Snapper live bait: Snelled v uni v loop knot

Saltwater Offshore Discussion
1

Question for those more knowledgeable: We do a lot of reef fishing and I usually tie a loop knot for fishing live bait, including for big reds or big flounder or amberjack or whatever … But I know some guys building rigs for the snapper weekends are rigging snells to keep the bait upright in the current … But given the the girth of the leader (50 to 60 lb) I am not sure the snell is going to help any more han a well tied uni…Which leads me back to, Won’t the live bait stay better upright and more appetizing on my live bait loop knot…

Thoughts? Thanks.

2

I snell circles and loop knot live bait hooks

3

Thanks, surfwrangler. Why do you snell the circle hooks?

4

I personally think that 50 or 60 pound leader is much too light for 25 to 30 pound class snapper. I Use 100 pound test leader crimped to a 9/0 or 10/0 Owner SSW Circle hook. You people are putting way too much thought into this rig just like you would for grouper but keep the bait suspended off the bottom.

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PROUD YANKEE

Oyster Baron

NMFS = No More Fishing Season

“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”

5

Thanks, man. Always appreciate your comments and insight. So to keep it off the bottom, assuming live bait, just use a longer leader and keep the weight on the bottom, or actually reel the weight a few cranks off the floor?

6

Idk I think I read something eons ago that circle hooks set better when smelled. I’m with sells though. Whatever is easiest and your confident in should be fine. I use 80# on my snapper rigs inside the ledge 150-200 on it or deeper. 50 is too light.

7

You snell hooks that dont have a eye(like sabiki hooks) or that have the bent eye and tie straight to hooks that have the straight eye. Im not a believer in the loop knot, when you pull on a loop knot it pulls to a straight line and i also dont think its that strong of knot. Ive had correctly snelled hooks come unsnelled after a decent fight with a big reds and have since quit using them. Use big strong hooks if you go for big snappers they can bend a hook out easier than you would think. Live bait stays alive best when you take care of it. Dont hook it to deep and let it down real slow and easy.

8

600# mono…attached to a metal shaft :sunglasses:

26 Seahunt
Angler’s Dream

9

All right, thanks. Helpful. I will beef up my snapper hooks. I have not lost a fish due to live bait loop knot. The one I tie is very solid. But you are right it pulls to straight line and I have figured the side of a loop is just one more place to get rubbed and broke on structure.

quote:
Originally posted by 40inchreds

You snell hooks that dont have a eye(like sabiki hooks) or that have the bent eye and tie straight to hooks that have the straight eye. Im not a believer in the loop knot, when you pull on a loop knot it pulls to a straight line and i also dont think its that strong of knot. Ive had correctly snelled hooks come unsnelled after a decent fight with a big reds and have since quit using them. Use big strong hooks if you go for big snappers they can bend a hook out easier than you would think. Live bait stays alive best when you take care of it. Dont hook it to deep and let it down real slow and easy.