| Ed,
I'm not a captain and don't have answers to all your questions but I'm
so full of opinions that I have to reegularly give them to others to
keep from exploding.
RE: All mono on Y/F - I've been out on Y/F a half dozen times and out
on a few other head boats too. I suspect that this is an economic
decision. So much line gets cut (and that comes out of the Y/F
pocketbook as opposed to lost jigs that must be paid for by the
patrons) that I would select the cheapest alternative if I were running
Y/F.
RE: "juicing up" a teaser - in my experience, bait has attracted
dogfish faster than jigs by a long shot. In fact, I'd be happier if
they would do away with the clams entirely. I don't know if a little
calm juice in the water would hurt much but cod seem to be attracted by
the flash of the jigs more than the smell of the clams. I've caught a
fair number on the surgical tubing and I'm not sure why.
RE: success - it sounds like you're doing alright already. After all,
it's up to the captain to put you over the fish. From that point, it's
a combo of skill and luck who gets the biggest and most fish. That's
why I always put $1 in the pool. Two things can help - position on the
boat (I try for the stern, second choice is bow) and advice from other
folks on the boat. I learned more from watching the cook work a jig
one day than from listening to the mates. Keep your eye on the
lucky/skillful and ask for advice later when they're not so busy.
This may not help much but it might help a little.
-SSS-
|
| Ed,
Since Bruce is on vacation this week, I'll share with you my experience,
which is 100% due to his instruction. My qualifications? I would
approximate at least 1000 codfish for this year and last...
> <<< WAHOO::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]FISHING.NOTE;2 >>>
> -< The Fishing Notes - Home for wayward Terminal Anglers >-
>================================================================================
>Note 1654.0 beaucoup deep-sea questions 1 reply
>DECEAT::KELLIHER "Ed Kelliher" 63 lines 26-JUL-1991 12:49
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I've read, printed out, and gathered statistics on all the
> saltwater entries of the conference relative to gear. I then merged
> this information with what the Yankee Fleet ship's mates and captains
> told me, and that formed what I now own and use: a medium-action Penn
> slammer with a Penn 113H reel, 50 # test mono., 14 oz. diamond jig with
> 2 pink rubber shrimp teasers hanging above.
>
The 113H is the defacto standard codfish reel. I personally use an 8'
custom-made �Sweet Stick for codfishing. 50# mono has been my choice,
although we've hit some really deep water lately (>300') and so I've been
considering dacron. I use the norwegian stainless jigs (Rustov/Slovoken or
something like that) in the 6 to 26 oz range. The diamond jigs are almost
as good.
> The conference clearly leans toward using dacron line lead by
> some length of (100) # test mono off a heavy duty snap swivel. The
> Y/F folks clearly prefer all mono. So my second question is "describe
> the rationale of the 2 different views".
>
Ah, the debate rages on. Mono stretches. When you jig in less than 200'
of water, you sweep the rod tip up which stretches the mono like a rubber
band. When the rod tip hits the top of its swing, the mono snaps tight and
the jig FLIES off the bottom. It's a little-known fact that the big fish
go for smaller jigs and slower jigging action. I use the smallest jig that
will hold bottom (depth and wind being the two primary factors). Over 200'
you don't get the best hookset.
Dacron doe�sn't stretch, so the jigging action with the rod tip i
transmitted untouched to the jig. You also get a better hookset,
especially in deep water.
> Question #3 is "why not all dacron ?" (or, "why a mono leader?").
> The notes in here regarding the elasticity of mono don't "finish off"
> this debate.
>
I firmly believe that codfish are not line shy, so go ahead and use all
dacron, except for a leader with the teasers (see end of this not)
> #4: "As soon as you feel the line get tugged, exactly what do you do
> next ? Do you time the hook-set differently depending on the line
> (dacron vs. mono) ?" From what I've read in here, it would seem
> that's the case.
I set the hook as hard as I can as soon as I get a bite. Usually, they
pick up the jig as it's falling, so the line goes slack (i.e., you are
anticipating feeling the weight of the jig as it falls and it never comes)
This is why I generally lower the rod tip, rather than putting any slack in
the line. I can also maintain better feel of the bottom and thus I can
differentiate between a fish and the jig hitting bottom.
