A few from Saturday..... - Page 2

Blue_Runner · #11 03-29-2006, 04:08 PM

I've used circles for surf fishing reds and stripers as well as fresh water striper fishing. I like them (sorry RAP!). Not having to set the hook is less work for my lazy @ss!

Stinky_Hooker · #12 03-29-2006, 04:13 PM

I understand, we are all different (some more than others). but its ok for you to be wrong too IMHO. :D

I like em cause you loose less fish and you get a nice corner of the mouth hookset 95% of the time. Its better on the undersized fish and unwanted species that get released. I think circle hooks are one of the best conservation moves as of late. *8)

reelapeelin · #13 03-29-2006, 04:58 PM

Yeah, Stink, you're right about the consevation aspect of 'em...sometimes I feel like I'm bein' dragged into the future kickin' & screamin'...but I'll tell ya, I thought circles would be solution to stripers bein' gut-hooked when we're cut-bait fishin' so I tried 'em...I SWEAR every fish we caught was gut-hooked... ???...they don't work w/rod-holders...only when you can feel 'em and start windin'...that's my experience w/'em anyway...

Blue_Runner · #14 03-29-2006, 05:37 PM

In my limited use of circle hooks I've never gut hooked a fish. Heck, with regular hooks I hardly ever gut hook a fish ???

I try to gut hook flounder intentionally ;D Gives me that peace of mind while reeling.

Use whatever works IMO.

Stinky_Hooker · #15 03-30-2006, 12:11 AM

It must be the type of fish...maybe stripers just swaller it up no matter what! ;D

I catch MOST of my snapper and AJs from the rod holders. I drop em down and sit back and watch. The tip twitches..I sit :D....it wiggles....I sit 8)......I jerks.....I sit 8)......I bends 8).....I sit ::)...the tip of the 50# class rod touches the water.......I ease on back there and reel up dinner. ;D

They call me ICEMAN, cause I stay cool in the heat of battle.... 8)

Oh I forgot to mention I am going next Saturday the 8th to fish with a buddy in Decatur Al. He fishes (Wheeler Dam I think?) and catches some HOGS! He also says a bad day there is less than 20 or 30 fish.

I have always heard strippers fight super hard. I even had a friend that says he think LB4LB harder than Amberjack. I dont know about all that but we will see. ::)

I have never caught one at all. I cant wait!! 8)

Blue_Runner · #16 03-30-2006, 12:06 PM

Good luck on the stripers ICEMAN 8) They do fight hard. I've never caught an AJ but I know those 6 - 10 lb stripers have amazing striking power! The big ones aint nothing to snub either. But I think you put a 30lb striper next to a 30lb AJ, I think the AJ would put him to shame. I say that having never caught an AJ of course ??? :-/

That 25lb king I caught last year I never touched the rod til it stopped screaming. I had about 100 ft of line left! My buddy was yelling, "He's going to spool you!" I didn't even flinch ;) I knew better than to pull the hook cause luckily I read up on it. Otherwise I'd have put the ol Bill Dance on him and never known what I had ::)

Matter of fact, what convinced me not to touch the rod was this article I read where this captain that does king charters will hit you in the head with an egg sinker if you even think about touching the rod too soon ;D 8)

I love the internet :)

reelapeelin · #17 03-30-2006, 01:57 PM

I LOVE striper-fishin', but an AJ will outpull a ol' linesides lb4lb til it DROWN & go DOWN!!...except Wahoo, I can't think of anything that WOULD outpull an AJ...self-limiting; you can't HANDLE but one a day!!... ::)...

Stinky_Hooker · #18 03-30-2006, 02:13 PM

Well IMHO there aint no harder fightin fish than an AJ. Cept maybe a tuner, but I aint caught them so I dont know. They fight like you are hooked up to a pissed off Volkswagon. Even the 25-30lb Ajs require 80+lb gear when caught in 100' of water or less. If not they always tend to get into the wreck/reef or rig in my experience.

My standard go to AJ rod is a Penn 6/0 on a Penn 80# tuner stick with 80lb line. If they are smaller I might use my TLD 25 with 50#.

On the kings, as a rule, they bore me. I have caught so many while bottom fishing in past years that I hardly fish for em now unless I have someone onboard that has never caught any. I think the 25-30#ers fight better than the 40-50+ ones. I dont know why, but I have caught a few around 45 and they have a decent initial run and then just kinda come back to the boat for gaff. *::) The average sized ones (25-30) seem to have more zip to me, not sure why but they do.

But yeah when the smoker reel starts screamin I just chillax till is over. 8)

What do yall fish for kings with up that way?
Big Silver Eels is by far the best bait around here IMO. 8)