Looking at a new reel, and I keep seeing line capacity ratings for mono and braid. I know it's a hot topic as to which is better but the problem I'm having is which should I use. I typically will be fishing Ft. Myers Beach area and you need your line out a bit. Is that even correct for that beach? Should I go ahead and put braid on there so I have more line?
I fish the same beach and area. I have gone strictly mono on my big reels. Surprisingly enough I have had my biggest fish on shorter drops. Sharks come out of Matanzas pass and Big Carlos then cruise along the beach looking for the bait fish that hug the shore. It is shallow at low tide and shelly, thus the mono.
If I am fishing in the day with a 9/0 for black tips, I have 3-400 yrds backing with 100lb braid, 80lb mono. 14/0 12-1400 yards of 100lb bullbuster mono. 12/0 has some mono backing 100lb braid and 125lb mono. when I re-spool it's going to be 100lb mono.
Braid, I worry about shells, also, if you get a bigger fish on it kills your thumb guiding the line onto the spool.
I usually spool my reels half and half. So if the braid capacity is 2200yrds of 130lb and mono is 750 of 130 I can expect 1100yrds of braid and 375yrds of mono. I don't like my braid in the water while the bait soaks. Some people don't mind it but I've had bad experiences so I use larger capacity reels and sometimes only spool 1/3 braid and 2/3 mono.
I fish the same beach and area. I have gone strictly mono on my big reels. Surprisingly enough I have had my biggest fish on shorter drops. Sharks come out of Matanzas pass and Big Carlos then cruise along the beach looking for the bait fish that hug the shore. It is shallow at low tide and shelly, thus the mono.
If I am fishing in the day with a 9/0 for black tips, I have 3-400 yrds backing with 100lb braid, 80lb mono. 14/0 12-1400 yards of 100lb bullbuster mono. 12/0 has some mono backing 100lb braid and 125lb mono. when I re-spool it's going to be 100lb mono.
Braid, I worry about shells, also, if you get a bigger fish on it kills your thumb guiding the line onto the spool.
Great info thanks. A lot to think about. How far out do you drop your baits? When I'm down there I fish the north end of the island close to Bowditch Park. Ever have any luck in that area.
I've never fished at the north end. Fished the middle a few times with little luck. I'm right down at the bottom of the island. You are close to the north pass (Matanzas) This is good. I find there are too many people up there, especially in the day.
Depth of drops. We have this discussion all the time. I usually drop a big chunk of something 400 yards out on the 14/0. There are a lot of black tips here so that takes them out of the equation. btw- black tips won't eat black tips.
We have had monster runs and big fish on 200 foot drops. Like I said. Our island has lots of bait fish up along the shore. I was fly fishing a month ago when the Tarpon were thick along the shore. A monster shark cruised past me 20 yards out from where I was wading. (15-20 yds) It looked like a small submarine. The thrust coming off the tail made circles 20 feet wide. My guess was a hammer following the tarpon, though I couldn't see the dorsal. I did see the tip of the tail fin so I know it wasn't a manatee. It was just suddenly there. You think that you are smart and able to get out of the way - lol. That thing could have had me if it wanted. It was a truly awesome sight.
SO. The long drops a lot of the time give you Black tips that end up dead on the end of your line. There is a fisherman on the beach that only does long drops with big baits.
The south part of the Island is being dredged. I think that is not helping my cause. You may do better in the North. Next time I am down, I am dropping big bait 300 yards just inside the markers. The markers in the north are closer than in the south. (between them) Been cut off on one before. Smaller bait in close for Black tips. The Guy from Guts and Glory sells big baits, but he swears by small baits for better pickup. You have to put up with smaller shark pick ups.
I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. I tend to go closer on average.
I've never fished at the north end. Fished the middle a few times with little luck. I'm right down at the bottom of the island. You are close to the north pass (Matanzas) This is good. I find there are too many people up there, especially in the day.
Depth of drops. We have this discussion all the time. I usually drop a big chunk of something 400 yards out on the 14/0. There are a lot of black tips here so that takes them out of the equation. btw- black tips won't eat black tips.
