Blackfish leader shy?
 

I was reading the reports here and was drawn to the words of capt Bobby from the OE.. He stated in his report that the guys that did best on a recent tog trip used light leaders... In all the years I have been blackfishing that was something I had never heard. I was under the impression from years of fishing articles, years of fishing with great captains and great tog fishermen as well as personal experience that blackfish pretty much disregarded the leader.. I mean after all, they bite barnacles and mussles off of tangled wreckage, cables, and root small crabs from jumbled rocks covered in old fishing line.... I remember the days when blackfish hooks came with leaders made from tarred Cuttyhunk, and they worked great..

Has anyone found better fishing for tog when fishing light leaders?

I have used 50 Lb mono for years for my bottom rigs, including tog, but Capt Bobbys statement has me thinking about going to 30 lb Flouro... I am out of the loop being so far away, and the fishing has changed a lot since I left NJ.. The pressure is relentless compared to what I knew 25 years ago.
Maybe thats part of the reason why my bottom fishing trips past few years have been pretty uneven.. Never really thought that a mono leader would spook bottom fish, but I certainly would never argue with a very good head boat skipper. He sees more blackfish caught in one good day, than I have caught in my entire life.. I would love to hear some opinions /experiences... bob

Re: Blackfish leader shy?
 

Yesmostly the leader going to hook im a youngin when it comes to blackfish as ive only been fishing hard for them say for the past 5yrs and i have experienced this a handfull of time where we went down to like 15lb floro...you may loose more hooks but if thats what makes you hook fish or get bites thats what i will do. works for all species really. If i go through a few patterns while striper fishing next thing i do is drop leader if nothing again drop it again it can make a huge difference when the tough times are upon you!

Re: Blackfish leader shy?
 

It matters at times... but I believe the bait being used (i.e. white vs green crabs, etc.) plays a bigger role... I would hate to lose a pool fish bc I was using a lite leader.

Re: Blackfish leader shy?
 

I would NEVER go below #30 in the ocean. If I want light tackle togs ill hit the canal. However, on days when the bite is very sluggish amd there are only a few guys catching, pay attention to what theyre doing. I personally had a monster break off on #40 and was ripping a locked drag. This was in my early blackfishing, only been at it 6yrs, but after then I upgraded verything to #60 mono for my leaders and top shot. I have been out on slow days but it was slow for everyone. There are a lot of things I would change before I downgraded my leader. Id change bait, how I hook the bait, how I cut the bait, my hooks, my weight, my rod, my shoes, my boxers, etc... Before I drop down in leader size cause whenthat JUMBO comes along I want to be sure I have enough juice to bring him up. Im not saying it wont make a difference but FOR ME, I will stick to the big stuff. Getting caught with leader too light is like getting caught with your pants down running backwards through a cactus farm!!:eek:

Re: Blackfish leader shy?
 

Don't matter what leader your using if the captain is putting a select group over a small piece.

Re: Blackfish leader shy?
 

It's my opinion that if you use a light leader(below 30lb) you'll probably only bring in the little ones. First of all it's also my opinion that flourocarbon leader material is a must and that a minimum of 40 lb leaders are a must. If you think that a 15 lb leader will bring in that 20 plus pounder we all dream about, then you really are dreaming.........

Re: Blackfish leader shy?
 

Been fishing all my life. One thing I know for sure. When the bite it difficult you pull out all the stops. I certainly have seen line shy fish no matter what the species .

Re: Blackfish leader shy?
 

I'm no expert my any means but I know I would rather lose the bite of smaller fish than lose a big one to a broken leader. Last year I had a slob break my 40# top shot because I panicked and slid my drag up. I hear about that, not only from the Captain, but also from guys I don't even know.

The last two days I fished on a non-sponsor the mate and Captain were talking about their 25# rigs. I was just shaking my head. Captain said something like, it's cheaper to lose a hook than a sinker and a hook? I just kept using my 50# rigs. Caught 5 fish on thurs. & 6 only Friday. (No one else had a limit) Had plenty of shorts to toss back too. And only lost 3 rigs to the bottom.

Thursday I watched 3 fish break off at the hook and Friday a bigger fish was lost with the hook breaking off.

Re: Blackfish leader shy?
 

Im totally with ya Ron. I lock it all the way down and back off once halfway+ up. Only thing is I will add a 40# breakaway loop for the sinker. Id rather lose the sinker on a big fish than miss the bite of a smaller fish

Re: Blackfish leader shy?
 

when chafed flouro gives off a flash correct? be great if tog swim in sand, minds well add a spin n glo & squid skirt. i use 50lb leader & chafed off a pig yesterday. contacted 2 of the best toggers i know about it & they both said they use 65-80 for there hooks. i don't care about catching a limit i want big fish. bullet if i was you just go with 50lb leader material...... but what do i know