Marlin Snooter

[TunaTeaser1]

How bout it Roddy, Pakula, and anyone else?

Can someone show me directions on an effective, easy to make, and cost efficient snooter?

Is making a snooter really even worth my time for anywhere between 1-10 fish a year? The boat I fish on mostly is a 29 center console. Fishing out of Oregon Inlet so size of fish varies greatly. I think it will make reviving and controlling the bigger fish(400+) much easier...

[Pakula]

Here you go: http://www.pakula.com.au/index.php?o...169&Itemid=314

I bill rope all marlin, if not using tagging hooks. I actaully think smaller ones are the most dangerous.

Basic system, rope marlin bill, tie off tight to cleat, get hooks out, lowewr fish to swim it (really good idea if the head and gills are in the water, incredible how many in vids aren't)

When it's good to go pull release rope and off it goes.

PS really good idea to get a lure out when swimming fish

[TunaTeaser1]

Thanks Peter.

Is there a benefit to your version versus the one that involves a pole?

[Pakula]

Thanks Peter.

Is there a benefit to your version versus the one that involves a pole?

The pole isn't safe when dealing with lively fish, you get jerked around a lot. The poles job is really just for swimming 'tired' fish.

I prefer to have the fish roped up tight and imobilised, so it can't hurt itself or crew, even then we use tools, not hands to get hooks out. I really don't like leaving hooks in fish.

[Roddy Hays]

TunaTeaser,

There's a bit of info here about snooters. You might find what you want there.

I'll just add that the "pole" is very important when using the snooter. Not only for helping to put the noose on the bill of the fish, but then for keeping the fish's head down in the water so it can breathe properly, and away from the boat so no anti-fouling transfers to the fish's skin.

I agree with Peter that they are difficult to use on small active fish, and even when using them on a big fish a clever crew will have a couple of snooters loaded and ready to go in case one comes off.

Come back if you want any more help.

[TunaTeaser1]

Thanks for the link.

[Captain Fred Archer]

I've used Roddy's snooter extensively and found it to be a great tool for releasing billfish, especially bigger ones, without handling or boating or hanging them over a gunnel. Haven't used Peters "hangman" trick, but I'll tell you this, if Peter says it works...it works! As the guys say, it sounds like good stuff for the smaller bills in particular.

Both guys are wonderfully talented and innovative big game fishermen and I am privileged to call them my friends and have learned a great deal from both. I'm delighted to see them on this site.

[Pakula]

In the previous link I gave you it's easy enough to see how the billrope is made. It's just a rope with a loop in it and a small rope tied or spliced at the end as shown.

Very easy to do.

[Adam Scott]

We use the snooter along Roddys line, it works fine on lively fish however we have a shorter pole, the point of this is so we can cleat the fish off short on the side of the boat, leaving the engines running and this lifts the fishes head out, they basically lie there like a large skip bait unable to do much while you remove the hook/hooks(good if short handed and safe), you then lower it and tow if needed. The stiffer wire of the snooter makes getting it over the bill easier than the rope setup(which I have also use) as the wire holds its loop shape, you basically need to have the bill in hand first with the rope.
PS neutral lure as to not offend either party