Wrightsville beach...

[budwiller]

Any of you WB fellas heading out to the stream over Easter? How do you think the seas will be? I'm in a 26 CC and am going to do all I can to get out there within reason. I guess getting stuck at Dockside with fist full of Blood Mary's isn't the worst thing in the world but that's another story. Also, was interested in what your opinions are as to what this cold front will do to the fishing. I appreciate any and all opinions as well as suggestions to put a little more blood on the deck. I am a true beginner offshore. In fact the only thing I feel confident in is feeding sails circle hooks (a few South of the border trips) but I am wanting to rip a gaff in something other than a king. Thanks again.

[Going Deep]

Hey bud...good ol Surry County is a long way from Wrightsville

[PurpleGold]

I may try and head out on Sat or Sun. The weather looks like it may give us a chance but it's really too soon to tell. I don't know what to think about the coldfront but I know that we won't catch any fish sittin on the couch.

[budwiller]

Couldn't agree more. But I'd drive the four hours just to hear that reel scream once.

We traded boats last year and finally got something that could get us to the stream and I got blown out every time I mentioned the word "beach." Looking forward to changing that this year. Heading down there wed. through Sunday. Then coming back in two weeks for a long weekend.

[O-SEA-D]

Budwiller, keep it simple and you will catch more fish.

Simple blue and white or blue and crystal sea witches. Everything eats blue and white or crystal. You can't go wrong with a sea witch. Try to stay away from mixing a bunch of different colors together in your spread. WHY? How many bait schools do you see swimming around out there with 4-5 different colors in them? NONE After all, your trying to immitate a bait school with your spread.

8/0 7692 hooks for the tunas. 8/0 7691's for Wahoo and Mahi. 9/0 7691's on the deep baits.

Light leaders, 80-100 lb max for the tuners. Fluorocarbon is better but not absoluetly necessary. Longer leaders are better, 50-75 feet. If your short handed then wind-on leaders are a better choice. Check your leaders every time you bring them in to make sure they are not cut or chaffed. All that shows up in the water like a neon light to a fish. Spro 80 and 130 lb barrel swivels are a great way to connect your main line to your leader.

Rig all your mono and fluoro rigs with cheater wires to help prevent cut offs. Make sure the hook moves freely before you crimp it down.

Sharp hooks are a very very important part of catching more fish. Sharpen the point, and not the cutting edge of the barb. SHARP HOOKS

Piano wire or bright colored wire is better. I use #8 Piano wire. Max I would use is #9. 4-5 twist and 3-4 wraps on your haywires. Once again, long leaders, 18-20 foot wire leaders.

Have plenty of extra wire leaders already made up. Your going to go through plenty of them. You don't want to have to cut and twist wire when the fish are biting.

DID I MENTION SHARP HOOKS?

BTW...your boat will handle 3-5 foot seas no problem

[budwiller]

O-SEA-D,

I really appreciate that. One other question. How do you connect your main line to leader? and your leader to hooks? Thanks again. This is great. I will try not to get too carried away.

I feel like a three year old..."but whyyyy?"

[BTH284]

.....I will jump in here John....

Mainline to leader 80lb or 130 lb spro power swivel. Tie the main line to the swivel if less than 60 lb mainline. Crimp if over 60 lb. Then feed the leader (80-100 lb mono or flouro if for long lines)through the swivel and crimp to make the connection.
Leader to hook is crimped. But with the cheater wire being used.
See O-Sea-d rigging tips in the offshore section for this.

[O-SEA-D]

.....I will jump in here John....

Mainline to leader 80lb or 130 lb spro power swivel. Tie the main line to the swivel if less than 60 lb mainline. Crimp if over 60 lb. Then feed the leader (80-100 lb mono or flouro if for long lines)through the swivel and crimp to make the connection.
Leader to hook is crimped. But with the cheater wire being used.
See O-Sea-d rigging tips in the offshore section for this.

Just like Bryan said. I too crimp anything over 60 lb test.

80lb 1.0 crimp
100lb 1.3 crimp
100 lb with #8 cheater wire 1.6 crimp

If your main line is braid, then I suggest the following;
Surgeons knot (3 over hands) your Braid line to make a small loop.
Then pass the loop through the swivel and do a Tiger paw.
Crimp your leader to the other side of the swivel and your done.

Here is how to connect it to your hook;

Cheater wire rig

Stealth is the idea.