Thread: Live liner feature for surf?

I have a Sea Striker 10' surf rod that l'll be getting a Spinfisher 6500 for (standard or live liner?), time to retire the Mitchell 486 that I've used since 1977. I've never used a live liner before and can see its advantage on the pier but what about for a spiked surf rod? Plan would be for a finger mullet on a 2 oz fish finder most of the time while I'm casting my lighter rod nearby. My main target would be bull reds that I plan to release so will use circle hooks. Anyone use a live liner like this for the surf, or any other advice?

I've employed that technique on the beaches in NY,NC,MD,NJ,HI, all with good success at soaking cut bait,
The downside is that you don't have a loud clicker to alert you to a fish, You have to pay attention.

When I was in Hawaii, we would hang a bell on the rod to alert us, But on the east coast to much wind. Never worked well.

My advice is to also rebuild/ patch up the Mitchell and get an extra rod and use them both! Sorry no help on live liner feature but more lines in water will keep you busy!

Originally Posted by MarkS1320

I have a Sea Striker 10' surf rod that l'll be getting a Spinfisher 6500 for (standard or live liner?), time to retire the Mitchell 486 that I've used since 1977. I've never used a live liner before and can see its advantage on the pier but what about for a spiked surf rod? Plan would be for a finger mullet on a 2 oz fish finder most of the time while I'm casting my lighter rod nearby. My main target would be bull reds that I plan to release so will use circle hooks. Anyone use a live liner like this for the surf, or any other advice?

I have a SpinfisherV 6500 combo that I fish the surf with. Mine is not a LL. I have to agree that I like being able to hear the drag when you get a bite and then it starts to sing! I've only fished with this particular combo once, but all of my older Penn reels worked much the same. I would just set up a double drop rig, or hook a pinfish and cast it out and loosen the drag.

I don't see where a live liner would help your cause while targeting bull reds with small live mullet and a circle hook.
Bull reds are 'gulpers' that would suck that bait in and your circle hook setup would be most effective if the fish sets the hook against a light to moderate fighting drag, not the one or two of drag the liver liner function provides.
It may be that many of these fish would 'spit the hook' as they ease away against the light live liner drag.

Of course the LLs don't have to be set, you can still fish it with the fighting drag set to let the fish hook itself.

I fish the surf exclusively. Most of my reels have live liner / bait feeder functionality. This being said, I rarely use it. The only scenario when I find it useful is on my big rod when I've got a big bait out (for sharks) and I am also fishing several other rods. I believe that it has/could save a rod that I might not get to in time otherwise. I had what I am fairly certain was a decent size bull shark steal a rod from me a few years ago when I didn't use it. It pretzel'd a homemade rod spike that was built of reasonably thick angle aluminum.

As far as small rigs go, I find it to be useless. I'd generally rather the fish meet the force of the full drag to set the hook, assuming I've got the rod spiked and not in my hands.

I can't say that it's been bad to have, although as someone with an engineering background, I do believe in fewer moving parts. My reels get dunked from time to time, but I methodically clean, lube, and then spray down with reel magic. I haven't noticed any more maintenance issues with those that have the feature.

Originally Posted by Pier#r

I don't see where a live liner would help your cause while targeting bull reds with small live mullet and a circle hook.
Bull reds are 'gulpers' that would suck that bait in and your circle hook setup would be most effective if the fish sets the hook against a light to moderate fighting drag, not the one or two of drag the liver liner function provides.
It may be that many of these fish would 'spit the hook' as they ease away against the light live liner drag.

Of course the LLs don't have to be set, you can still fish it with the fighting drag set to let the fish hook itself.

Yes, good points.

I love LL's for Sheephead off the pier but see no advantage in the surf that a loose drag wouldn't accomplish. Unless you want to use it for both, I would find it unnecessary.

Here is my two cents . I have both types of reels and do use the live liner feature when I am fishing the surf. I have seen a few rigs pulled out of the spike and lost. I set the secondary rear drag with enough tension to set the hook but not enough to pull the rod out of the spike. When I start to fight the fish the main drag engages and I am ready to tire him out. There are 2 separate drags so there is a minor amount of extra maintenance. Gulf Shores is my favorite place to be people that live there are SO lucky. Good fishing everyone.