Stripers Not Committing on Livies

[Gerry Zagorski]

Seems to me we are all getting a lot of run offs with no hook ups fishing live Bunker. Had it happen to me several times last season and a few this season as well...

Any suggestions on methods, hooks etc to improve our hook up ratios?

What size hooks and are you using circle hooks or not?

Let the fish run in free then set hook?

Where are you hooking the Bunker?

Better to snag and drop??

I'm using circles and Octopus, letting the Bunker run before trying to come tight and hooking the bunker either through the nostrils or right ahead of the dorsil fin.

What say you???

Getting tired of swinging and missing :mad::mad:

[nmc02]

I have been using a 8/0 gamagatsu octopus hook. I agree at times the bass have played with the live bunker. A few mornings ago, I had a bass beating on my bait for several minutes before he grabbed it an ran. I use flouro leader and hook the bunker behind the head near the black dot. I have not been losing many, but every once in a while they drop it suddenly. I use a Shimano Thunnus bait runner or a casting reel in free spool....LET THEM RUN when they eat you bair, then SET the hook. Give it to them good. Be patient, they will eat.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Thanks for your suggestions.

I've been fishing free spool as well and letting them run but they seem to take a long run and drop the bait even before I try and set the hook or with circle hooks, no set and just let them come tight on the drag.

A few things I have noticed:

- One several occations after a run off, the hook point came back fouled in the bunker... In other words it's still where I hooked it in the bunker and it hooked itself again in the bunker burrying the hook.

- Not sure but it seems like I've had more issues with this using braided line. Using a mono leader but wondering if the no stretch charateristics of braid have something to do with it. Maybe the stretch of the mono would be better for absorbing the shock and setting the hook while not pulling the bunker out of the Stripers mouth?

[evening tide]

My son had the same deal with braid than he switch to gamma a lot more hook ups

[arat]

Never hook the bunker in the nostrils. Always behind the dorsil 9/0 gami octopus is my favorite but 10/0 is good also. Light leaders 30-40 lb fluoro. Fish in freespool lever drags work best for me. Soft rod with braid faster action with mono probably get less drops with mono.

[Fisherman120]

Some times they just don't commit which sucks. Have mad more teases then takers so far this year. But for livelining, I've done best hooking them right in front of the dorsal fin, using 30lb mono only, and having my bail open. When they take it, regardless if they commit or are teasing, let them run with it for at least 8 seconds.

[Capt. Lou]

use Q rig bait set up hook remains fully exposed 10/0's way to go CB Q rigs hooks preferred or u could use dacron loops to form bridals!
Let run until u feel weight throb then pointing rod straigth at fish lock drag ,do not raise rod until fish strts the run.
This may help no real foolproof method or panacea ,just another style!:cool:

[chrislars]

The octopus hooks have been key for me in the past. My biggest failure though is trying to set the hook to hard. The circle hooks are designed to set themselves through pressure when you stop the free spool. Pull too hard to set the hook pulls it and the bunker potentially.

Anyone ever try a treble stinger or trailing hook? If we are after the hookup to put meat on the table, I would want to increase my chances the best way I could with an extra treble maybe loosely attached near the tail if you have circle hook right before or after the dorsal fin.

[jimmythegreek]

we have luck w 8/0 9/0 gammis in thru the mouth out thru the top in front of eyes, just let em swim. Use scissors to trim the tail on an angle and take one of the side fins off, they get picked up easier. let them run for 15 seconds minimum, they usually hook down inside the mouth they eat head first usually.....

[MrAC1980]

Gerry I feel your pain brother! This past Sunday we must of had 10 fish come up knock our baits around and not fully commit. One fish we let run for over a minute! He ran for 35-40 seconds, paused as he repositioned the bait in his mouth, then ran again and when we set the hook, NADA! Bait came back with just a few scales missing! Tried single J hooks & even big 5/0 trebles. In front of the dorsal, behind the dorsal, underneath behind its a**hole, etc. Nothing worked! By sheer dumb luck we finally got one to commit and get in the boat. Frustrating beyond words...

