Leader shy

[tuna9292]

Everyone up my way uses 180lb flourocarbon higher. It seem there are fish around there just not eating or there eating at night. You may be able to catch one at night if you could get through the bluefish.what is the lighest leader i could use and still land a 500lber. I have been using 150 but hesitate to go lower. But if I did I might get more hook ups on these picky fish


Thanks tuna

[WeCatchEm]

I expect your talking about bait fishing. On rough days I go 130lb floro and on flat calm days I drop right down to 80lb. Even the strongest leaders will chaff on large fish...thats why circle hooks are a must in my book.

[SteveH2112]

IMHO 130 floro is as light as I would go on real giants. Maybe 80 on just legal fish. I always go with as heavy leader as I can get away with.

[hotreels jr]

I was running 170 on my balloons, and 220 on my kite. I bumped my balloons up to 200 or 220 depending what I have on hand. We had little fish trying to eat the baits today on 220 on the balloons.

[twofinbluna]

Definitely do not be trying to use 80lb on 500 pound fish.

[LadyB]

Sometimes tuna are very shy and other times you can throw anything at them like the ones in Georges last fall. I don't think you need to go any lower than 150 lb test. It could be you are doing nothing wrong at all as sometimes they just don't eat.

I think it's more important to stretch your leader out and keep it clean, void of blood and fish guts.

[codfishshark]

You reallly i repeat reallllllyyyy need to know what your doing to land a big fish on 130. Like Chris said do not try it if you are targeting big fish its a waste of your time.