Guac questions...

[Deep C]

Ok here goes... Went practicing and spread testing today. Ran all kinds of goodies and even went to work learning about guacs...

The rigging of them was not an issue. They swam very nice and looked good up tighter to my boat atslower speed than I usually fish. This gives me yet another option in the wide world of spreads.
Now ok I was using a matzuo circle instead of box's recommended one and can't be sure if the swivel was exactly the same but pretty close. The condition was fairly choppy but not big heaving seas by any means. Then I noticed that one just went away. It wasn't spinning or anything, just went away. That was just the first of three that did that? I think that perhaps the matzuo barb was small enough to work out of the swivel but am asking if anyone has some ideas on what else it could be...

Then rat pee wee mahi woer hitting them but failing to get anywhere near the hook. Tried dropping back on a few but I think the weight carried it under them. Perhaps some one can tighten my game up on that.

Then along comes mister sailfish. I did a nice long drop back and pushed the lever up. The fish never dropped it. I came tight and fought the urge to strike. The bait just pulled away from the fish. It ate again and same thing happened a second time. The hook found nothing and this time the fish went away. The bait came back kinda scaled and smushed like they do on a good sail bite. The hook wasn't turned and planeted in the bait. It just had no sail attached... So I guess I could use pointers there...

[O-SEA-D]

I would love to help you Deep. However, I pulled the Guac for the first time last week.

I tried to go with a smaller swivel . I ended up having to squeeze the eye of the swivel just a little to get the hook to go through. I was using an Eagle Claw 7/0 circle hook.

[BTH284]

Owner SSW circle 6/0 works like a champ w/ SPRO 130 lb power swivel. Will not come off. You will have to snell it to your mainline to get the best out of it because of the laid back eye. I am positive that their are others that work out there as well. But this is what I found to work for me. Takes a little effort to get the swivel over the barb but that is what you want to happen.

[JMS-ILM]

i piddled with some guacomoles last summer fishing inshore for sails/dolphins and sometimes encountered this phenomenon as well. using an eagle claw 2004ELFS 7/0(light wire) snelled to 80 lb mono and attached to the ballyhoo via an 130 lb spro power swivel. from what i could tell they let loose when the ballyhoo would sometimes pop to the surface and splash, possibly getting a little slack in the leader and the hook flipping around.

i have yet to swim a guac this summer yet but have toyed with the idea of adding a tiny square of rubber band after sliding the swivel onto the hook....sort of borrowing the idea from the bass fisherman that add large eyed trailer hooks to their spinner and buzz baits. or maybe a small ortho rubber band doubled up in the shank of the hook.

i do think that if you experiment with a few different styles and brands of hook and swivel, you might find one that fits super snug when going over the barb....enough so that it takes some force to pop it on or off........

[Glenn W]

Paul, This is my 3rd year swimming a guac a fair amount in NC, but am no expert by any means. The Matzuo circles are the heat. With respect to the bait rig coming of your hook, I am absolutly certain it is because your swivel is a tad to large. the right size swivel is the one that won't go on until you twist and cuss it for a couple minutes. I can't explain it, but the more you do it you kind of get a knack for it. So--- swivel chioce is critical. Can't give you any brand names, I just hunt around for the el chepo swivels until I find ones that are just right.
Capt. Randy Turner (RT) of the Sushi uses a swivel that I've been meaning to get the brand name from. it has a V notch in the ring, such that if you invert the hoo exactly 180, the hook barb will slide right on. I also think a knot ot snell is better than a crimp to minimize the hook waggle.
Regarding missing the Saildog on two dropbacks--- you wiffed it--
I will admit, they aint worth a shit at hooking bailers.

Tommy Tuna, if you think about it, ask RT the name brand of those swivels he uses. Brandon told me he gets them in Stuart.

[Chilli]

I think glenn summed it up pretty well. I use a rosco swivel and Matzu circle... I forget the sizes, but I will check my box tonight... Your gonna loose a bait every now and then. As somebody said, if the bait gets sideways and comes to the surface it can sneak off and disappear. You will also find that ocationally the ballys tail and the hook point will get together and give you the ol' hula hoop treatment... Gotta watch the little buggers.

As for the mahi, join the club. The quac is not a mahi bait. It preforms quite miserably in that department, unless of course you collect ballyhoo heads as a hobby... The quac is a bill fish bait by design. It will catch other critters, but its probably not the best choice when looking for meat.

[Baywolf]

Deep, I've been using Jimmy K's technique with the monel. Make a small loop in the monel and twist about 1/2". When you put the hook in the loop give it a few twists to tighten it up and wa la. Been having the same problem with hook ups, whites and sails. Been using 7/0 Gamkatsu and Eagle Craw lasers. Circle hooks are a bear to get in the meat.

[Deep C]

Glen did you say that I the Deep "whiffed" .... Sir I didn't "whiff" I flat out sucked! Yep thats right ate meadow muffins, barked at the moon, tried to poke that rollin donut, pulled a zilch, did a deckhand, made a boo boo, choked, and should be shot. That was too clean of a bit to miss... Twice... I just went out and down sized my swivel to one that feels ight. I'll try again...

[Glenn W]

Glen did you say that I the Deep "whiffed" .... Sir I didn't "whiff" I flat out sucked! Yep thats right ate meadow muffins, barked at the moon, tried to poke that rollin donut, pulled a zilch, did a deckhand, made a boo boo, choked, and should be shot. That was too clean of a bit to miss... Twice... I just went out and down sized my swivel to one that feels ight. I'll try again...

If you happen to get rusty in the wiffing and start hooking an unacceptably high percentage, give me a call and I can give you a wiffing refresher course--- I'm the best there is at that.

[TommyTuna]

Tommy Tuna, if you think about it, ask RT the name brand of those swivels he uses. Brandon told me he gets them in Stuart.

I will axe, but highly probable it was at Finest Kind