What To Do With A Massive Hookup?

[Daid]

Hi,

I recently had a really big hookup whilst fishing along the beach. And unfortunately it got away , I had a 3/0 3 ganged hook and it bent my first hook. I had thought my line snapped.

13 foot beach rod

30lb mono line

I was fishing the beach, about to leave, then I felt a weight on the line. Wow, great a Aus Salmon i thought, then it keep pulling the line... more and more... I turn up the drag.. But it was too heavy to reel in. If I loosen the drag it will keep running...

What does one do in these situations?

Do I turn up the drag so it doesn't run and wait until he tires?

Give enough drag to let it slowly run?

Or let it run freely?

My setup usually overpowers Aus Salmon and Tailors i get, but I've never had to deal with something this massive before.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[Catchin Jack]

Give enough drag to let it slowly run?

That'd be my choice if i was in your situation, to much drag and it may snap, let it run free and you'll get spooled.

Cheers,

Leo

Edited December 24, 2009 by Fezza

[prawn*]

sounds like u hooked up a large sting ray if u had trouble gaining line and to heavy they tend to sit on the bottom and are hard to budge like a dead weight...

[Dusky]

Yep same thing happened to me down at the Gong' stingray!

[cameldownunder]

I thought of a sting ray too.

Tighten the drag to the limit of your line/knots and hope for the best.

When the line starts to sing, you know its too tight.

[SZ1]

I have had this alot, when there is only strong runs and no

head sharks it it most Likely a Ray or some other less desireable

creatures. In this situation I normaly apply max drag to the line

and give it to it pretty hard ie hard and fast pump and wind

this normally gets them comming, once u get things moving it is matter

of keep it comming your way or they will again sit on the bottom which

be becomes hard to move. Most time don't mind losing the fish when it a Ray.

Cheers

[Day's Fishin]

Most likely a ray, not much you can do except lock the drag up & with a bit of luck he will turn & head towards you. If he heads out then theres virtually no way of stopping a ray. Then again do you really want to catch one, their not a good fighting fish, they don't taste any good & a big one is down right dangerous to land, whether in a boat or on the beach. Have a good Christmas

Regards Jeff

[Basil D]

Hi, I would give enough drag to let it run slowly but always make sure you have good quality gear like carbon hooks, good knots, or forget it.

When your on a good fish there isnt much room for error.

merry christmas

Edited December 24, 2009 by Groper

[Daid]

Thanks for all the tips, I'll give it a try next time.

It would of been a massive sting ray, it wouldn't budge for over 10 minutes, but would run the moment I loosened the drag. I did manage to wind it in once a few turns, then it started running again.

And Merry Christmas, hope you had a good one.