I have been lucky enough to get out and fish a few times early this year and it has been mostly slow days, but have found a few fish by putting in long hours and working hard. Some day’s it comes easy, but most of them have taken allot of effort just to put up a couple of fish. This report consists of 2 outings towards the end of March and 1 from this past Friday. Two trips in March I got two reds each trip and this past Friday was only able to bag one red. The whiting bite for me has been slow thus far, but yielding some big ones with one of them being a whopping 16 inches. No Black Drum or trout thus far but have caught a decent blue or two. Friday I had a huge run on a red rig that I thought to be a shark, but when I went to set the hook it all I got back was a bait that looked unscaved and saw no fraying of the leader so I’m not sure what it was. I have been chunking fresh mullet, whiting and fresh shrimp that came from a fellow that sells off of Coleman Blvd just past that corner store that has all the statues and junk outside. He said they were from Florida and they were indeed fresh. Last year after learning from Mr. Parker and talking to folks on this sight I began to look into using a shorter leader for chunking for reds to minimize gut hooking. It’s tough to admit that I have been doing it wrong but I am still learning and growing with every trip. Did some research and looked into a rig called the Lupton rig that was on the inter web. In short. A very short leader that is 4 inches that has a fixed weight has proven to be highly successful. If you have a very short leader when the fish sucks up the bait it can only go down so far if the fish is not lip hooked. The fish feels the weight and doesn’t commit to just sucking the whole rig down. This year I shortened my leaders up and fixed the weight vs using a sinker slide. I have found no ill effects from doing this. I do not believe the rig has reduced my catch rates and have not lost any fish from using the short leader. Out of 23 reds so far only one sw
Bummed I missed the trip again. Good looking fish. As water temp creeps up, the bite will get better and better.
“There’s a fine line between fishing and standing in the surf like an idiot.”
great day catchin there Pete ; Nice catch !!!
George McDonald
US Navy Seabees,Retired,
MAD, Charleston Chapter
[http://www.militaryappreciationday.org
When you see “Old Glory” waving in the breeze, know that it is the dying breaths of our fallen hero’s that makes it wave.
author unknown
Pete, DNR does promote using the short leader and fixed weight. Took this pic at the DNR display during the Charleston Boat Show. The first time I have seen it so it may be new to their promotional booth. I have been using this rig for several years and while it doesn’t guarantee you won’t gut hook a big red it does lessen the odds substantially. Will have to try the 4” leader. Using large (7/0 and larger) non off-set circle hooks also prevent gut hooks combined with the fixed weight and short leader.
Fished about 5 hours yesterday but no reds. A few large and small rays, a shark and some whiting was about it.
Pete with a bull whiting, lol. I think youve been having the best year so far out of most the surf fishers.
Beautiful fish you got there.
David miss fishing with you but I know you have a house to work on and we will get on them soon enough.
George thank you. I will call you soon regarding the surf trip with the soldiers. Last I heard the ferry boat has relocated to a different marina and we may need to come up with a new game plan. I’m working on that:smiley:
Harry you were one of the folks that helped me take a look at the short rig with the fixed weight. Thanks for the help. I have seen very little out in the community regarding what rigs to use and undeniably just by changing to this type of rig it can save a hell of allot of fish. A gut hook is not an autumatic death sentence but to think that some of them don’t die would be dishonest on my part. I would love to see that poster plastered in every fishing store around. Think of all the fish we would save if everyone got on board with this practice. It would be a 40 fest:smiley: The bottom rig on that poster I don’t like so much with the egg sinker. The top one I have used is very simular with simply using a snap and fixed pyramid weight to the swivel. It hasn’t caused me any issue thus far and appears to be working well. I think I will switch to using that 3 way swivel as it looks to be a better one than the standard swivel.
40 I tried to get you a shark bo. Threw the big rig out half the day with fresh whiting and nothing. Did get a good run on my red rig and poof It disappeared. And I think you just jinxed me. You know good and well Stevo is going to burn this board up come fall with his 40’s:smiley:
Lunker time to get that gal on a shark. I’m surprised that one wasn’t put up by someone this weekend. Take care folks.
Great catches, Pete.
I use to make up a more complicated rig using a fish finder rig and beads then crimping it in place so it wouldn’t move. The crimps would occasionally slip so I began using a three way swivel and attached a double snap to attach the weight. It’s quicker to make and less hardware involved.
Im getting ready to start burning the board up come tommorow. I know ive been saying it but stuff keeps coming up. Now im fully ready to leap into this years fishing. Hopefully reporting 5 days a week again. Hopefully i can get whiting like the one pictured above.
Great report and nice fish! got my son in law coming first of the month cant wait to get out there. thanks again
Philip Snyder II
Thank you Phil. I’m going to try with my wife and son this weekend. Good luck sir.
Nice report Pete!
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
Thank you DF, hope Connor gets on another tarpon this year!