Surf Catsing for Blacktips Leader

I lose my leaders to the rocks an awful lot, so I take some cheap shortcuts (unless I'm fishing a tournament, then I get the best). I'll go to my local Grainger industrial supply store and order a 100 foot roll of 1/16 inch cable for about $11. At the tackle shop, I'll get some 2.2 copper crimps, some thimbles, some 350 pound snap swivels, some small freshwater swivels to use as a weight slide and whatever hooks I want to use.

In terms of length, I have 2 schools of thought:
-Make the steel leader long enough to keep the fragile fishing line away from the sharks body (about 6 feet for blacktip)
-Make the steel leader the correct length to cast comfortably and correctly (2 or 3 feet, really depends on your casting method)

Whatever works.

Thanks much Blacktipninja!

Have a great weekend man!

Question though, can too thick of a steel leader spook blacktips away, causing less pickups, or are they not bothered by stuff like that?

Thankyou!

Ray

If they are, I haven't had a problem with it. I've used these leaders for years and have caught loads of blacktip on them. But if you're worried about it, you can use wire instead of cable to cut down on the electric signature. Some of the fishermen around here wrap their hooks in electric tape so they don't spook the fish. Is it an advantage? Probably, though I've never tried it. Is it 100% necessary to catch blacktip? Nope, I still catch shark without it.

If your looking for a leader that gets the job done, then just about anything will do the trick. But to make the best leader for YOUR needs will take you developing some experience. Go out and fish 20 or 30 times, play around with all of it, try all kinds of different things and develop your own flavor. I guarantee you'll enjoy every minute of it!

Thanks again man! I'll be out there everyday for 2 weeks in June, so we'll see how she goes.

Have a great day, and take care!

Ray

Has anyone used this for a shark leader, or no anybody who has used it, and how it is?

Thanks!

Ray