gatorjwade wrote
Well, I'll tell u what I do...
I fish an Earl Brinn pomp rig with Owner Mutu 2/0 circle hooks (was "Lite", but going to regular I think). I use main line 50# floro. I used to use 30# snoods, but just recently moved to 40# after having a couple raging permit snap my snoods. I almost always use a 5oz pyramid sinker (I get the best distance with 5). And, basically I zing it out there as far as I can, regardless of sandbars. (We usually have a slight sandbar about 20yds from the beach, then a slender slope to deeper water.) I use the biggest sand fleas I can find, usually about 1" long, and live are certainly best. I watch the tip real closely... most permit I've caught just slightly wiggled the tip and then the rod went striaight up (slack in the line).... I quickly reel in to remove slack and apply gentle reeling pressure (I don't "set" the hook). Then hold on. My recommendation is be pretty patient with them... don't try to horse them in, and be gentle with the drag. (I've had a few that "ran for the fences" and I had to slowly dial in more drag... all of them broke the snood before I ran out of line, so I'm gonna try to be a bit more patient myself with the drag.
Nice fish.......... A G A I N.
I read about your seperation anxieties and wish to offer some advice. The Brinn rig is indeed the finest...for pompanyo. They love it. It would still work with just one hook LOL. But it is not what I would consider a big fish rig. It has some issues. You can still land big fish with it, but you have to be willing to loosen your drag- Hint Hint Hint.
Going with heavier leader materials will help and is an easy fix. Some use a 40lb main line and 20lb traces, others do like you, and still others use 60lb main rig body and 40lb traces- like me. I don't use the 40lb trace line because I imagine me catching huge fish though. I like it because it allows the traces to stand off and away from the main rig body. This actually decreases line visibilty. Sounds crazy, but.....if a 20lb trace has been wrapped around the rig body a few times, it appears corkscrewed. That is easily seen. The heavier traced rigs last longer as well.
Much speculation has traveled the wisened halls of our site regarding invisibilty and it's usefullness in fishing for pomps. I still am not so sure about any of it. I am not convinced that the fish care all that much. Maybe they do.
Not all leader materials are considered equal either. If your traces are snapping mysteriously, look there first. I have had some spools where some of it was fine, and deeper down was easily snapped.... and I mean easily snapped. I noticed because I test when tying my rigs. I pull hard against a clip fastened to my desk. Even brands that have an excellent following and cost primo bucks can be bad. They don't give us born on dates like Budweiser does. Also, we have no way to know how it was stored. Could have been cold or hot at some point.
Also, consider the tying process itself. You have to bring the two knots together at the same time, and cinch them together just so. Otherwise, you get a crinkled appearance in the trace where it exits the knot. Crinkles mean that the trace will loose it's ability to stand-off from the rig body and it also means that the break strength is less now. Easy snap- maybe.
Everything in this sport is a trade off. Trade this for that till you find a sacrifice you can live with.
Going 60/40 should help some with the line breaking issue. But the hook bending out of shape is another issue. Usually, it means that the rig held. Right ?
OK, the Owner mutu light wire 2/0 circle hook is a great pompanyo hook. Some folks can land big fish with it, but those people are the kind that actually loosen their drags- hint hint hint. Not everybody does that you know. Some flip the panic switch and imagine that the fish is never going to stop. Mostly they just tear the hook free within the first twenty yards. But at least they didn't get spooled- right ?
A different hook maybe a great solution. However, a great hook might be a great hook when tied to this rig, and yet be a poor hook when tied to another rig. As is the case actually. I suffered through that, but I share so others don't have to take the Prozack seven times a day to gain the same benefit. You might find a hook that is similar in shape that is a tad stronger. But pick carefully.
Another fix to all of this is a change in rigs. You like big sand fleas fished at extreme distances. May I recommend a pulley rig. I have been experimenting with them lately. They can be made to go cat go. I can achieve much further distance than with the Brinn. The fish can mouth the bait longer and it is strong as an ox. You have to obtain some sinkers with bait clips, or simply modify a sinker by adding a clip to it. As long as the sinker outweighs the bait by at least twice as much, they are a thing of beauty. I might post a photo for you later.
Also....the rod and reel enter into all of this mess. Spinners with braid will concentrate more force on the hook than a rod and reel with mono as the main line. Easier to break off or tear free or snap a snood. Mono gives a bit and lessens these forces. If you are using a spinner and that $10 cannon and launching at distance, loosen the drag as they get closer to the beach. Try not to pull them in like they are an anchor. That spinner has lots of line, play the fish out there, then apply some pressure. Easy to loose a nice fish with braided line. I want more pictures.
So....loosen the drag, tie a quality rig using good materials, back the drag off a bit, attach a stronger hook, loosen the drag some, consider a different rig, loosen that drag a touch more, and get back out there.
Now you Sled.....you probably did have a ray. They will attach themselves to the seafloor like a giant suction cup. That is the eact right time to pull as hard as that braided line on that Team Alabama will allow you to pull. Heave ho baby.
You know that rig is designed to be fished with some finesse, and here you go swamp logging with it. The hook was a poor choice- on my part. I have come to realize that now. Insert even more Prozak here. I have a new variety and they look marvelous. A semi-circle 3/0 size. It will handle your swamp logging duties a bit better I imagine. Even at a larger size, it is actually easier for a dumb fish to swallow. I also obtained some new pulleys that make the entire rig so much better. I am willing to replace that tired old worn out rig with some new ones when next we meet.
BTW- if you ever have this happen again, you can pluck that braided line like a guitar string and that might aggrevate him enough to loosen his suction. Or....you can place the rod back in the spike and have a break. He will probably get bored and make his move. Some of those rays are a real trophy. I saw Rafter hook a huge eagle ray that actually jumped free of the water, and just like Free Willy, he made good his escape. I think Rafter was pleased that he did, because it was hot and he was going to be awhile with that fish.
BTW2- Lookie Lookie....
I am almost ready to enter production. Just a few kinks left to work through. I hope to start offering soon. This one has a UV reflective coating, and the glow in the dark kind are really cool, too. They double as Christmas ornaments you know.
BTW3- all the rest of you folks.....I believe Captain Rafter is going to be conducting classes again here soon. If any of you folks need a little help with your rigs and whatnots, plan on attending. The knowledge will be there for you to absorb. I especially like the all you can eat shrimp fest he puts on at the end of each of the classes. Nice guy.