I’ve made five trips over the past month targeting the poons and gone 0-3. On each hookup, I made it past the first jump only to have the fish come unbuttoned shortly thereafter. Kinda surprised at the size, as these fish were in the 30-50 lb class.
Most recent trip was Saturday evening. Northern area of Bull’s Bay, low incoming. The two fish we hooked up both ate half a blue crab. On both occasions the rod bowed over before we even picked it up. The fish immediately went airborne, then ran hard to the left, then back to the right, then the hook just pulled out. Frustrating! Reminded me of a basketball player with the moves that cause a defender to fall back just a little before ringing the three right in his face!
Guess I need to re-sharpen some hooks before next time, maybe that’ll help.
Frustrating! Reminded me of a basketball player with the moves that cause a defender to fall back just a little before ringing the three right in his face!
I like the 3 pt analogy.
I’ve been left there slackjawed a time or two, wondering what happened. still a good feeling.
I felt more like I was guarding LeBron, got headfaked, and he went to the hole for a one-hander tomahawk. you know, nailed to the floor frozen.
If you’re going to fish with crab, pull your circle hook all the way through the crab, where it hangs out the back. Then rubber band your crab in place. That’ll help with your hook-up ratio. Also, don’t pick up the rod immediately. Let the circle hook do its work in the rod holder. Make sure your drag is set correctly.
What Yellabird said. It’s probably a matter of how you are hooking the crab, and hook setting technique. I don’t even put the hook through a crab, I wrap a rubber band around it and put the hook through the band.
Also sounds like your drag may be set a little tight for the initial runs. It’s a strong fish, got to let it run.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Tip I picked up in the keys is to extend your arm out and point your rod at the fish when it jumps to allow a little bit of slack. Will keep him from shaking the hook.
Wiggs have you had more luck with a cork or bottom rig ? I’ve been twice to try for them so far this year and haven’t hooked one yet . Seen one roll by the boat last time out ! But I’ve heard if they are rolling they aren’t eating .
Tip I picked up in the keys is to extend your arm out and point your rod at the fish when it jumps to allow a little bit of slack. Will keep him from shaking the hook.
Wiggs have you had more luck with a cork or bottom rig ? I’ve been twice to try for them so far this year and haven’t hooked one yet . Seen one roll by the boat last time out ! But I’ve heard if they are rolling they aren’t eating .
19’ Cobia bay
The only one I’ve ever hooked was down here in Beaufort and we’ll only stopped because they we’re rolling. We hooked him 20-30 minutes ofter anchoring. Threw mullet and pogies out, caught huge sharks and rays for 30 minutes then broke a 100+lb tarpon off
Lots of good advise. I’m using a number of different size hooks (7/0-10/0) depending on bait, but nothing as small as 5/0. That’s certainly worth trying though.
Tried again yesterday morning with no luck but sharks. Water color never got right. Those poons seem to like that greener water. Finding the right size bait was a PITA.
Cracker Larry gave you a pro tip, try it anytime when fishing a 1/2 of a 5" or bigger blue crab for any type fish, always worked better for me and better yet when fishing them live. Tapon action still slow for me around Botany and Deveaux’s,hope to really get after em in August.
