HE'S BEHIND THE BALLYHOO...AND

[whitey]

I agree with Double D here. I have had my best hookup ratio on circles by pointing the tip directly at the fish and slowly pushing the drag up. Once the fish is hooked and pulling drag I slowly raise the rod tip.

[WAHOONBOX]

Why are we holding the rod tip high at this point? With circles, I have been having more success pointing the rod at the fish, prior to engaging and coming tight

I agree with Double D here. I have had my best hookup ratio on circles by pointing the tip directly at the fish and slowly pushing the drag up. Once the fish is hooked and pulling drag I slowly raise the rod tip.

I MERELY STATED MY WAY AND ONLY MY WAY......I LIKE AS MUCH LINE OUT OF THE WATER AS I CAN .....

GENTLEMEN.....IT'S JUST MY WAY.....I WONDER SOMETIMES HOW I HAVE EVER CAUGHT ONE


I

[Randy Stinchcomb]

Hmmmm, sounds to me as if there are as many styles to catching Marlin on circles as the are Marlin in the ocean

I've not used circles hooks for Marlin yet, guess I should get started soon
I do know of a Captian who swears by thumbing the spool, instead of using the drag-lever for more constant hook-up's. .... so, I guess I'll try that method first atleast that-way, I'll know I Wont Get Thumb-Burn

[Captain Michael Buffington]

On a pitch bait for whitey, I do the same rod angle as a tuna, or a tarpon, or anything else for that matter with a circle hook. I point the rod at the fish or in a trolling situation at the line as it enters the bow. I don't inch it up I smoothly go from fre to strike maybe 2 seconds between, then reel your ass off and when it comes tight and drag is peeling I smoothly bend the rod horizontally to the water and game on! I never set the hook trolling j or c either BOX. Just my experience with them...

Now that I'm poon fishing the next witey that jumps might get a bow

Mike

[Bert Rodgers]

I found this post from Bill to be interesting too. Espeacially using your hand and fingers over the TLD instead of your thumb to control backlash.

The Circle Hook Up

Bert

[Boonebird]

that is awsome. Hey wahoo can we see that on a 130 or even a 50w in low speed.LOL thats awsome stuff.

[Squidnation]

There is a justifiable reason behind everyone's technique. and it usually is because it works for them. what I have learned from the pros is to start prior to the attack with the rod to the side or up high. Here is where a good captain and an understanding crew is crucial. NO ONE BESIDES THE CAPTAIN SHOULD BE TALKNG. The captain should be calm, clear and direct with his description of what is happen and the angler should be watching his bait and listening attentively. The goal is to swing the rod to the fish or drop the rod to he fish at the exact time of the bite. WHY?



Typically if you feel the bite, you are late (Mover II, is shaking after hearing that comment ) If you don't feel the bite then you successfully started dropping back at the exact time of the attack. You also gave yourself a buffer of free line equal to the lenght of the rod without line come off the reel. This is extremely important because the most bird'snest occur because the angler started the dropback with the rodtip pointed at the fish. the first bit of line taken is coming directly off the reel. Two things will happen - birds nest becuase you are trying to free spool or thumbing the line which will result in the fish feeling the pressure and lost opportunity.

Now lets go back to communicating with the captain. Whatever action the capatain is telling you to do should begin happening as the captain is telling you, not after the captain is telling you. For example - The fish is on the right flat and you the captain says "dump it" The angler should swing the rold towards the fish and begin the freespool when the first letter "d" is uttered. This really comes with training. Here's why this is crucial. A good captain will learn to say it as its happening, the time it takes for him to say it and the angler to process it and react to the instruction may cause the angler to be late. - Its kinda like the communication between the center and the quarterback. The ball should be snapped as the quarter says hike and not after the quarterback said hike, you the center process it and the react and hike the ball. A bit long winded but I hope it helps. And again, if already works how your doing it then keep on keepin on!!!!

[Capt. Brian Daley]

I agree with Double D here. I have had my best hookup ratio on circles by pointing the tip directly at the fish and slowly pushing the drag up. Once the fish is hooked and pulling drag I slowly raise the rod tip.

El-correct-dou thanks the way I like it done

[rarhomes]

I am gonna jump in here for just a min. I am by no means a expert on whitey but I have caught my share of sailfish and maybe this don't even apply to whitey but here is my 2 cents.

1. A lot of people IMO drop back way to long, they have this mentality of LET IT EAT LONGER, I believe many billfish will actually spit the hook with a longer drop back. If you have ever watched some of the tape on t.v. a sailfish ALWAYS takes the bait, chomps it once and then swallows its a 3 part process. If you are dropping back for 45 sec. I believe a lot of times he feels the hook and spits it. And that fish ain't coming back...

2. Rod tip high or low and strike, I don't know if it really matters. I know this as a fact, from all my years of fly fishing for tarpon, if your rod tip is pointing directly at the fish when he eats and you tighten up you will pull the hook, it was are way of getting rid of a smaller fish that ate by accident.
I believe once the line picks up speed, you see a flash, or fish jumps it's time to start pushing up the drag lever until it is obvious the fish is there. If he's not, dump it. I mean dump it, 3/4 of a spool.

3. To get multiple hook up: Always turn the boat into the fish this keeps your baits the strike zone longer just in case other fish are around, your inside lines will drop and your outside lines will pick up speed and all the time you gaining on the hooked fish. Also if I have more than 2 anglers in da pit we will free spool back 1 or 2 baits to catch the lazy ass.