Show off your fish

Were you targeting drum specifically? If so, it’s amazing how much different of a set up is used down there than the Carolina coast. The only similarity is the 12-13’ rods but we’re generally throwing 8-12oz.

 

That one was out for the hopes of a fight, whether it be a drum, shark, tarpon...etc I usually run Abu Garcia 6500s on my rods but when there are big fish present Ill have at least one rod set up with a big Penn spinning reels with 300+ yards of braid on it. If I'm targeting red drum I'll usually use mullet, cut lady fish, cut blue crab.

Yeah I had my buddy Mike laugh at me when I told him most of the rods I'm running are rated 3-5oz. Are y'all using that much weight because you cant hold bottom due to the current? I grew up in VB so I'm familiar with the OBX but I didn't get in to surf fishing till I moved to Florida and didn't have access to a boat.

 

Mike Basnight?

And yea, the drum generally start stacking up towards the middle to the end of September and we tend to get a lot of NE wind which turns the water up really good. Ive caught them on days where 1oz would work and on days where 12oz was rolling. Unfortunately the Sputniks won’t work with our style of rigs (cannonball rig, essentially a modified fish finder rig) because it’ll tangle with the bait. Those rigs are specifically meant for distance, we lose lots of weights due to sharks but it’s part of the game.

 

13’??? Good lord. I don’t ever fire more than 4 ounces of lead out there. Typically if I’m targeting drum I use a fish finder rig with a triangle weight.

I’m familiar with the Sputnik’s and do have a couple, they hold well but cause me tangle issues sometimes.

Appreciate the info! Couldn’t they call that knot something other than the morticians knot? What do they need knots for anyway…

 

Catch and release ?

 

Decent trout this morning and a few drinks.

 

A friend and I put a few fish in the box today. The wind was killing us or I think we would've doubled our haul, still a great day though.

 

bring dat red thing up here, i'll take care of it for ya...

 

What flavor trout is it that you have out there in SoCal?

 

Tofu

 

1-day suspension.

 

Tofu trout...

 

It's about to be tacos!

 

@1buzzbait

 

Rainbow flavor. Also browns, lightning, but I usually just catch rainbows.

 

The fish finder is definitely a better presentation for a drum, they're usually picking things up off the bottom if they aren't chasing live bait. Definitely have to keep the rig in mind when using the sputniks, I mostly run some sort of double drop rig depending on what I am targeting. I like the way they hold and I can set the rod with tension on the line, I think it makes for a better hook up ratio when using circle hooks.

Are you're referring to the figure 8 knots, they're just the limiting factor on how far up or down the snood can travel along the mainline. If set correctly, and with the right length snoods your baits never tangle.

 

Indeed. FL has a slot limit of 18-27" I didn't get a tape on this one but its very much 35"+. I wanted to get it back in the water as soon as possible, ever since that day I carry a small retractable measuring tape in my pocket when fishing.

 

I rig a fish finder the same as a Carolina rig, with the finder clip on the main line instead of an egg sinker. I place a bead on the main line above a barrel swivel, with fluoro tied from the swivel to the hook snell. I use all uni knots: straight uni to the barrel swivel on both sides, a uni snell on the hook. I use an offset j-hook rather than a circle.

 

Donkey, Sea Monster, very nice !