Light Line Softbaiting

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    Posted: 12 May 2014 at 7:33am
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I took 2 of my light softbait/lure sets (7' rods, rated 1-3kg, Symetre 1000 reels) out on my weekly Saturday morning snapper fish.

3" minnows on 1/8oz jigheads (Berkley Bream Size #1), 1kg braid and 4lb leader.

Hell, it was fun, and very productive of good pannies.

The biggest snapper was 54cm, brought aboard by grabbing through the gills after a 10-15 minute battle; 3 very good kahawai gave me even more of workouts.

Caught a dozen or so small snappies, plus 4 to bring home from 41-54cm.

On the water at 0710, back home filleting at 1035.

I was particularly interested to see what would happen with the light jighead weights; I was fishing in 15-22m (though to be fair there was only about 5kt breeze, and I was on the kayak). I have an idea that the light weights with the small minnows sink at a rate consistent with that of the baitfish they mimic.
PJ
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote of2fsh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 2014 at 9:30am
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Nice one PJ,just picked up a new 1 to 3 kg rod which is about to get tested today...love the light line
2009 and 2010 BERKLEY SOFTBAIT COMP CHAMPS,Runner up 2013 ( solo),winner 2013/14 longest kingfish nz fishing competition
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Moocha Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 2014 at 10:58am
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Those KY fight like Marloon on the 1lb Wink
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What 1-3kg rods are you guys using? Haven't seen many around in that weight myself
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Veritas 1 to 3 is the best ive found.

Sorry for the hijak PJ
2009 and 2010 BERKLEY SOFTBAIT COMP CHAMPS,Runner up 2013 ( solo),winner 2013/14 longest kingfish nz fishing competition
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Potty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 2014 at 12:57pm
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PJay - mate that's mixing it up a bit for you.
Have to get you out on Our Precious for a light line mangrove fish. Hopefully be up the far north before the end of May.
Love fishing, love my job. It's a bloody shame that they clash.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Espresso Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 2014 at 1:03pm
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54cm snapper is a very nice fish on the light stuff, nicely done, and on a yak.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote PJay Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 2014 at 2:41pm
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Originally posted by Clay Clay wrote:

What 1-3kg rods are you guys using? Haven't seen many around in that weight myself


The one I like best is an Omoto 1-3kg, called "Carbon Vibe Lite" I think; manufacturer's code OMNORDSNVCLC71.

It's very, very light in the tip, so I can cast a light SB the distance I usually want to. Works little vibes well, too.

Oh, and it cost me $87 retail.
PJ
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote PJay Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 2014 at 2:42pm
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Originally posted by Potty Potty wrote:


Have to get you out on Our Precious for a light line mangrove fish. Hopefully be up the far north before the end of May.


Hey, Laurie - that sounds great. Just let me know the time.
PJ
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote PJay Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 2014 at 2:45pm
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Originally posted by Espresso Espresso wrote:

54cm snapper is a very nice fish on the light stuff, nicely done, and on a yak.


Hi, Grant.

There's a huge advantage in fishing light line from the yak: you have very little inertia, and even on light line a fish can tow you around, so it's like having an - extra strain-free - drag.

I'm going to get my lines tested soon, because I see the IGFA world 2kg line class snapper is only about 6.4 or 6.7kg. (Bloody 3kg record is over 11... )
PJ
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote PJay Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 2014 at 2:47pm
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Originally posted by of2fsh of2fsh wrote:

Veritas 1 to 3 is the best ive found.

Sorry for the hijak PJ


No wuckers, Wayne - I was hoping the thread would develop.
PJ
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote PJay Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 2014 at 2:52pm
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Another sidelight on tackle. Most of my friends on here know how much I like my baitcaster reels for softbaiting. Well, in this very lightweight stuff, they're hopeless because there's not enough weight to pull the line out on casting, even though it's very light line; there's no sensible alternative to spinning reels.
PJ
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Originally posted by Moocha Moocha wrote:

Those KY fight like Marloon on the 1lb Wink


Funny day that one ah mate,you shaggers thought it was a snapper...so did I
2009 and 2010 BERKLEY SOFTBAIT COMP CHAMPS,Runner up 2013 ( solo),winner 2013/14 longest kingfish nz fishing competition
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Moocha Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 2014 at 3:40pm
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Yeah mate was a classic, certainly knocked over a few fish that day......  after the KY was put away that was Wink
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Originally posted by PJay PJay wrote:

Originally posted by Potty Potty wrote:


Have to get you out on Our Precious for a light line mangrove fish. Hopefully be up the far north before the end of May.


Hey, Laurie - that sounds great. Just let me know the time.

Aiming for around the new moon (weather depending). Overdue to have a fish up there.
Love fishing, love my job. It's a bloody shame that they clash.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote PJay Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 2014 at 4:32pm
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Update, now that I've decided to go for a couple of light line snapper records.

Not surprisingly, I've been discovering that light leader and the little bream hooks just don't hack it on the big snappies.

I've gone to 15lb fluoro leader, though Wayne of2fsh assures me Stren Coral 10lb is up to it. The 4, 6 and 8lb fluoro I was given by a sponsor just got bitten through once I got what were 60cm +/- fish on, while I haven't lost any for that cause once I went up to the 15lb.

But now it's the hooks. These bream hooks are so much thinner gauge than my 1/0 Owner/Nitros, and they won't manage once fish get in the weeds - which big snapper will do if you have to let them run. The very light braid will cut through the weed OK, but I think what's happening is that they get their mouths right up to the weed the line's caught on, pull hard and then the little fine hooks just straighten.

Lost 2 very good fish this way yesterday, one after 50 minutes of battle in 7-8m depth.

Time to go looking through the tackle catalogues. I am finding the 3" Gulp! minnows are consistently getting the most bites, but only if the hooks are short enough to allow lots of waggle.

So it's jigheads or hooks as well as the Stren 10lb Coral.
PJ
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Potty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 2014 at 6:28pm
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Another option PJay is the 3/8th nitro stealth (#1) fished with a 4inch Zman paddle tail. The buoyancy of the Zman will give you the hang time of a 1/6th jig head and a gulp 3 inch minnow.
Love fishing, love my job. It's a bloody shame that they clash.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote PJay Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 2014 at 6:32pm
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Thanks, Laurie.

Yeah, I've been wondering along those lines; but I'm not sure that it mightn't be the tiny size of the 3" minnows that's counting.

I did have some 1//0 size jigheads whose weight was only the flutes - I think !/4 oz - so that was what I've been looking for.

But I'll give your idea a shot, too. I recall you've had good success with it.
PJ
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Cbro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 2014 at 6:45pm
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Nitro #2 3/8th, with a new Nuked chook Zman shad. 
85-87cm snap from the weeds last night along with a 21kg king on 8lb braid an 20lb leader. After catching 30odd 45-55cm fish on the same bit of leader.  Mission getting that king on my lap from out of the yak...stroppy bloody fish. 

That snap would have easily been landed on a 2kg line out of the yak...well not easily but def possible.  Whats a 85-87cm snap likely to weigh? 12-13kg was my guess.
I may spool up a reel with some 2kg line and have a crack. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Potty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Jun 2014 at 6:47pm
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Will do some research at Cuvier this Friday, about time a got rid of the dust on my 2 kg setup.
What rules to they have concerning leaders when chasing records PJay?
Love fishing, love my job. It's a bloody shame that they clash.
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