Constantley getting bit off

[Useful Idiot]

Originally Posted by LipRipper

So I hooked into what I thought was Mobey Dick today all to get bit off after about 6-7 minutes of fighting himand quite a few choice words. Even the guys in the boat next to me made a comment about how big that fish was. I have been fishing a lot out of Sd Bay targeting Halibut but I get bit off probably 6 times a day on average. I am knew to kayak fishing/saltwater fishing in general and I was wondering what you all use as far as a leader or something to prevent this from happening. Oh yeah....I have been using mainly swim baits but have had some luck on other plastics as well. I appreciate the replies.
Thanks,

What size and brand of line are you using? What gear? Even good quality line can feel like it snaps easily if the gear it's on is too heavy. Is this in the bay or LJ?

[Kesepton]

Check your knots!! Sometimes, its the knot, make sure youre always wetting it before you cinch down, and use a good knot that wont slip, like the palomar.

[deepdvr]

Originally Posted by Kesepton

Check your knots!! Sometimes, its the knot, make sure youre always wetting it before you cinch down, and use a good knot that wont slip, like the palomar.

X2 - with the palomar make sure the line doesn't cross over itself

[LipRipper]

What size and brand of line are you using? What gear? Even good quality line can feel like it snaps easily if the gear it's on is too heavy. Is this in the bay or LJ?

This is in the Bay and i am using Abu Garcia Revo reels on medium heavy rods. I am using a lighter line because I have been fishing a lot for bass as well but when I feel the line it isn't my knots and the line isn't stretched it is definitely severed.

[Useful Idiot]

Originally Posted by LipRipper

What size and brand of line are you using? What gear? Even good quality line can feel like it snaps easily if the gear it's on is too heavy. Is this in the bay or LJ?

This is in the Bay and i am using Abu Garcia Revo reels on medium heavy rods. I am using a lighter line because I have been fishing a lot for bass as well but when I feel the line it isn't my knots and the line isn't stretched it is definitely severed.

If you're fishing light line on a medium/heavy rod you're likely putting too much pressure on the line without even noticing it, making it seem like it's snapping without much pressure. I would either go up in line size or go down in rod weight.

It's not real common to be getting bit off six or seven times a day unless you're getting into barracuda or sharks or something. My guess is your gear is too heavy for the line you're fishing. Play around with that and see what happens.

[The Kid]

seaguar cures FLC Fish Loss Cancer

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by LipRipper

This is in the Bay and i am using Abu Garcia Revo reels on medium heavy rods. I am using a lighter line because I have been fishing a lot for bass as well but when I feel the line it isn't my knots and the line isn't stretched it is definitely severed.

How light of line are you using? The lightest line I use in the bay is 8# and that's on my dropshot rod, all my other rods are 12 to 15# and never have been busted off. If I'm going after the toothy kinds of fish I use a knot Double Overhand knot that leaves a little loop with a circle hook so the hook kind of swings free, and the set goes into the corner of the mouth. Circle hooks are nice, but some find them to be tricky to use. You don't swing to set the hook you just start reeling and it sets itself in the corner of the fishes mouth and is free of the teeth. I use this for live bait as well as swimbaits. The only thing that has busted me off using this setup is a Cuda out in the kelp. I've caught Ling cods and Halibut on this setup.

I would recommend stepping up your line weight, our bay bass are not that line shy.

[taggermike]

I don't mean any disrespect, but you really need to check your knots. It's unusual to hook a halibut deep in the mouth even on bait and with plastics it hardly ever happens. The chances of 6 halibut in one day getting a swim bait that far in their mouths is astranomical. Mike

[Useful Idiot]

Originally Posted by taggermike

I don't mean any disrespect, but you really need to check your knots. It's unusual to hook a halibut deep in the mouth even on bait and with plastics it hardly ever happens. The chances of 6 halibut in one day getting a swim bait that far in their mouths is astranomical. Mike

I agree with this, something else is going on here. Gotta be the knots or the gear.

[LipRipper]

not my knots I always use a palomar knot and I always wet my line....and I make sure it doesn't cross over itself.

[Billy V]

Seaguar Fluro is strong leader
Blackwater Fluro is also good

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Try the San Diego Jam Knot, its stronger than the Palomar.

Tie them both and test them to failure....you'll see for yourself.