seabass on the fly?

[jemche]

sometimes we when i am spadefishing we chum with clams and every time you drop the bait to the bottom you catch a spadefish. Is their any good flies or will a rubber band work.....

[Dave Sikorski]

Jake-

I think you'll find that a number of flies will work.

Chum flies....aka...rubber bands, etc.

Heck try a chart/white clouser.

I've caught Seabass out at fenwick shoals when casting a gotcha plug at some blues. Nothing wrong with a deep retrieve of a baitfish patter IMO.

The key will be getting the fly down to the fish on the wrecks. Anything more than 15 ft. and you'll need a full sinking line. The Rio Lake 7 seems to be a very popular full sink line. It behaves well for being thin and heavy and will get down pretty fast. At least by fly fishing standards.

Don't break your rod when a fish takes you into a wreck. Make sure you use a class tippet light enough to break when you want it to. If you think you'll need more leader than add a bite tippet to the end.

Remember, <12" of bit tippet and more than 12" of class tippet IF you want to be IGFA legal.

Let me remind you I've never caught a seabass on the fly, only thought about it a couple times

This brings up another question. Why not tog? Sure they pull like crazy and love to cut you off, but why not try? I can definitely make a green crab out of something. Do you tog fish?

-D

[jemche]

thanks.. i tog fish a little. i looked at igfa and i think i could break some records.. could you show me how to tie some green crab flies..I have never tied any crab flies before.... thanks again.

[Dave Sikorski]

I'll get you some pics tonight. I don't know if they'll work, but they're what I came up with one bored night.

-D

[Wave Loudly]

I'm interested in doing this type of fishing, I'm not so worried about breaking records as I am my fly rod. What should my bite tippet be when using a 9 wt?

[Dave Sikorski]

The bite Tippet can be any mono or flouro up and less than 12" The class tippet must be at least 15" I was wrong a few times before, finally decided to look up the actual rules.

Neither the class nor the bite tippet have break strength limits.

I could be wrong, but I think most fish have records kept up to 10 kg or 22.04lbs.

Here's a chart:

1 kg 2.20 lb
2 kg 4.40 lb
3 kg 6.61 lb
4 kg 8.81 lb
6 kg 13.22 lb
8 kg 17.63 lb
10 kg 22.04 lb
15 kg 33.06 lb
24 kg 52.91 lb
37 kg 81.57 lb
60 kg 132.27 lb

Remember many leaders don't test to the exact break strength as noted on the package.

So anyway what you're really asking is what class tippet should you use so you don't break your 9 wt? I'd say no more than 20lb. I use a piece of straight 20 for most applications, and use my 9wt. the most.

Rod angle is very important when fighting too, don't "high stick" and you should be fine with most fish.

-D

[OneMoreCast]

Depends on the structure too. Most fly line has a 30lb breaking strength. With a lot of structure around, you may want to go light so the leader snaps before doing damage to the line. It can dig in and fray the loop. 17 or 15lb would do fine.
I know Capt Mark Sampson is doing fly fishing charters for sea bass etc out of OC. He would be a good resource for flies etc.

[Wave Loudly]

Thanks! That helps me, something about "fly fishing speak" confuses me. LOL