Fished the St Helena and S Edisto Sunday and Monday morning mainly targeting tarpon. Had 5 or 6 bites on Sunday but must of all been sharks because they bid through the mono leaders I was using everytime.
Fished with half a crab on bottom and live menhaden and all bites except one was on the menhaden, nothing much wanted to hit the crabs.
Went back out this morning to the St Helena Sound after catching as many mullet as I wanted to in the cast net. soaked a half crab again on bottom and mullet on bottom and two mullet under float rigs.
A few more cut offs and more sharks; however right after setting up had something hit the mullet under the float and let it run screaming line off the reel for a good minute before I set the hook and when I set the hook, my rod broke in half and so did the line with it.
I’m assuming it was a tarpon because every other bite I had cut through the mono leader and this one didn’t. I was fishing a very stout rod and 60# mono with a heavy mono leader. I’ve only hooked one tarpon last year this time to lose it because I tried to set the hook as soon as it hit and that one came out of the water and shook the hook. I’m just wondering if I tried to set the hook too hard and looking for advice because I’ve popped a many of lines before but never had a rod snap in half like this one did.
Some experienced guys around the island have told me to let them run for a minute or so peeling line and then set the hook hard to get it through their tough mouths. I was fishing a 7/0 circle hook and obviously the fish was hooked good but I did try and set the hook extremely hard so would appreciate any advice so when I go back out next weekend, I have better luck.
Didn’t get skunked though ended up catching a couple in the slot redfish on some of my smaller tackle right up against the banks in a foot or so of water.
Thanks for any advice and yes I did read the great article in the saltwater newspapers that are at all the marinas around the island.
Thanks!