Possible it was sharper halibut teeth breaking your line off but even so, fluoro should help with that if it's still happening with the new setup.

 

2 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

Also, when you feel the bite, swing on them, don't wait for them to get the whole lure in their mouths.

 

This is interesting to me. I mostly catch them on small swimbaits and if I pull too early I just get my lure back with teeth marks on the tail, below the hook (they're hitting it from behind and it takes a second for them to work their way up the lure to the hook). I think this depends on the bait. Next time I use a football jig + craw though I'm gonna try swinging 

6 minutes ago, VinnyR said:

Possible it was sharper halibut teeth breaking your line off but even so, fluoro should help with that if it's still happening with the new setup.

 

 

This is interesting to me. I mostly catch them on small swimbaits and if I pull too early I just get my lure back with teeth marks on the tail, below the hook (they're hitting it from behind and it takes a second for them to work their way up the lure to the hook). I think this depends on the bait. Next time I use a football jig + craw though I'm gonna try swinging 

Best to use swimbaits on a swimjig, that way they target the bilk of the bait, and not just the tail in a good percentage of the time. Caught a ton on a 3" big Hammer using a 3/8 or 1/2 oz swimjig..

3 minutes ago, Hammer 4 said:

Best to use swimbaits on a swimjig

When I hear "swimjig" I picture a black and blue skirted swimjig, do you mean something like that or like a big hammer lead head? 

5 minutes ago, VinnyR said:

When I hear "swimjig" I picture a black and blue skirted swimjig, do you mean something like that or like a big hammer lead head? 

I would use a white, or red swimjig. I forgot to say, I trim the skirt a bit to expose more of the paddle tail..Never had much luck with blue/black. Another thing is, you may be retrieving a bit to quick, and getting short strikes or smaller fish are nibbling at it..Again, time on the water will net the best time and retrieve speed. Using 8 lb test also gives the best action for the bait. Where do you fish.?

Marina del Rey. Thanks for the tip! I'll try it soon. I'm always in the rocks so that's why I opt for the heavier line, but I tie to a snap and then snap on a jig head, so the bait moves pretty freely. I don't think the snap bothers them (at least I haven't noticed getting fewer bites with it). I'll try going down to 12 next time I'm out. Other thing is I fish spots near docks where in order to land a fish you have to hoist it out of the water probably ~8 feet, so I don't want to have one shake and snap my line on its way up to me 

 

I'll add that I usually go after dark because that's when I have the best luck *by far* so i tend not to think much about color  

 

Jonas, sorry to hijack your question! 

5 minutes ago, VinnyR said:

Marina del Rey. Thanks for the tip! I'll try it soon. I'm always in the rocks so that's why I opt for the heavier line, but I tie to a snap and then snap on a jig head, so the bait moves pretty freely. I don't think the snap bothers them (at least I haven't noticed getting fewer bites with it). I'll try going down to 12 next time I'm out. Other thing is I fish spots near docks where in order to land a fish you have to hoist it out of the water probably ~8 feet, so I don't want to have one shake and snap my line on its way up to me 

 

I'll add that I usually go after dark because that's when I have the best luck *by far* so i tend not to think much about color  

 

Jonas, sorry to hijack your question! 

Don't know if you saw what I said to Jonas, but an incoming or high tide 99% of the time will yield the best results. Never fished MDR, but had friends who did. Try to fish around docks, spotties are like LMB in a way, they love a good ambush spot, and docks/piers provide that. BTW, Big Hammer in 3 ", Red Rum is killer..Good Luck..

8 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

Yep, I think your letting them get the bait to far in their mouths, or your getting hit with flatties, which have even more, and sharper toofs...Also, try tightening down your drag just a we bit, even 2-2 1/2 lb spotties shouldn't be pulling to much drag. Keep in mind, these fish aren't like LMB, these guys slam baits, unlike LMB that sometimes barely inhale a bait all the way in.. 

yeah your probably right, a few times they hit it on the fall, or I didnt even know I had one on, never caught a flattie before but catching a big one would be awesome. obviously I C&R the LMB, but i was really hoping to keep/eat these ocean fish, state website says not to eat any though which is  real bummer.

7 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

BTW, here's a spottie from the LAB..small pic, but it's all I have left since the PC that all my pics broke.

 

 

 

nice, that one looks to be a decent size.

6 hours ago, VinnyR said:

Marina del Rey. Thanks for the tip! I'll try it soon. I'm always in the rocks so that's why I opt for the heavier line, but I tie to a snap and then snap on a jig head, so the bait moves pretty freely. I don't think the snap bothers them (at least I haven't noticed getting fewer bites with it). I'll try going down to 12 next time I'm out. Other thing is I fish spots near docks where in order to land a fish you have to hoist it out of the water probably ~8 feet, so I don't want to have one shake and snap my line on its way up to me 

 

I'll add that I usually go after dark because that's when I have the best luck *by far* so i tend not to think much about color  

 

Jonas, sorry to hijack your question! 

 

no worries dude hop in! more talk, more info and knowledge shared!

 

Regarding the snap, I used a snap the entire time I was out and caught all my fish with a snap. I actually got very bad line twist, which I have never had a problem with before. I figured its got something to do with the ocean current or whatever.......anyways next time out I plan to use a snap swivel.