Recommended lb test for bottom fishing and trolling

[Snookhunter72]

Hey everyone i have a conflict with my fishing Group. The captain is use to catch 5-15 lb fish. We will be looking for YFT wahoo and dolphin. we will also bottom fish for snapper and grouper. he likes 20 lb test and 40 -60 lb floro leader. we drove from fort pierce to little bahama banks 2 weeks ago. we got spool twice and broke off 7 times. we had 6 fish we never turned.

What line do you recommend for the bahamian waters?

I told him 80 lb braid and 60-100 leader.

thanks in advance,

[HALF-A-HAMIAN]

If you're after meat and not an IGFA title, you've got the better idea, but don't over-stress your drag. You don't want to burn up a good reel, or break a rod.

[SamFamAustin]

Many fish light lines like 30 pound although for marlin you need 50, 80, and higher when speed trolling or in some large tuna. It's all in the reel, Snook-Hunter. You really need a stout one with good drags, like carbonite. You can look at the Penn reels to get an idea of the range of options, certainly above a Penn Senator "starter kit" but that will do.

The next option, since it sounds like you want some serious dinner, is braided Spectra line that about triples your line strength. Mono rots and has too much stretch, and the smaller diameter line allows you to spool more. You do need some better rod guides for Spectra because it is abrasive, however.

Lastly, don't worry. A bunch of Texans went fishing last weekend and had 5/0 reels on expensive poles and lost some bomber fish, probably large shark, amberjack, or tuna. Bent hooks were aplenty, too. These folks know what they're doing (unlike me!) and have decades of fishing experience. That's why they call it "fishing" and not "catching." :cool:

[CR]

Snookhunter,

What size reels are you using?
Your line choice should work well, with the thinner braided line you can pack more on the reel. Remember not to grab the braid when the fish is at the boat - it will cut you bad.

R.

[Snookhunter72]

WE ARE USING 30 CLASS REELS AND 50 CLASS FOR HGH SPEED. OUR TROUBLE IS FOR OUR PITCH BAITS AND CHUNKING FOR TUNA. WE ALWAYS seem to grab the light reels. we all like the action of medium rods and twenty lb test but i hate losing all the big'uns

[SamFamAustin]

CR is the man ... try upping the backbone and gear like with braid to act more like a 40# rig even if it is medium action. I'm sure you have heard of offshore jigging rods and that's what I mean ... don't need a tow truck winch so with a few tweaks here and there you should be good to go. Did you say what kind of reels you're using?
-sam

[Snookhunter72]

I am not sure the brand but they are all new technology reels. the drag of the reels are beefy and durable. we only use braid i will up the test to 60 and 80 on 4 reels. the rods are all medium to medium heavy and 1- heavy. we may bring a 12/0 reel and heavy roller rod for marlin?

[SamFamAustin]

Sounds like you have a plan, Chris. I've been learning about wind-on leaders and really like them - been practicing making long Bimini Twist knots to join them up. As CR said, don't touch the braided line (with a fish on) even with gloves if you can avoid it ... the wind-on is mono or fluoro and makes the leader-man's job much easier. The 100 or 150# wind-on about 25 feet long is fairly popular; available in sizes to 400#.

Can't help with getting spooled as long as the drags are set to the right poundage. You can use hand weights, etc. to dial you drag in the the right number. Obviously, you're not going to land a 800# blue on a 80# rig.

Have some fun out thar, will ya? I'm flat jealous! ;)
-sam

[SusieAndAl]

Hey Sam and CR,

Have you ever tried microfilament line? We like Power Pro from Spectra. Much thinner and smoother with the same # test than anything else we've used. A bit more expensive, but we've never had a break off even on some big ones (of course we use good reels and triple check the drag before we start!)

Cheers -- SusieAndAl

[CR]

SusieAndAl,

I use 130# Power Pro on my 9/0 Rockfish/Wahoo trolling reels. (Same diameter as 20# mono)

It gets deeper since it is so thin, you can get about 800 yds of line on the reel, and it holds up well when the fish try to rock me.

Have not lost many fish to break-offs. I set the drags with a scale and let them run if they want.
I can usually last longer than the fish.:cool:

R.

[SamFamAustin]

I love PowerPro. You can catch tarpon with the equivalent of 4 to 8 pound test line!

[Snookhunter72]

we only use powerpro for snook tarpon bass snapper grouper or rolling. the problem is that the Captain of the boat likes 20lb test with floro leader.

I have another question what size and color cedar plugs do we need to bring?

[SamFamAustin]

In a word, yellow. OK, add "chartreuse" if you must!

Blue/white Islanders are good and don't forget your nekkid cedar plugs (clear finish) and Pink Tutu jigs (extra point for day-glow, butterfly, and holographic). Chrome diamond spoons and jigs, don't know if they work as good, might spook the fish unless you have some green water. But yellow/gold works - something to do with that gin-clear blue water.

And I am completely talking out my Yazootie! It's mainly the action that gets the fish, bruddah. Less flash and chrome the better. -sammie