Belmar rig

[PALMERS TACKLE]

A belmar rig is a tog rig designed by some of the best captains in belmar some of which are sponsors here on NJFISHING.
THese rigs all have one thing in common--the hook is below the sinker. This allows the free flow of the bait/crab to present more naturally.
There are three versions --actually four now with a new variation used by some lately.
A single hook rig is a rig with a dropper loop at the bottom for a sinker--at the width of say four finger you do a reverse loop over the leader...then attach a pre-snelled single hook with a loop end over the main line leader and pull it through the loop two times...snug down and then bring the sinker loop and loop over main line pull over the loop and inside the loop and pull tight to form a lock knot
The other two versions are two hook variations of the same rig..one with a slider hook above the snelled hook and the other is a snafu rig with two snelled hooks at opposite ends of a snelled leader--giving you two drops with snelled hooks
The latest version is a simple yet very effective style---take a 42"leader...snell a hook on the end--approx. 8 -10" above tie a dropper loop for your sinker---attach to main line via uni- or alberto or swivel if you prefer
We sell the popular 3 versions of the Belmar rig on our site--soon to have the fourth style in 40 lb test with 4/0 octopus available as well
Do the old style Hi/Lo rigs work sure but the belmar rig has consistently taken more blackfish in better size than any other style
Belmar rigs can be found on my site www.palmersbucktails.com and are now at a 20% savings for a limited time to kickoff the season
If you are using braid use at least a 3' or more top shot of mono leader...the sharpies leave the braid at home and prefer mono
I tie my rigs on a hard very abrasion resistant pearlon leader as it stands the hooks out better and doesn't tangle easily---these are the ones you find generally pre-cut in tackle shops

[Gerry Zagorski]

Hmmm.... Most rigs live seen have the hook leader looped in above the sinker not below it.

Wondering if I've been doing it wrong all these years... That would explain a lot

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Hmmm.... Most rigs live seen have the hook leader looped in above the sinker not below it.

Wondering if I've been doing it wrong all these years... That would explain a lot

NOPE you been doing it right, the sinker does NOT go above the hook.
if tied that way the fish would move the sinker before you felt the line move.
having the sinker on the BOTTOM , is what lets your crab float and bounce around when Thumped .
and lets the sinker stay motionless through out the bite

[PALMERS TACKLE]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Hmmm.... Most rigs live seen have the hook leader looped in above the sinker not below it.

Wondering if I've been doing it wrong all these years... That would explain a lot

Your right Gerry all the best rig designs have the hook below the sinker!
All of our rig designs have the hooks approx..6-8" below the sinker loop.

[SaltLife1980]

Originally Posted by PALMERS TACKLE

Your right Gerry all the best rig designs have the hook below the sinker!
All of our rig designs have the hooks approx..6-8" below the sinker loop.

[Meat Hunter]

The hook hangs below the sinker on a Belmar Rig. The perfection loop end of your snelled hook is attached to the surgeons' loop that your sinker attaches to.

The perfection snelled hook is attached above the weight, but hangs below the sinker.

There are tricks to make the hook stand perfect on the bottom, in the right direction.

A 2 hook snafu blackfish rig is not a Belmar rig, although the most common. I use a one hook (Belmar) rig.

Meat Hunter........ "Get on the MEAT, Stay on the MEAT!!! Fry the MEAT!!!"

[SaltLife1980]

How i was shown or whatever is you attach your top shot to your main line. Run out how ever much you want then tie a large surgeons loop or perfection whatever you like. Put your weight on the loop and go up the line to where you want it and pinch the loop and feed the snelled hook through then tie a over hand knot to lock it down. Weight on bottom and the hook tied above it

[Gerry Zagorski]

Last 12 to 18 inches of your mono top shot is doubled with a double overhand knot at the top. Now you have a double mono loop that is 12 to 18 inches long.

Run the end of the double loop through the sinker eye and over the sinker to secure it at the bottom of the loop....

4 or so inches above the sinker make a loop out of the doubled line and take your pre snelled hook loop and slide it over the double line loop and run the hook and leader through the loop...

Secure the hook loop from siding up and down the double leader by tying a double overhand knot over it.

The hook should always hang below the sinker to reduce the risk of your bait getting tangled up on you leader. Stiff leader is best for the hook snell since the stiffness will also help keep your bait from tangling back on the leader.