Diving Plugs. . . de-hooker??

[SharkJP]

I have started using diving plugs more and more. I dont pull them a lot, but i have done a lot more with them this year. one thing that i have noticed with them is they often act as a de-hooker on fish that jump. the last 2 wahoo i have hooked with them were lost, the most recent one last week when the fish aired out about 4 times. the tuna i have caught with them have mostly held tight, but i think that is because they have stayed down and the plug wasnt really allowed to shake around that much. i have also seen the same thing with dolphin. when they dont jump a lot, the plug holds. . . i have lost a lot of fish with it when they start to put on a show.

i use the double hookset that comes on the plug. should i switch to single hooks? what can i do to increace my hook up to catch ratio when using this lure?

[Murph]

Hey Shark, I have had the same thing with the Braid Marauder's they like them but I think part of the issue is in head shaking etc. that a cobination of the shaking and the weight of the lure causes them to pull loose. Just my two cents.

[WahooKing]

The hooks work against each other and the Wahoo will dislodge them..Wahoo's mouths are super boney.....You will slightly increase your hook up ratio using single hooks but you will still miss Wahoo....esp. on the bonita type lures....I do feel that there is a loss in pressure because your line is attached to the plugs head and not to your hooks.

[Sea Draggin]

I have noticed on stretch 50's you can rig them as break aways so the plug actually rides up the line, but never caught a feesh pullin that way.

[ancient mariner]

Hi All:
I've run a few different types for the past three years. I'm NO expert on them. What I have found is to run them with double hooks instead of the standind trebles or huge singles. If you still run singles , rubberband them to the body, I think, (just my observance) that they stay better postioned for a hookup into that bony mouth.
As to double hooks,I weld a spot on the hooks to keep them from splitting apart onder strain. Another thing I tried is to be carefull with this rig.....CHECK FOR WEEDS/CRAP. Maybe it's just me, BUT I love the double hooks, I JUST HAVE TO KEEP CLEANING THEM. AARRGGHHHHHHHHH!
I'm investigating a new lure mfg who has developed(?) a better deep diving plug for HOOS. If I can get a few, I'll rty 'em out and let eberyone know how they do.
WACKM N STACKM
Joseph B. ...aka...Ancient Mariner

[Capt. Brian Daley]

Guys I have found that a single over size hook and use shrink wrap tubeing
aroung the hook to the lure mount the shake and the angle of the lure is an
auto release of the hook depending on how the fish attacts it make it a little
stiffer works for me ????

[Ciguatera]

I run them on every trip. For our Ono (Wahoo) season that was the hot ticket outfishing the other lures 4 to 1. But for every 2 hits... 1 will stick. Bad percentage in initial hookup but once they're on... they're on. Single hook no doubt about it. Doubles equal a whole buch of lost fish. The way to keep them on is to keep full rod breaking pressure on even while they are jumping.... for the mahi that is. Keep winding and give them no line slack. When a mahi goes airborn, I pull that baby 5 to 10 feet towards me before it lands in the water. Initial hook up is the key. If you're running a soft drag, the hooks won't penetrate through bone or gill plates and will shake loose easily. Only the tip will be hanging on. Lock that drag then back off after the bite.