Packed about 650-700yds of 130lb braid then ran about 200-250 yds of 80lb mono over the top on my 9/0 today, and yes I used electric tape one the spool ;D had to toss that in
Nice!! By the way, why did you use tape on the spool? Its really not necessary, I've never had braid slip on me and I use principally braid on my spinning outfits. If spooled correctly the braid should grip the spool like tire treads.
I've seen braid slip far too many times.
same here. when a guy says he'd not getting enough drag from a reel, even when the star is cranked down all the way, then the most likely culprit is spectra that is slipping on the spool. seen it way to many times.
Aha, I see!
Too many Cons for me. I simply don't trust it. I guess its OK for backing, but I don't even do that as of yet.
I use braid for my inshore redfish and surf setups, but I would only consider braid on a shark reel if I was fishing someplace like in NC. Then again my sharking experience is limited........
I've been using Spectra for close to 20 years and Dacron before that, and I could not fish with a full spool of mono. I use 20lb on my Calcutta 50s for kokanee and steelhead, 60lb on my mid size reels and 80lb, 100lb, 130lb and 200lb on my larger reels with mono or fluro topshots from 10' to 100' long.
Well I'm in NC! Lol. I soak it in water then pack it on tight, it is rock solid. I gotta use tape, just me
Quote from: Bunnlevel Sharker on September 29, 2013, 07:40:14 PM
Well I'm in NC! Lol. I soak it in water then pack it on tight, it is rock solid. I gotta use tape, just me
I use Vet Wrap (Flex Wrap) but I also splice 20'-30' of Dacron to the end of my Spectra.
QuoteQuote from: Keta on September 29, 2013, 07:39:11 PM
I've been using Spectra for close to 20 years and Dacron before that, and I could not fish with a full spool of mono. I use 20lb on my Calcutta 50s for kokanee and steelhead, 60lb on my mid size reels and 80lb, 100lb, 130lb and 200lb on my larger reels with mono or fluro topshots from 10' to 100' long.
I assume you are speaking of conventional big-game fishing? If you are, then toss all I said out the window. Land based sharking is so different from anything else. And I do not question your experience and knowledge, you can be sure of that.
QuoteQuote from: Bunnlevel Sharker on September 29, 2013, 07:40:14 PM
Well I'm in NC! Lol. I soak it in water then pack it on tight, it is rock solid. I gotta use tape, just me
Yep, lol! I love fishing in Florida, make no mistake, but it can be an honest pain. Especially the Keys, 1 out of 2 casts would hang up, believe it or not. North Carolina is like spotless.
Quote from: Dynamo on September 29, 2013, 07:50:29 PM
I assume you are speaking of conventional big-game fishing? If you are, then toss all I said out the window. Land based sharking is so different from anything else. And I do not question your experience and knowledge, you can be sure of that.
We all fish differently. The closest I think I come to what you are doing is bank fishing for steelhead but it's not close. I don't see the disadvantages of spectra for what you are doing but I'm not doing it.
Spectra's advantage, its low diameter, can be its disadvantage when fishing in areas with lots of abrasive shells, stones, pilings, etcetera. For example, 250 class Tufline has the same diameter as 50 class mono, thus 250 class mono is 5 times as abrasion resistant than its braid equivalent. Of course most people stay with 200, tying knots with 250 is a beast. There are so many different types of fishing, sometimes It overwhelms me........
@ Dynamo,
another vote here for using a backing with braid, especially with heavier drags.
If it can fail, it will, no need to make it easier... Screw Mr. Murphy and his horse too.
For sharking I'm utilizing braid with a mono topshot for the increased capacity, i.e. able to do a long drop (300yrds+) and still have plenty of room for a big one to run 300+ yards on hook up.
And the heavier the braid the better for being able to withstand abrasion from the bottom/snags, most will recommend 100-130#, or better.
For a short drop rig, e.g. my 114H, I use 50# mono with an 80# topshot for abrasion on the bar.
Even on my larger spinning reels, e.g. 9500SS, I've 300yrds of 50# braid for the extra capacity, and then 50# mono.
Comes in handy when a big Blacktip heads South, too easy for'em to spool you with straight mono.
All with a backing to prevent slipping.
I have no doubt that braid is useful, I use it on all of my small outfits, I know it works. I was simply stating a disadvantage in conditions where there is a lot of coral, shells, crusty pilings, crab traps, and etcetera. You will see in one of my previous posts I stated that in plain sandy beaches such as NC one can get away with fishing straight braid, but when pressure is put on that line, a single rough touch can cost you your fish. It is also handy, as you said, for low capacity reels. Speaking of which, how do like your 6/0 for sharking? I don't trust it too much yet, in fact I'm thinking about getting rid of it.
