, O.C.
Keep your line a little tighter. I have found that I will deep hook more fish with a looser line. I have used the off-set circle hooks, but usually take my pliers and remove the off-set. I predominately use a 2/0 for 100% of my inshore fishing. I also rig my leaders at 8"-10" with a 75# swivel and 25# mono or flouro (depending on what I grab out of the bag) topped off with a 1/2 oz-3/4 oz. egg weight. I have found that flouro has a tendency to “yellow” and I get concerned about breakage after it turns yellow. It may just be a result of heat or something else. This “yellowing” is in my rig bag which stays sealed unless on the water and then only opened to re-rig. Then the swivel is tied to 6-8’ of 20# mono leader and then attached to 25# power-pro. This has been sufficient to catch reds up to 30" inshore. For the jettys/nearshore and larger reds, my setup is identical except the main line is 60# power-pro and the leader material is 50# mono and I run either a 4/0, 5/0 or 6/0 with a 1.5-2.0 oz egg.
Keep the line fairly tight and the fish will hook themselves in the corner of the mouth 99% of the time.
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
Kotp - So I went out this morning and checked the hooks, they are indeed owner mutus or offsets. I am going to order some inline true circles today.
OC/TR - yes rod holder and I now that I think about it one yesterday was on a slack line after the stern of the boat shifted in the wind, I went to reel it in and fish on. Probably the others were more slack than I realized.
Yea like alot of these guys kinda said. You just need to get on them a little faster if possible. I know when bass fishing if you let them play with a c-rig they will usually have it buried way down deep but if your on them pretty quick you dont have the same issue.
Ok, I’m a lazy fisher and sometimes let a line get slack or have a fish swim towards me instead of away. I really don’t understand the politics of circle hooks when J hooks have been used since the beginning of fishing poles. I do understand that circle hooks will cause more gut hooking than J hooks. Tight or slightly unattended slack line.
Bottom line is more people are just fishing to catch one, look at it, be rightfully proud, let it go, and hope it will survive. Me, I catch fish to eat. </font id=“red”> A simple way of life has been trampled on by the liberal Peta society.
Ok, I’m a lazy fisher and sometimes let a line get slack or have a fish swim towards me instead of away. I really don’t understand the politics of circle hooks when J hooks have been used since the beginning of fishing poles. I do understand that circle hooks will cause more gut hooking than J hooks. Tight or slightly unattended slack line.
Bottom line is more people are just fishing to catch one, look at it, be rightfully proud, let it go, and hope it will survive. Me, I catch fish to eat. </font id=“red”> A simple way of life has been trampled on by the liberal Peta society.
So you say that circle hooks cause MORE gut hooked fish…is that correct?
I have gut hooked multiple undersized trout and a couple reds the last two times out on Carolina rigs. I started cutting the leader at the hook, to give them a chance at surviving, don’t know how well they do.
As long as you don’t use stainless hooks, the majority of those fish will be just fine if you release them guthooked.
Between their stomach acid and the saltwater, that hook will rust out pretty quick.
Bottom line is more people are just fishing to catch one, look at it, be rightfully proud, let it go, and hope it will survive. Me, I catch fish to eat. </font id=“red”> A simple way of life has been trampled on by the liberal Peta society.
Fred, I’m not a PETA member, and I release most of what I catch. Why? 1), I enjoy figuring out how to catch them, and 2), the population here is growing, adding to fishing pressure. I’ll certainly keep something to eat every now and then, but personally I think thosh fish are more valuable if they can be caught/released numerous times by numerous people. I want my kids (and soon to be grandson) to be able to catch them in the future when I’m dead and gone.
I have no problem with you keeping fish to eat. The people that annoy me are the ones that keep everything they can stick a hook into.
I really don’t understand the politics of circle hooks when J hooks have been used since the beginning of fishing poles. I do understand that circle hooks will cause more gut hooking than J hooks. Tight or slightly unattended slack line.
Simple politics Fred. It started with the long-liners and them wanting to reduce their dead by-catch. Thus circle hooks were invented by said long-liners and its proven circle hooks have higher hookup rations and many less gut hooking if you are using straight-line circle hooks.
If you are fishing with bait you should switch solely because you will catch more when used properly and you can still keep your fish to eat.
Telly, are you using straight-line or offset circle hooks? IMO they should not even sell offset circle hooks.
