Local Preferences

I come down to the pier once a year...tradition started about 22 years ago....obviously took a break during the hurricane rebuild.

My question is what would you suggest for gear? Even though I have fished there before I am yielding to the local opinion.

Most notably I would love to know the suggestions on leader, line and hook. I toyed with a circle hook last year because it seemed like they were spitting the treble when they felt it but think I am going back to a treble....had a circle hook fall out of a jacks mouth right in front of me after fighting it for about 15 minutes.

Also saw them go after my bait only to turn when they got close if the water was clear...was wondering if anyone tries mono leader or if it's an instant cut.

Great Forum, great knowledge, happy I found it. I remember Doc and Chip from the old days and it bet some of you know them personally.

Barrell swivel, wire leader and treble hook bro!! Only way to KING IT!!

[quote author=tater73 link=topic=1104.msg10727#msg10727 date=1336779815]
Barrell swivel, wire leader and treble hook bro!! Only way to KING IT!!
[/quote]

You can get away with smaller trebles as well if water is really clear. For some reason, the 27# wire seems to work better than some thicker ones--I assume because it fits better between the teeth.

Circle hooks require consistant pressure on the fish the entire time--letting the line go slack can allow the fish to spit the hook with ease in many cases. I find circle hooks to be most reliable when used on bottom feeders as well. Don't "set" the hook, but simply tighten drag down so the hook has a chance to slide into the corner of the mouth and securing its own hookset.

Back to Kings, if you are having trouble getting hook sets, then shoot for adding a stinger hook. Run a piece of wire about 3" off your main hook, and tie on another treble hook. A little extra work, but your odds are greatly increased at hooking when it comes to getting a bite.

27 wire works best. Although i have used 32# with good results.

14lb or 17lb....or other for kings....and yes I realize it depends on whether or not you are using flourocarbon....maybe a better question is diameter?

Thanks for the info

I personally don't use anything smaller than 20, but its all personal preference.

Are you talking about line? I would stick to mono for kings, most like a 15-17# and want to have around 300+yards for a pretty heavy set-up. You can go up to 20 if you want to really hoss them in but you don't need to. Keep in mind which ever hook you use, it depends on the fish on the hook set. Fish with harder mouths like jacks, redfish, cobia it does help to have a good hookset. Kings just letting them eat it, then some pressure usually does the trick. People lose a lot of fish trying to set the hook and they rip it right out of their mouth when the fish is flying. I prefer 30# sevenstrand for leader or even 20. You'd be surprised though on how well a circle hook can work. I landed a hefty 5-6ft blacktip on 30# mono leader one time. I was shocked, was fishing for redfish.