I have to agree with Bohgy on the circle Hooks. Its a matter of feel i guess. Some guys feel that "setting-up" is "what its all about", and i understand that point. I feel you got 30 minutes or more to yank on your rod all you want while fighting a fish ,so whats the difference.
My only apprehensiveness on circle hooks is using wire. i prefer cable becuase it is more flexible and will follow the contour of the shark. This means the circle hook has a better chance making it to the right spot as opposed to #19 which will follow a straight line. Also using circle hooks with cable prevents the shark from being able to bite into the cable due to the hook being in the corner of the mouth. I will say it is much easier to remove a J-hook from a shark than a circle hook
Does any body use double circle hook rigs? I feel you have to sacrifice using bigger baits when using circles becuase using double hooks rigs seems counter productive.
Get used to circle hooks!!! The law is comin!!!
well what i dont get is why you still use steel with circle hooks ive never been broken off with a circle hook using 400lb mono and have caught hundreds of sharks like that but i find my hook up rate is higher with J hooks. i've brought in big sand tigers, BT, spinners, lemons all kinds of sharks and have never had a problem at all thats why im wondering why if your so sure that the wire wont get chomped why not use mono like i do 400lb mono is hard as hell to break even with sharks spinning up in it. just sayin
#19 wire or cable
well what i dont get is why you still use steel with circle hooks ive never been broken off with a circle hook using 400lb mono and have caught hundreds of sharks like that but i find my hook up rate is higher with J hooks. i've brought in big sand tigers, BT, spinners, lemons all kinds of sharks and have never had a problem at all thats why im wondering why if your so sure that the wire wont get chomped why not use mono like i do 400lb mono is hard as hell to break even with sharks spinning up in it. just sayin
Did you happen to catch an over 10ft hammer on 400lb mono leader no wire?
No but I've caught big bulls on it never caught a hammer but if its in the corner of the mouth what's the diff
No but I've caught big bulls on it never caught a hammer but if its in the corner of the mouth what's the diff
As everyone know already - hammerheads are the ultimate sharks when comes to pulling power at high drag - being said that - an already chewed up 400lb mono line at high drag - +50lb drag - would most likely give you a failure. For smaller sharks you may get away with it, but when a big one bites - +10ft shark - 400lb mono has no chance to resist the chopping pressure. If i remember well, William as well mentioned that he pulled a big shark were the cable had only few unbroken strands left vs the wire were was in one piece without any damage - for a double rig setup.
You may think right now that i'm wrong, but i would challenge you to hook into a monster hammerhead around May 2012, just with 400lb mono leader - and let us know how that went.
P.S. I know people that change the entire line an a shark reel (BHC tournament) just because o a small distortion on the line - Why? - At high drags the smallest cut/abrasion on a mono line would result in a complete line failure.
And was he using a J hook or a circle cuz I've never even had the line chomped with a circle maybe a Lil frayed from the tail or a spinner jumping but not to wear it looked any less that like 390 lb after
And was he using a J hook or a circle cuz I've never even had the line chomped with a circle maybe a Lil frayed from the tail or a spinner jumping but not to wear it looked any less that like 390 lb after
It doesn't matter, because when your bait is out-there its enough couple bites to ruin your 400lb mono line integrity - before any run happens to trigger your attention. The best way to "see" this is when you have a light ball attached on your line - u can buy this at walmart for under $4 - when you see that light ball going HARD up and down - the shark is chopping your bait - only after that - you'll get that run.
Believe me I'm not saying your wrong or I'm right I'm just wondering and would tge true test for it be a monster mako seeing as they are the fastest and can be well over a 1000 pounds
Believe me I'm not saying your wrong or I'm right I'm just wondering and would tge true test for it be a monster mako seeing as they are the fastest and can be well over a 1000 pounds
I think we are on the wrong track here, are we still talking about "land based shark fishing" or "offshore fishing" because now when you mention mako sharks - they are usually caught offshore. Now, being said that, chasing sharks with a boat its hole new fishing style then trying to stop a "freight-train" standing in one place.
no land based makos have been caught landbased in the panhandle i was just reading newspaper posts with pics from the past years and they showed some big makos caught from the beach
Three scenarios the 400lb mono leader wont work. First when a hammer charges you and creates slack, chomp line cut like butter. second is during violent headshaking he creates slack and chomp cut. third is probably most prevalent....let a shark take a large bait and he swallows it, circle hook is in throat for a short time before sliding out to corner of mouth....well leaves vulnerable mono right in between teeth
Someone may teach me the error of my ways on this one, but I use a circle with the barb crushed down. The barb on a hook was originally only designed to hold the bait on the hook. With the barb crushed you'll get easier penetration, a deeper hook hold and once that circle is set properly in the fish, barb or no barb it aint coming out easy without a pair of hands and some pliers. It is a lot easier to get that hook back once the shark is on the beach if the barb is crushed down though. I'm fairly new to shark fishing but I have yet to lose one to a hook pulling out and I always use a de-barbed circle. Give it a try!
Dan