We have had monster runs and big fish on 200 foot drops. Like I said. Our island has lots of bait fish up along the shore. I was fly fishing a month ago when the Tarpon were thick along the shore. A monster shark cruised past me 20 yards out from where I was wading. (15-20 yds) It looked like a small submarine. The thrust coming off the tail made circles 20 feet wide. My guess was a hammer following the tarpon, though I couldn't see the dorsal. I did see the tip of the tail fin so I know it wasn't a manatee. It was just suddenly there. You think that you are smart and able to get out of the way - lol. That thing could have had me if it wanted. It was a truly awesome sight.
SO. The long drops a lot of the time give you Black tips that end up dead on the end of your line. There is a fisherman on the beach that only does long drops with big baits.
The south part of the Island is being dredged. I think that is not helping my cause. You may do better in the North. Next time I am down, I am dropping big bait 300 yards just inside the markers. The markers in the north are closer than in the south. (between them) Been cut off on one before. Smaller bait in close for Black tips. The Guy from Guts and Glory sells big baits, but he swears by small baits for better pickup. You have to put up with smaller shark pick ups.
I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. I tend to go closer on average.
All the info is great. And seeing a big hammer that close would have made my ass pucker just a bit. Lol. I'm looking at a few Penn reels that will let me get a ton of mono on them. When you say markers are you talking channel markers or the buoys a few hundred yards out? Sorry for all the questions, like I said I'm just getting into this type of fishing.
The north end by Bowditch isn't all that busy as by the pier but certain times it's impossible. The next time I'm down there will be mid to late march then again in late July. I've been doing a ton of research on this and I know it's going to push me to get down there sooner.
I usually spool my reels half and half. So if the braid capacity is 2200yrds of 130lb and mono is 750 of 130 I can expect 1100yrds of braid and 375yrds of mono. I don't like my braid in the water while the bait soaks. Some people don't mind it but I've had bad experiences so I use larger capacity reels and sometimes only spool 1/3 braid and 2/3 mono.
x2
Not channel markers, the white ones that indicate how close a boat can come in.
I was in awe seeing that big fish. Like being star struck. Wish I could have identified it.
Mono top shot and braid backing!!!!
TEAM GETCHA GETCHA SHARKON
Mono top shot and braid backing!!!!
How much braid to mono. I keep seeing 2/3 braid, 1/3 mono?
Mono top shot and braid backing!!!!
How much braid to mono. I keep seeing 2/3 braid, 1/3 mono?
My mono is as long as my drop. I have a short drop (less mono) and a long drop rod (more mono).
TEAM GETCHA GETCHA SHARKON
Ultimately no wrong answer. You have to find out what is best for you. That might mean success or failure. I over build my terminal tackle and have gone away from braid because I have had some break offs in the past.Depending on what reel you have, there is always going to be that bus that spools you and there will be nothing you can do about it- but it is a fun experience and one that you will always talk about. For the most part where you are fishing, spool up half in braid and finish it off with mono. Get some bait in the water. You want a rod with at least a 50 lb rating or you could snap it.
Get some smaller sharks on the sand so that you can get used to handling them, especially if you are alone.
Great advice. Can't thank ya enough.
I use 1/3 of the reel capacity braid, which comparatively speaking could work out to 50/50 actual length depending on the mono's test. I am sure that others might tell you differently. You can't go wrong with that. It gives you a little comfort having that line capacity. Another thing- braid tends to float. There are a lot of boats passing by that end of the beach.
Mono top shot and braid backing!!!!
How much braid to mono. I keep seeing 2/3 braid, 1/3 mono?
I like to figure out how much mono topshot I want, depending on how far I want it and what lbtest mono I want. On my 80w I run 600yards 130lb jb braid with a ~300 yard topshot of 150lb hi seas mono. For my 50w I used a line calculator I found on this site and Decided I wanted 100-200 yards of 150lb mono (using this setup for short drops with big baits) and 500~yards of 100lb braid on the bottom. used the Calculator and it said 150yard top shot with 500 yards of backing, worked out perfect!