Mar. '00
In the past I have talked about picking a hot bait and getting it into the water quickly is the key to getting bit. I continue to get e-mail about things like fluorocarbon leaders or circle hooks with swivels and how much they improve your chances of getting hooked up.
Well, I am going to give you my ideas on this subject. Many anglers, tackle storeowners or skippers may not agree because they have their ideas and that is just fine. I have said in the past there is more than one way to fish. Some of my descriptions may offend, but I have never been one who was politically correct. So if I offend, deal with it.
So first off let us go into detail about picking hot baits. Without hot baits the rest is useless. I have be picking bait for over 25 years now. It started when worked for Capt. Cliff Anfinson on the Bass Tub II. Every morning Cliff would give this seminar about how to pick out a good bait, so I want to pass along a little of his wisdom. Cliff always referred to picking a bait the same way you would check out a lady walking down the street. Cliff would say think of that anchovy as a woman. You want to choose the hottest, sexiest and prettiest one you can find. So what do you look for: Make sure her body is tight. What that means is no missing or frayed fins. Make sure the tail works. I know that sounds basic but you’d be surprised how many people forget to check to see how lively their bait is. Make sure her make-up is right. Check to be sure that the bait’s nose is not red. Its eyes are not bloodshot or even worse, missing. And finally make sure she is dressed to kill. Any bait that is missing scales has bruises or tears in their skin are not used. You want that anchovy, sardine or mackerel to say, “Hey big boy, come over and take a bite out of me.” You want bait that is so irresistible that even a stuffed, contented tuna would have to have just one more. That way you could hook any fish that’s down there waiting.
Another thing to remember is to use the correct type of bait. Fish are just like men, some like blondes, some like redheads, some like babies with back and some like them all. If you see all the other anglers getting hooked up with sardines don’t waste your time fishing with anchovies. There is one exception to this rule. If you want big cow yellowfin tuna fish big bait. Sure you will get a few big fish using sardines but your have better luck using big baits like whole skipjack.
Now finding the hot bait is going to take a little practice as well as being selective even during the hot bites. But more times than not, that extra 10 seconds in picking the right bait will get you a hook-up. When in doubt ask a crewmember to pick good bait for you. Just be sure not to waste that prime time bait.
Once you have learned the tricks in picking bait then the added benefits of fluorocarbon leaders and fancy hooks will help you even more. So what about fluorocarbon leaders? Well I do not use them very often. The simple fact is that it only increases your chances to hook a fish by maybe 10-or15 %. I do not really care if I catch that extra 10 %. I am just out there to have a great time and catch fish is only part of it. When fishing gets real difficult like the times when you fish Guadalupe Island and the yellowfin tuna are very picky then I bring out the fluorocarbon. Just so I can say I hooked a couple. One thing about using fluorocarbon leaders is that they usually break at the advertised strength. That means 40 lb. fluorocarbon will break at 40 lbs. of pull. Most mono fishing lines with break above their advertised strength. So be careful when using mono and fluorocarbon of the same rated strength. Fluorocarbon’s main advantage is that it is nearly invisible in the water. So fish do not see that line trailing behind the bait. But if you do not have fluorocarbon you can increase your chances by dropping down one line size say from 40 lb. to 30 lb. The smaller line size is less visible and has less drag in the water. Thus making your bait stay active longer and more appealing to the fish.
Circle hooks with swivels and other tricks will catch a couple more fish. But I feel it is more of a sales pitch that anything else. The things that make circle hooks so appeal to most are the things that I hate most. First off to hook a fish correctly with a circle hook you cannot set the hook. Just put the reel in gear and wait for the line to come tight and let the fish hook it’s self. I am sorry but I just love to rips them lips off when my bait gets suck in by a tuna. Another factor is that circle hooks usually hook the fish in the corner of the jaw. It is a great place with using light line but it doesn’t allow the angler to put any pain on the fish. I like to “gut” hook any fish that I am planning on keeping. Gut hooked fish to do not fight as hard as fish hooked in the corner of the jaw. It is less work for the angler and that is always better in my book.
As for the swivels on the hooks they do reduce line twist. But it is one more thing that may failure during a fight. If my line gets twisted I just go to the rack and pull out another outfit. If the second outfit falls prey to line twist that means I have had two tough battles with tuna I am already to call it quits for big fish today. Time to change the topshot and get ready for tomorrow and its time to try for wahoo.
So what I am getting at is that if you take care in choosing your bait you are already ahead of most anglers. If you want the complete advantage try a little fluorocarbon or maybe a circle hook on those line shy and smart tuna.