Big Bait question

[jemche]

do you pull plastic, meat, or a combo? and where in the spread is it? we pulled an islander express this year with a select hoo behind it on the right short. a big owner circle hook was crimped in front of the express. caught 6 blues this year on that rig. i like the hook in front for 2 reasons- 1) i think it increases hookup percentage with a circle hook b/c the whole hook is exposed. 2) if whitey tries to grab it he most likely wont get any hook in his mouth.

what and where is your big bait? and if you pull a lure- double hook rig or single? if double are both hooks in line, or at an angle etc. and also has anyone tried circle hooks with a lure?
thanks

[Split Bill]

We pull usually an express w/ horse and J hook on the short rigger on one side and then a Hawaiian Eye w/ horse and J hook on the other short rigger...pretty traditional stuff.

I'm interested in your circle rig though and have gone that way for whites a few years ago, but have held off on the big baits. Are you pulling your big baits off an 80? Do you have any trouble w/ a decent drop-back w/ that set-up? I like the idea of not stinging whitey when they come in on that bait, but worry about hookup ratio on blues.

Interesting topic...

[jemche]

yes it is pulled off a bent butt eighty. i think we went six for eight on blues this year. we missed one early with the big bait and a j-hook. the other one we missed was one that came off the dredge and ate a dink on the left flat. caught 3 blues on the circle hook rigged. the other 3 were on tlds. all were hooked right in the corner of the mouth.IMO, i think most blues marlin eat so aggressively and have such bigs mouths that the hook up is not a problem.

Pro and Cons of the Circle Hook Big Bait Rig

Pro- Whitey wont get any hook.
If you hook a blue up, its prob not coming off the circle hook
With the hook in front the bait doesnt wash out like it would if you had a hook through the belly

Cons-
Sometimes loose the lure on a big fish b/c it is crimped behind the hook.

If anyone is interested I can post a video of how I rig it.

[Patudo]

I'd like to see the video Jem. I like the concept that a white that bites it is less likely to get spooked. It would be easy to switch him from such a bait I bet. How are you fishing your big bait.. with the reel in strike drag (I ask this because of your comments on them feeding aggressively etc.. making me think you might have decided to fish the reel in strike) or is the fish given free spool before the hookup? Are most of your bites crash bites or do you normally have time to get to the rod and feed the fish?

Is the colour of your ilanders/expresses considered important at all ?