How do you thread the wire through like that. I've been using zip ties to hold the wire along the bait but that doesn't hold it the best.
If you're going to do it perfectly like that, you have to use a bait needle. This video explains pretty well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htZxNppt81M
I don't feel the need to do all that, I do the same thing you do, Tarponhunter. I thread the hook through the mouth and out the gill, pull out a few inches of leader then go in and out of the fish near the tail. As long as the leader runs the length of the bait, I'm good with it. Maybe a few cuts to help it bleed.
I have caught more sharks than I can remember, but, I have been on a bad run no for about 10-12 days on the beach. I mean actual fishing time. We have caught maybe 4-5 sharks. Normally in that time, 15 plus... You start to question yourself.
I think that you can place your hooks almost anywhere on a ray as long as it is on an edge. We use two hooks. I try to run a hook towards the tail of a mackerel or bonita so that the hook is exposed towards the tail but facing the head as earlier stated.
Hookup... If I get a screaming run, I tighten up the drag slowly after 5-10 seconds (circle hooks) Once I feel it still pulling. I engage the drag full out and jab the fish a few times.
Slow easy run - let it eat for a bit, then you have to take a chance and flip the drag and do the running man.
Bait I like - Jacks, especially a big one. Medium to small ray whole. Mullet if they are running. Anything alive - cut off it's tail. Never had too much luck with bonita. Big lady fish always gets slammed.
What it comes down to for me is that if you are catching smaller fish in the surf, you will catch Sharks. I have been catching sweet ^(&%% all in the surf for the past few months. It's like there are no green backs. We have caught some snook, which is nice- we never use snook for bait, even when in season - they taste too damn good. But no Jacks, Ladys, Spanish macks...
I'm gonna have a go again in another week or so.
Drops- I really don't think it matters on the west coast. We always drop a 14/0 out 500 yards or so with a mamoth bait, then we drop pretty short with our 12/s and 9/s with an assortment of baits.
I have caught more sharks than I can remember, but, I have been on a bad run no for about 10-12 days on the beach. I mean actual fishing time. We have caught maybe 4-5 sharks. Normally in that time, 15 plus... You start to question yourself.
I think that you can place your hooks almost anywhere on a ray as long as it is on an edge. We use two hooks. I try to run a hook towards the tail of a mackerel or bonita so that the hook is exposed towards the tail but facing the head as earlier stated.
Hookup... If I get a screaming run, I tighten up the drag slowly after 5-10 seconds (circle hooks) Once I feel it still pulling. I engage the drag full out and jab the fish a few times.
Slow easy run - let it eat for a bit, then you have to take a chance and flip the drag and do the running man.
Bait I like - Jacks, especially a big one. Medium to small ray whole. Mullet if they are running. Anything alive - cut off it's tail. Never had too much luck with bonita. Big lady fish always gets slammed.
What it comes down to for me is that if you are catching smaller fish in the surf, you will catch Sharks. I have been catching sweet ^(&%% all in the surf for the past few months. It's like there are no green backs. We have caught some snook, which is nice- we never use snook for bait, even when in season - they taste too damn good. But no Jacks, Ladys, Spanish macks...
I'm gonna have a go again in another week or so.
Drops- I really don't think it matters on the west coast. We always drop a 14/0 out 500 yards or so with a mamoth bait, then we drop pretty short with our 12/s and 9/s with an assortment of baits.
I've been using fresh baits and only getting few runs mostly small sharks that can't swallow the bait I take them past all the sandbars and some inbeetween the sandbars just not doing good at all getting frustrated do you guys think it's the beach if so what do you look for when finding a new beach to fish and how far should I be taking my baits
any updates? Hopefully some better luck. I have not fished the areas you are talking about, so I can't be of much help there. Usually though when I go to a new to me area, I would drop my first bait when it gets more then paddle deep, and one 75 yards past that and see what happens.
I like to let them run 50-75 yards and prefer sliding traces, but to each their own. I hookup at over 90% when I let them run somewhere in that range.