sinkers

Hi bill:

I'm am not aware of any tricks that work. I have always just tossed the bait and sinkers out of the floatation device I was using at the time.

Best and tight lines,

Norman Bateman

alot of people here use rocks tied to the hook with like 50lb mono so when the shark picks the bait up it cuts the mono with the rocks.

some people on other sites use sandbags. they tie about 15lb mono to a swivel on ur leader and once the shark picks up ur bait...pop!! it breaks away and u fight the fish and not the bag

Thanks.

If ya fishin with a 9/0 or smaller stuff a sputnik/ spider weight works great. When i go and its rougher than i planed i just use whole baits. like 25lb rays and whole AJs. The best rig to my opinion is a large sand bag with 25lb test tied at the top of the leader to the swivel. This way lets the shark swim around freely with the bait for ever how long the leader is and the sand bag sets the hook with the drag set on the reel. I bet it would work well with circle hooks. I just hate padleing through the big surf with a sandbag and a tangel of leader and bait sitting in my lap. I'd rather dodge the pilons of a pier.

Hi Bill:

I'll have to take back what I said about "tricks that work". I think what you are talking about may be here. I use break away sinkers. basicly, I rig my baits so that when a large shark takes the bait the attaching copper wire will break away and leave just me and my shark to fight it out. I think some people call this a "mouse trap?". I am not sure if what I have described is a mouse trap or not but it does work. If you do not get a run it is hell on getting the leader back the next day. I think they put instructions on the web somewhere on how to build a mouse trap.

Best and tight lines,

Norman Bateman