LJ 4/22 first time

[kurtfish]

I launched at about an hour before you did on Good Friday in a green PA and tried for the other kind of bait for a couple hours with no luck. Good to hear someone hooked up that day with sooo many yaks on the water after one Yt posted the day before. I focused on the Northern kelp in the am and called it a day around 10am to take my son to a Dr. apt.

Good job on the hook-up and don't beat yourself up about the pop-off as we have all been there. I moved my lever drag one click as what was likely a huge WSB last Sept. right after Steveo nailed his 65 pounder. Just keep in mind that the more line you have out the more drag the line is causing as it runs thru the water so if it looks like you are going to get spooled with the first couple runs the fish or shark is likely to tire and the excess line should slow it down. The comment about not touching the drag makes sense with a star drag you should always set prior to getting wet. This is why I like star drags better than the lever drags you have to set once you hook the fish.

Good luck on your learning curve. Too bad you did not start fishing last year as it was much easier fishing with all the squid and eager to eat WSB and Yt. By this time last year I had over ten fish but this year I have only boated one Yt. Wednesday looks to be a full day of sun so I plan to launch my olive machine at 2pm. If you are out on the water feel free to say hello.

Take Care, Kurtfish

[flydigital]

Originally Posted by kurtfish

Just keep in mind that the more line you have out the more drag the line is causing as it runs thru the water so if it looks like you are going to get spooled with the first couple runs the fish or shark is likely to tire and the excess line should slow it down.

This may be happening, but also the diameter of the "spool" is decreasing causing increased drag as the line runs out (less mechanical leverage). I.e. a full spool setting may result in 10lbs of drag, at 1/2 spool it may be more like 14lbs of drag.

[GregAndrew]

I don't know if you have checked out the break strengths of your fishing knots, but some are really horrible. Make sure you are tying the right knots for the way you are setup. A google search of "fishing knot tying and strength will point you in the right direction.

A big Black Sea Bass or big Bat Ray could also rip off a lot of line and break 25# test.

[-scallywag-]

SWEAT first trip!!

I was out on the corner on friday, the yt where tight to the kelp but it sounds like you had it pretty dialed....with the vis pushing 20'+ that day I was also running smaller hooks and #20 flouro leader to #65spectra ....although, like the others said, #40flouro is what I use most of the time.

Don't be afraid to adjust the drag with a fish on either...I'm sure the "set it and forget it" drag advise is good for newbs on a party boat, but from a yak with fish near the kelp, structure, anchor lines and buoys you really need to be able to adjust on the fly, and then back the drag off when the fish comes to color....not to mention I'm sure you now know exactly how much pressure you can put on #25 before it pops .

thanks for the report

[chris138]

Originally Posted by -scallywag-

SWEAT first trip!!

....with the vis pushing 20'+ that day I was also running smaller hooks and #20 flouro leader to #65spectra ....although, like the others said, #40flouro is what I use most of the time.

20 ft vis?? i can see the fish under my boat! Everyone knows 60lb hate clear water!