> #5: The Y/F discourage use of a snap swivel entirely ( I think the
> argument centered around line entanglement if I remember
> correctly). So here would be a disadvantage of a charter vs. a
> private, right ? Is this going to force me to go to all-dacron,
> or do I ignore their recommendation ?
On a party boat, the less hardware, the fewer tangles. I always put one on.
Again, see the bottom of this note for my rig.
>
> #6: It seems reasonable to me that you'd want to tip one of the pink
> teasers with some clam or shrimp to put scent in the area of the
> jig, making the offering more realistic or enticing...yet the Y/F
> strongly discourages this practice. Can I get some clear reason why
> not ?
>
They don't want to give up the clams!!! They cost $12-$15 a gallon at
wholesale prices!
> #7: Please describe the direction of an optimal jig cast relative to
> (either) wind, wave, or current.
Always throw DOWNWIND/CURRENT if the boat is drifting (not anchored). Most
party boats anchor 'cause it reduces line tangling. Thus, when your jig
falls to the bottom 200' below, the line is straight up and down when you
begin jigging. If the bottom structure is only a few square feet, drop the
jig straight down and jig on an angle, letting slack out as fast as the
boat drifts in order to leave the jig on the structure.
>
> #8: What are the factors that determine the rating system (vg,g...?)?
> What's the schedule of "vg" days through December ?
>
Who knows. A good day has enough wind to make sure you cover the bottom,
but not enough wind so that you can only make 2 or 3 jigs before resetting.
> Thanks for all your help. I hope to hear from and join one of you
> captains.
>
> Ed
>
Tim's codfishing business end (learned from Bruce):
main line |
50# ande tournament |
green o
||
||
bimini twist ||
o offshore swivel knot
[]
[] 225 test Rosco barrel swivel (#9)
[]
| 5"
|
leader, 80# mono +----- dropper loop with teaser
| which is home made 6/0 limerick bucktail in
| yellow, white, blue or green/white two-tone
|
| 18"
|
+----- another teaser
|
| 5"
|
[]
[] 225 test Rosco barrel swivel (#9)
[]
The jig
|
| I'm no expert but I'll take a stab at a few of your questions.
Why the dacron with the mono leader ?
Dacron has the least amount of stretch for a line, followed
by nylon and then mono, which has the most. In 100' or so of water
you'll probably not see/feel much difference. At over 200', there is
likely enough stretch to cause a difference. It's my opinion you get
a better hook set and more sensitivity with the dacron at depths greater
than 200' vs. using mono.
A lot has to do with the skill level of the fisherman though. A skilled
person using mono will most likely outfish a less skilled person using
dacron.
The reason for the mono leader is a little stretch (give) is desirable
in the event you wind up drift fishing. If you catch bottom while
drifting, the little bit of stretch gives you enough time to flip the
lever, let out some line, and then try working the snag loose.
As far as hook sets with jigs, many times they hook themselves or
you hook them when you go to pull the jig. Of all the fish I've ever fished
for, deep sea bottom fish have been the easiest. When you feel them, set the
hook. A good pole will determine how well you feel them. The pole can
mean the difference between feeling them nibble versus feeling them
after they've hooked themselves. I got an 8' cod rod (Bruin I think)
for my father at P.K. Zyla's in Hookset,N.H. for $32 and the
sensitivity of it was extraordinary for the price. I'd highly recommend
them to anyone, especially those on a limited budget.
My "theory" about teasers is this. Fish are somewhat competative
when it comes to food. A small fish (jig) going after a baitfish/shrimp
(teaser) triggers the response in a larger fish (cod) to beat out the
small fish (jig) by either going after the perceived baitfish or the small
fish itself. If there are shrimp in the area and you use a shrimp teaser,
a piece of bait may adversely affect the action of the teaser. It also
increases the chances of getting a dogfish.
As far as the swivel, I use one because I sometimes like to switch
from jigging to bait, if the dogs aren't bad, to try for wolffish and
cusk. If you lose your rig to a snag, it typically breaks after the swivel
meaning a new rig can be snapped on in no time too.
Hope this helps..........RAYJ
|