Meatfishing in a billfish tournament

[snowranger]

Scenario is you are in a tournament with a billfish release division and a tuna division. Released white marlin will win one division, a big bluefin will win the tuna division. If I want to target the big bluefin, I am going to run some big horse baits on my wwwwwwtfb and planer. Most likely behind islanders. So, the question is, how are you going to rig your horse / islander combination with a circle hook for bluefin? Wire an egg sinker in the gills and sew the hook to the bottom of the bait? Run the hook in the gill plate and out like a J hook(much farther forward than a J)?
Any ideas?

[Reveille75]

I fished my first club day this past Saturday and did not pull a circle hook. Something about a circle hook tied to the top of a ballyhoo's head makes me think I am kissing any chance of catching a wahoo goodbye. My best marlin catching rig has always been a blue and white i-lander on the rigger with a big ballyhoo and a j hook coming out the hoo's vent. Until someone teaches me how to get a circle hook further back in the hoo, I'm going to use plastic. If I had 20 shots at a billfish in a fishing day I'd say screw the hoos and dolphin but that ain't the case. I've thought about finding the fish with a fast troll using plastics and switching to circles when we get in the fish.
What are you guys doing on club days and tell the truth.

[frankypettolina]

Reel Fool Kirby- come on here, I believe you fished circles out the ass ofd the hoo with islanders before.

I know some guys who have done it by putting the big c hooks in a vice and opening the gap a bit, but I don't think that will hold up to NMFS scrutiny as far as tourneys go.

[budddavid]

I can't speak for him but when I fished with Jeff for bluefin during tourneys we opened the gap a bit on the circle but it was a slight opening. I'm sure it would not pass the rules but I don't think it would make a dramatic change in your hook up rate if you do not open the gap. The circle hook works well for wwwwb fishing because the fish has plenty of slack and stretch in the line to take up and gets his head turned away from the boat before is come tight, allowing the circle to find the corner of the tuna's mouth. So I wouldn't try this method with braids (no stretch) and would be careful about trying it in a planer set up, obviously you would be using some sort of release planer set up if this is in a tourney so I would run with a decreased drag setting in order for the fish to run a bit and turn his head before it comes tight.

As far as the exact rigging of this super secret rig, I have been sworn to secrecy and would hate for Jeff to have to waste a huge plane fare and two days travel in order to kill me.

[Squidnation]

Reel Fool Kirby- come on here, I believe you fished circles out the ass ofd the hoo with islanders before.

I know some guys who have done it by putting the big c hooks in a vice and opening the gap a bit, but I don't think that will hold up to NMFS scrutiny as far as tourneys go.

Franky please elaborate on this. I saw the rig and know it works. I also read the rules and the rule is non-offset Circle hooks. It doesn't say a word about unaltered circle hooks. So I guess I am just looking for clairification. I am sure we should probably discuss this on friday at the meeting but my question is. If I am fishing the canyon kickoff with an ilander and 16/0 circle hook openned up a bit will it be in contrasts to the rules.

The IGFA sent a diagram of what there idea of a circle was to the NMFS. The NMFS disregarded the diagram and only said Non-offset circle hooks. Seems a bit vague to me.

[frankypettolina]

I think non offset is the key. BUT.... who can be sure when the vice was used that the point didn't get tweaked? Gosh darned honor system I guess.

[snowranger]

So Bill and Franky, the answer is you have to alter the hook? I don't think that will fly (for long). Also, wouldn't opening the hook make it no longer a circle (90 degree angle from hook point to shank)? This rule sucks. Guess I need some more artificials.

[DropinBack]

IF your go for the bluefin... Chunk with the circles...