Lots of big fish fall to 6/0 every year mine included.
How much drag would you feel comfortable putting on it? Intended use is for car hood rays, so I'm gonna need a much drag as i can get.
Quote from: Dynamo on September 30, 2013, 12:37:27 AM
I have no doubt that braid is useful, I use it on all of my small outfits, I know it works. I was simply stating a disadvantage in conditions where there is a lot of coral, shells, crusty pilings, crab traps, and etcetera. You will see in one of my previous posts I stated that in plain sandy beaches such as NC one can get away with fishing straight braid, but when pressure is put on that line, a single rough touch can cost you your fish. It is also handy, as you said, for low capacity reels. Speaking of which, how do like your 6/0 for sharking? I don't trust it too much yet, in fact I'm thinking about getting rid of it.
Do NOT underestimate the 114H.
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s190/ChileRelleno/9ScallopedHammer072013_zpsbdaf0125.jpg) (http://s152.photobucket.com/user/ChileRelleno/media/9ScallopedHammer072013_zpsbdaf0125.jpg.html)
Sweet little hammer, how was the fight?
Quote from: Dynamo on September 30, 2013, 01:28:09 AM
Sweet little hammer, how was the fight?
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=7858.0
Congratulations, lovely fish! Was that in Florida or Texas?
Quote from: Dynamo on September 30, 2013, 01:28:09 AM
Sweet little hammer, how was the fight?
I do not consider any shark "little" that can bite me in half! :P
I don't think that fish could bite you in half, hammers have very small mouths for their size. And I meant little relative to their full grown size. I didn't mean to say that the fish itself was small, kind of like seeing a baby sperm whale and saying, "that's a small whale". The whale itself is large, but compared to the potential size, the fish is small, Do you get what I mean?
Absolutely! I know the Hammer is the top prize of Shark Fishermen.
QuoteQuote from: Shark Hunter on September 30, 2013, 02:35:15 AM
Absolutely! I know the Hammer is the top prize of Shark Fishermen.
Great! Some of the old legends used to use 6 ft tippers targeting a grander hammer on the bridges. They used two 14/0's tied to that one bait. I remember hearing about one hammer which swallowed a 5 ft tipper in a single bite. Remember what i said about them having small mouths! There are many stories of hammers easily spooling 12/0's, 14/0's, and yes, 16/0's. Once you hook into a large hammer you'll know its a hammer. Believe me. They are like freight trains......
All u need for car hoods is a 4/0w, that's what I use. Until they get really huge it will handle most, I run 300 of braid to 60 mono to a 100 mono or 300 braid topper
How big do you mean when you say "really big"? I've been toying with the idea of selling the 6/0 and 9/0 for a 30w for quite some time now. Also you obviously have some experience with car hood hunting. Could you share some tips? Do the monsters dwell at the end of the pier or patrol in the shallows or both? I have some old pan-sized croaker in the freezer, lol, would that work?
Considering the species, it is big for an adult male, Scalloped Hammerhead.
No, not as big as the female Scalloped can get, but it is right up there in length/weight as an average adult female.
Nothing little about that one.
It simply doesn't have the potential to attain the behemoth size of the Great Hammerhead you're talking about.
That is like calling a 43" 16#2oz Atlantic Sharpnose little, yes, it is little compared to many species as adults.
But it is a potential IGFA World Record for it's species.
Quote from: Dynamo on September 30, 2013, 03:11:05 AM
How big do you mean when you say "really big"? I've been toying with the idea of selling the 6/0 and 9/0 for a 30w for quite some time now. Also you obviously have some experience with car hood hunting. Could you share some tips? Do the monsters dwell at the end of the pier or patrol in the shallows or both? I have some old pan-sized croaker in the freezer, lol, would that work?
Both, you'll just as easily find the Car Hoods on the top of the first bar as you will any where else.
Best bait is whatever is in the surf that day.
I fish behind the T or behind the breakers, depends on crowds. Giant is it strips a locked down 30w. I get picked up off the ground a lot, and I'm bigger than most people. Best bait is a 2-3lb blue, big whiting, or ribbon fish. Croakers ok, I prefer to use a squid and croaker cocktail if ima run that. Check out my ray rig thread. My biggest so far was about 100, I stuck it in the heart with a 12/0 j so it didn't fight so hard. I'm good at getting them pier side and breakin em off on a pylon, I only beach em if I can flip em on their backs. Taken thefight out of em
We have blue (gear destroying pests), great white, thresher, mako and salmon sharks off our coast. I've seen several LARGE GW (one above me when diving in 90' of water), a few threshers and one mako but we see many dozens of salmon sharks every year in the 6'-10' range. I keep a large rig ready but I have yet to get a client interested in fishing for them.
