Tail Hooked Mackerel Question - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

TCS · 02-13-2010, 01:50 PM

My carolina rigged mackerel kept getting wound around my line today, so I'm going to try tail hooking a mack. I'd appreciate a few tips. I'm planning on using the JD dropper rig that Jim showed us a while back and a big circle hook. I thought I'd hook the mack behind the dorsal fin and have the knot on the hook go right up to the tube that holds the weight.

The questions are:
How far back to hook the mack?
Should there be a little line between the hook and the tube that holds the weight?
How heavy should the weight be? 3 ounces?
Is a circle hook a good call?
On the drop the mack will be going backwards down to the bottom and will be real close to the line. Problem?
If I decide to paddle to another spot or if there is a good drift, willl the mack be dragged backwards? Do I need to pull him up if I relocate?
Would I be better off nosehooking with that rig?

I'd appreciate your advice. Thanks, Tom

02-13-2010, 01:50 PM	#1
TCS Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 478	Tail Hooked Mackerel Question My carolina rigged mackerel kept getting wound around my line today, so I'm going to try tail hooking a mack. I'd appreciate a few tips. I'm planning on using the JD dropper rig that Jim showed us a while back and a big circle hook. I thought I'd hook the mack behind the dorsal fin and have the knot on the hook go right up to the tube that holds the weight. The questions are: How far back to hook the mack? Should there be a little line between the hook and the tube that holds the weight? How heavy should the weight be? 3 ounces? Is a circle hook a good call? On the drop the mack will be going backwards down to the bottom and will be real close to the line. Problem? If I decide to paddle to another spot or if there is a good drift, willl the mack be dragged backwards? Do I need to pull him up if I relocate? Would I be better off nosehooking with that rig? I'd appreciate your advice. Thanks, Tom