Top shot for tog fishing

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by MrAC1980

All depends where you're fishing. Northern NJ esp inshore where its mostly rock piles you can get away with the light stuff. But once the bite moves offshore or southerly where you're fishing all wreckage, then heavy is the way to go. I know a capt that has broken off 65lb pp and 80lb leader on fish that was taking drag!!
Who's going to break the 30lb record???

That line was probably badly frayed, or rubbed against something during the battle... I can't imagine a tog big enough to break 65 PP line.. However I DO hope to hang one like that someday. I was thinking more about the fact that some very good, very knowledgable, tog fishermen are now saying 30 lb max is whats needed on some days to get tog to bite,, The concept sounds alien to me, but those guys know a lot more, and catch a lot more than I will.. Yet other guys use 80 lb, and are happy with their catch rate. Seems like a dichotomy..... bob

[MrAC1980]

I was on the OE this past fall fishing northerly and I'll admit, there was a particular asian gent (he knows who he is, lol) fishing to the left of me with 30lb floro and outfished me. So I wont count it out that some days the line choice does make a difference.

[SaltLife1980]

Top shot I run 40# mono but my leader I went as low as 25# floro and as high as 50# floro this season. The one trip i went light and I out fished pops who was using the 50#. So idk.. its hit or miss.. I have tied rigs with the whole range of floro for any situation

[MVP]

I have noticed also that under certain conditions and days guys who fish lighter leader will get bit more. Tommy Joseph proved it to me about 3 years ago as we were grinding to put a decent catch together one day. He fished a total of about 40 minutes that day using a light rod that had 20 lb test mono on that reel and doubled my catch for the whole day in that short of time.
That being said when heading down south or targeting a trophy you will get your heart broken fishing the light stuff as i have had 60-80 lb leader broken fishing further south especially when they are fishing wrecks as they do not have that much natural bottom we have here in our area. I am not looking for numbers when i head down south and now only fish 80 top shot and 80 lb leader.