Er, this is an excerpt from "FLMNH Ichthyology Department: Scalloped Hammerhead"
Maximum total length ranges from 12.1-14.1 feet (3.7-4.3 m) with females growing larger than males while maximum recorded weight is 336 pounds (152.4 kg). Life span of the scalloped hammerhead is thought to be over 30 years.
I wasn't saying your fish was not a possible record nor was I saying it was not a big and lovely catch. I just called it "little" compared to their full grown size, which according to the Florida Marine Natural History Museum, is 14.1 feet. I'm sorry if I offended you. I really am.
Chille had a trophy sized male, as with most sharks females get a lot bigger
If whatever is in the surf that day works, then I'm set, because if you know the Chesapeake Bay, then you know croakers. I'm so darn sick of croakers, lol. By the way, thanks for the tips Bunnlevel Sharker and ChileRelleno, I appreciate it a lot! Keta, If any sharks come close to the coast where you come from then I really advise giving land based sharking a try. Its a blast.
Quote from: Dynamo on September 30, 2013, 03:30:23 AM
Keta, If any sharks come close to the coast where you come from then I really advise giving land based sharking a try. Its a blast.
Our coast is mostly steep and rocky with limited access.
Here's a photo of the coast just south of the port I usually fish from.
(http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/2019458.jpg)
(http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/35896547.jpg)
Quote from: Dynamo on September 30, 2013, 03:25:05 AM
Er, this is an excerpt from "FLMNH Ichthyology Department: Scalloped Hammerhead"
Maximum total length ranges from 12.1-14.1 feet (3.7-4.3 m) with females growing larger than males while maximum recorded weight is 336 pounds (152.4 kg). Life span of the scalloped hammerhead is thought to be over 30 years.
I wasn't saying your fish was not a possible record nor was I saying it was not a big and lovely catch. I just called it "little" compared to their full grown size, which according to the Florida Marine Natural History Museum, is 14.1 feet. I'm sorry if I offended you. I really am.
No offense taken... You'd have to try a helluva lot harder than that to offend me. ;)
Keywords to be taken into account: Maximum, female & larger.
As already stated, females grow significantly larger than males with this species and many others.
Scalloped Hammers can and do et bigger I have seen several in the 15'+ class while longlining and Great Hammerheads over 17' so there are truly monsters out there. Most of the really big boys never get reported, just cut loose if still alive after they take hooks ment for other species. I will say one thing the sharks are much smaller than they were in the 70's and 80's.
Quote from: saltydog on September 30, 2013, 05:18:14 AM
Scalloped Hammers can and do et bigger I have seen several in the 15'+ class while longlining and Great Hammerheads over 17' so there are truly monsters out there. Most of the really big girls never get reported, just cut loose if still alive after they take hooks ment for other species. I will say one thing the sharks are much smaller than they were in the 70's and 80's.
Fixed it for ya. ;)
No I meant boys I have seen with my own eyes.
It would make my day to catch a Hammer like that John! ;)
They are a lot harder to come by, than your average Bull or Blacktip.
We have seen a few more here in Texas in recent years but if you truly want a big hammer Boca Grande and Key West in between Cuba in the Gulf stream there are alot of them.
Justgo on a Florida bridge, drop a live cuda or morray eel and look at the apple core. There's a good among in nc if you know where to go ;)
QuoteQuote from: ChileRelleno on September 30, 2013, 05:14:42 AM
Quote from: Dynamo on September 30, 2013, 03:25:05 AM
Er, this is an excerpt from "FLMNH Ichthyology Department: Scalloped Hammerhead"
Maximum total length ranges from 12.1-14.1 feet (3.7-4.3 m) with females growing larger than males while maximum recorded weight is 336 pounds (152.4 kg). Life span of the scalloped hammerhead is thought to be over 30 years.
I wasn't saying your fish was not a possible record nor was I saying it was not a big and lovely catch. I just called it "little" compared to their full grown size, which according to the Florida Marine Natural History Museum, is 14.1 feet. I'm sorry if I offended you. I really am.
No offense taken... You'd have to try a helluva lot harder than that to offend me. ;)
Keywords to be taken into account: Maximum, female & larger.
As already stated, females grow significantly larger than males with this species and many others.
I'm glad. That really was a nice fish, I meant "little" relative to the maximum size. That's certainly a grea catch and better than anything I've caught. By the way, bunnlevel, where can you find NC hammers? Hammer time is march to april if you wanna give it a go. And Salty dog and Bunnlevel are correct, their are some big fish in Boca and the kays chomping on Tarpon. Hunting hammers is tough, something almost always gos wrong, be it pulled hooks, broken line, or spooled reels.
I won't say exact beaches, but SENC spring-summer
Okay thanks!