Constantley getting bit off
 

So I hooked into what I thought was Mobey Dick today all to get bit off after about 6-7 minutes of fighting him:linesnap:and quite a few choice words. Even the guys in the boat next to me made a comment about how big that fish was. I have been fishing a lot out of Sd Bay targeting Halibut but I get bit off probably 6 times a day on average. I am knew to kayak fishing/saltwater fishing in general and I was wondering what you all use as far as a leader or something to prevent this from happening. Oh yeah....I have been using mainly swim baits but have had some luck on other plastics as well. I appreciate the replies.
Thanks,

I am using Seaguar fluorocarbon. It's wicked strong stuff.

http://www.seaguar.com/products/fluoro-premier.htm

For Halibut, use 30lb mono/floro for deep water
use 20lb mono/floro for Shalow water

Make Halibut Rigs
27lb Seven strand Sevlon coated Wire, Sevenstrand A2 Crimps.

For Swimbaits, The heavier line should help. maybe a little wider gap hook, will help get the hookset in the mouth. Only Time a Halibut can bite you off is if the Swimbait is hooked deep and his teeth are around the line.

Good Luck!

What size and brand of line are you using? What gear? Even good quality line can feel like it snaps easily if the gear it's on is too heavy. Is this in the bay or LJ?

Check your knots!! Sometimes, its the knot, make sure youre always wetting it before you cinch down, and use a good knot that wont slip, like the palomar.

X2 - with the palomar make sure the line doesn't cross over itself

What size and brand of line are you using? What gear? Even good quality line can feel like it snaps easily if the gear it's on is too heavy. Is this in the bay or LJ?

This is in the Bay and i am using Abu Garcia Revo reels on medium heavy rods. I am using a lighter line because I have been fishing a lot for bass as well but when I feel the line it isn't my knots and the line isn't stretched it is definitely severed.

not my knots I always use a palomar knot and I always wet my line....and I make sure it doesn't cross over itself.

Seaguar Fluro is strong leader
Blackwater Fluro is also good

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Try the San Diego Jam Knot, its stronger than the Palomar.

Tie them both and test them to failure....you'll see for yourself.

If you're fishing light line on a medium/heavy rod you're likely putting too much pressure on the line without even noticing it, making it seem like it's snapping without much pressure. I would either go up in line size or go down in rod weight.

It's not real common to be getting bit off six or seven times a day unless you're getting into barracuda or sharks or something. My guess is your gear is too heavy for the line you're fishing. Play around with that and see what happens.

:linesnap:
seaguar cures FLC Fish Loss Cancer

How light of line are you using? The lightest line I use in the bay is 8# and that's on my dropshot rod, all my other rods are 12 to 15# and never have been busted off. If I'm going after the toothy kinds of fish I use a knot Double Overhand knot that leaves a little loop with a circle hook so the hook kind of swings free, and the set goes into the corner of the mouth. Circle hooks are nice, but some find them to be tricky to use. You don't swing to set the hook you just start reeling and it sets itself in the corner of the fishes mouth and is free of the teeth. I use this for live bait as well as swimbaits. The only thing that has busted me off using this setup is a Cuda out in the kelp. I've caught Ling cods and Halibut on this setup.

I would recommend stepping up your line weight, our bay bass are not that line shy.

I don't mean any disrespect, but you really need to check your knots. It's unusual to hook a halibut deep in the mouth even on bait and with plastics it hardly ever happens. The chances of 6 halibut in one day getting a swim bait that far in their mouths is astranomical. Mike

I agree with this, something else is going on here. Gotta be the knots or the gear.

i dont know whats the problem here,..
but i DO want to know the gps coordinates to this spot that holds these massive door mats for F's sake!?!...

Im wtih wade. :) :cheers1:

flurocarbon is probably the best line to use as leader. seaguar makes a good line. maybe you could use heavier leader, if your in a spot with objects that the fish can cut you off with

25-30 floro will do good with halibut. You'd have to mess something up to loose big halibut on that kind of line.

If fishing lighter line for bass and loosing butts, tie a thicker leader?

I don't use anything larger than #25 leader for Halibut fishing. They only have grabbing teeth, not incisors, so they really cannot bite you off. Your line could rub over the teeth tips and fray though. I have hooked and many times lost Leopard and Thresher sharks while fishing for Halibut which I think might be happening to you too. They too have small teeth spaced apart, but the shape makes it easier for them to cut your line. Knot tying is very important as has been stated, but equally important is to check your leader for wear on a regular basis and replacing as needed. Also, a lighter rod, especially if you use braid, is important to absorb the energy of the Halibut headshake. If your rod and braid don't give, all the shock is put on your leader. Just my 2 cents.