Can't hook 'em!

[frugalfisherman]

If you are using bait "let them eat" before hooking. Artificial they are going to spit out once they realize it's only good for looks and not taste so you have to act fast.

[Capt. Lou]

Originally Posted by Billfish715

While I was fluke fishing last week I dropped a few mystery fish after what seemed to be solid hook sets. I was able to keep tension on the fish with enough rod bend. I never raised the rod too high and was able to crank in line more than half way up. A couple of times the fish grabbed a 6" grub and other times they ate the legal fluke strip only to drop them on the way up. I'm guessing they were sea robins because there was no damage to the grubs or the strips. I had a couple of grubs pulled off as well. I sure thought the fish were hooked solid. They had enough time to settle on the bait before I hammered it home. I was using braid so there was no stretch. The fish were definitely on the trailer behind the jig and there was enough hook showing through the bait to allow for a good hook set. The only other idea that comes to mind is that the fish held onto the end of the strip or grub and never got to the hook. That's hard to believe because of how far up I was able to reel the fish in with a bent rod. Any ideas?

Two things come to mind free spool some line back while keeping slight tension once hit occurs, may give em' chance to get bait in mouth especially if drift is fast! Then lift slowly to monitor if fish in on bait,if u feel weight then set hook
Use shiner hooks most of this with above method will go away, u will not get em' all no matter what u do!

[HerringKing]

Put 20' of mono at the end of the braid

[bunker dunker]

stinger hook!!!!!! works great

[Bass_Appeal]

Ive been having that same prob , but narrowed down to the barbs on the bucktail not sticking out far enough when trying to set or the fish are getting smarter

[Joey Dah Fish]

Originally Posted by shrimpman steve

Ask Joey the fish, it happens to him all the time

(That's because I crimp his barbs when he's not looking)

Not really Shrimpy I just stink that bad lately kind of like your Togging last year

[Joey Dah Fish]

Originally Posted by Bass_Appeal

Ive been having that same prob , but narrowed down to the barbs on the bucktail not sticking out far enough when trying to set or the fish are getting smarter

The fish are pretty smart. They travel in schools you know

[hammerin hank]

Had the same issues on Monday, I agree and think that sometimes the fish are grabbing the the lead head, although, one guy with us was dragging bait, and only caught sea bass????? Did real good off long branch, 45 feet

[Fisherman120]

It's just the way jigging is. You lose more then you catch. Stinger or no stinger, amazing hookset, it's just the way it is. It was like this last year, the year before, the year before, the year before, etc......

[reason162]

Originally Posted by Fisherman120

It's just the way jigging is. You lose more then you catch. Stinger or no stinger, amazing hookset, it's just the way it is. It was like this last year, the year before, the year before, the year before, etc......

True.

I tend to think 99% of the fish I miss jigging are small. Big fish don't nip. Once or twice a season I know I lost a big one; those stay with me...and haunt me still.