Broken Bay 26/1

[Guest Big-Banana]

Launched from Brooklyn in hope of going out to the FAD. Got there early at around 6am. Went to the Pillbox for Liveys and picked up around 10 Yakkas pretty quickly. But Anchor wasnt holding because of the straightened prongs and we continually drifted towards the rocks and in doing so scared the bait which was schooling behind the boat twice.

Went outside but the seas were lumpy and pretty average. I expected much better from the BOM forecast. Braved it but decided to turn around. Had a troll for Kings with the livebait and didnt turn a reel.

Headed inside Pittwater for a couple of beers and a bit of relaxation out of the swell and hooked onto a couple of undersized Sand Flathead. Chucked them all back and went over to Lion Island. Saw a 5ft Hammerhead cruising and threw some Pilchards at it but it simply went deep . Dropped down to the bottom using the light gear and I wish I hadnt. Got blown away by a big shark and eventually snapped my line . Mate hooked onto with much stronger line but realised he had hooked the bottom Had a couple of bites from rubbish reef fish and caught a nice Cod of some sort.

Bit disappointing as when the liveys come easily we cant get to the fishing grounds. Will try again soon.

One question, is it better to troll live bait such as an average yakka or slimey with a one hook rig pinned through its nose? Or does Bridling pay off and reward with better hookups?

[Martin]

Shame the seas were not a little kinder and the fish more co-operative.

I have always preferred to bridle and will use slimes. Never had any real joy getting a yakka to swim well while trolling with live bait.

[djmac]

bad luck mate. still always a good day out though. beats being stuck at work!!

if i slow troll livies, i always bridle them with a circle hook in front of the nose.

my hook up rate seems to be a bit better. hard to tell really

if i have a livey out under a balloon i normall just pin it behind the head etc.

[Guest Big-Banana]

Next thing to learn: How to Bridle? Any tips? Only done to dead baits right?

[bung]

you bridle live baits; you either chin-rig dead baits (gang hooks thru belly hooked similarly to a pilly, lead wrapped around the shank of the top hook under the chin for ballast) or skip bait them.

[changa]

Next thing to learn: How to Bridle? Any tips? Only done to dead baits right?

29144[/snapback]

a simple bridle for small baits like slimeys is to half hitch a elastic band onto your hook, using a bait needle, pass it thru the top of the eye socket, in one side, out the other. then twist your bait needle with lacki band attacjed still until the twists are tight all the way along the band.

pull the lackie taight and pass the loop at the bait needle end over the hook point.

the tension on the twist stops the lackie from falling off the hook and our hookup rate using circles this way is well over 95% on marlin/kings etc.

changa

[Guest Big-Banana]

Next thing to learn: How to Bridle? Any tips? Only done to dead baits right?

29144[/snapback]

a simple bridle for small baits like slimeys is to half hitch a elastic band onto your hook, using a bait needle, pass it thru the top of the eye socket, in one side, out the other. then twist your bait needle with lacki band attacjed still until the twists are tight all the way along the band.

pull the lackie taight and pass the loop at the bait needle end over the hook point.

the tension on the twist stops the lackie from falling off the hook and our hookup rate using circles this way is well over 95% on marlin/kings etc.

changa

29163[/snapback]

Sounds pretty good. Ive got the bridling needles and Ill try this.

Does any weight need to be added to the bait when trolling as it didnt look to natural for them to be skipping. Thanks for the advice guys.

[Aero]

I think Changa is refering to slow trolling live baits, with the motor just in gear and putting around bait schools and headlands.

Swim baits and skip baits are again rigged differently and used when trolling faster at 6-8 knots.

Chris

[Bashir]

For kings, I just pin them through the top lip usually, hookups are still great. But the baits don't last as long as a bridled one. However I don't use circles for kings usually. Bridiling is best used when you are using circles I feel. If I do use them, I use the same method as changa except I thread the band through the nostrils as the baits have normally lasted longer for me this way.

[Guest Big-Banana]

Thanks guys. Is it worth bridling a couple dead baits say today and fishing them on Sunday?

[Bashir]

Dead baits work best either skipped or as a swim bait, to do this, they work much better with the hook point coming out of their vent and the trace coming out of their mouths. Ie the hook actually sits in the gut cavity. You will also need to stitch the mouth closed or use some spring cones instead.

[djmac]

haha your livies wouldnt last long if they were skipping along!

would be pretty funny to watch though

imagine the shocked look on the livies face.

you could bridle them up now

just keep them fresh in the fridge or something

ill be slow trolling livies tomorrow if i find some bait out wide

should be interesting

[Guest Big-Banana]

Caught some good Tuna skipping Yellowtail up top. They stay alive for a good hour or two. So it can be done at around 3-4 knots and they will stay alive.