[bunker dunker]

I know this is gonna sound crazy but I to have been in this situation.when they are bumping and running the live ones throw a fresh dead on it can make all the difference in the world.

[Ismellfishy]

Bunkerdunker I hear ya on the fresh dead ones, that's a good thought to flatline a dead one. What big old lazy striper can resist that.

Its been a weird year Gerry. Had way too many turned hooks in the past so I now bridle all my bunkers. I have made up a few rigs with treble stingers and only had a chance to trtit out once back in early may. Fish were playing with baits. Had a runoff and let em take it a good long while. Ended up losing the fish but I could tell only the stinger waas in the bass's mouth. I think I hooked the stinger too firmly in the bunker. Haven't had a chance to give it another go, next weds can't come soon enough!

Also as far as hook size goes, these are big fish with big mouths eating big baits. I wouldn't go smaller than 10/0 octopus. Just my .02.

Tight lines, Drew

[Gerry Zagorski]

Good stuff here guys. Thanks for all the replies and suggestions..Anyone fishing straight mono instead of braid and noticing any difference or are you loosing them on mono too??

I like the idea of a bait bridle. Thinking that is a better way to keep more of your hook exposed.

As far as where to hook the bunker, I'm thinking the closer to the head the better since the Stripers usually take it head first, no?

On the dead bait thing. A lot of credence to that. Been out several times when a head or a whole dead bunker was the only thing they wanted. I'm not talking early spring either when they are not eating lives yet. Depending on how fast the drift is, you may or may not need weight so when rigging this way I use a slip sinker set up so I can clip on a weight if I need to.

[dales529]

I may be crazy here but I believe that the run and drop hits may be due to the amount of bluefish mixed in with the bass. Bass will (in my opinion) always try to flip that live or dead bunker around until he gets it head first which is the tap tap you feel before the main run off. Typically if the bass is not bothered by other bass or bluefish you get a successful hook set. More likely to drop it if a blue comes nearby looking to steal it.

Have noticed that when fishing Ocean side on just Bass pods with no blues you don't get the run and drop, just a miss on the anglers part or hook up.

I fished last week with straight mono and to be honest didn't see any difference in hook ratio compared to the others with braid. All had mono leaders of course.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Hmmmm - interesting theory with the bluefish competing for the bait. The last Striper I missed was a fairly long steady 5 or 10 second run though. Not a twitch-twitch. Before I picked up the pole he gave up on it. Let it sit a while after that hoping for anther run that didn't happen. When I reeled in to check the bunker the hook was fouled but no sign of any Bluefish bites. My buddy George's bunker right around the same time was bit off right up to the gill plates so there were definitely bluefish in the mix.

[Leif]

The fish are either stuffed or it is smaller fish dropping the bait. When I used to fish live bait and this would happen, I would injure the bunker or float it dead if they are on top.

Maybe the stripers are getting smarter!

Leif

[BCinerie]

Hook the bunker under the tail , they dive better
And hook usually sets. 8/0 Gammie on 40 fluorocarbon
Just my 2 cents

[Bucktailboys.com]

I know this is gonna sound crazy but I to have been in this situation.when they are bumping and running the live ones throw a fresh dead on it can make all the difference in the world.

Thanks for that advice...always hear live is best but will give it a shot!

[chefsamg19]

I love treable hooks... As long as ur keeping the fish.. Rather have 3 hooks ten out normal 1

[chefsamg19]

I may be crazy here but I believe that the run and drop hits may be due to the amount of bluefish mixed in with the bass. Bass will (in my opinion) always try to flip that live or dead bunker around until he gets it head first which is the tap tap you feel before the main run off. Typically if the bass is not bothered by other bass or bluefish you get a successful hook set. More likely to drop it if a blue comes nearby looking to steal it.

Have noticed that when fishing Ocean side on just Bass pods with no blues you don't get the run and drop, just a miss on the anglers part or hook up.

I fished last week with straight mono and to be honest didn't see any difference in hook ratio compared to the others with braid. All had mono leaders of course.

Had zero blues last night with 10 run offs so idk bout that