circle hook for tope and blues?
Fri Jul 10, 2009 3:21 pm
I am not a fan of the shop bought tope traces with a short 60lb wire
biting section and mono rubbing leader because I know a high
percentage of tope will bite through 60lb wire during the fight. Also
I don't use heavy mono biting traces for the same reason. Recently
I've been using 6 foot of 100lb wire which they have never bitten
through. I'm now convinced that tope are sometimes put off by
this and prefer the lighter wire, only to then often saw through it.
Next time thinking of trying a design I saw in BFM, using 7385 circle
hooks and 6 foot of 200lb fluorocarbon line. Merciful hour that stuff
is expensive. Has anyone else tried this? will it work?
I suspect Blue shark as well may be spooked by lots of wire, would
you dare use a heavy mono and circle hook approach?
biting section and mono rubbing leader because I know a high
percentage of tope will bite through 60lb wire during the fight. Also
I don't use heavy mono biting traces for the same reason. Recently
I've been using 6 foot of 100lb wire which they have never bitten
through. I'm now convinced that tope are sometimes put off by
this and prefer the lighter wire, only to then often saw through it.
Next time thinking of trying a design I saw in BFM, using 7385 circle
hooks and 6 foot of 200lb fluorocarbon line. Merciful hour that stuff
is expensive. Has anyone else tried this? will it work?
I suspect Blue shark as well may be spooked by lots of wire, would
you dare use a heavy mono and circle hook approach?
Re: circle hook for tope and blues?
Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:17 pm
ive had no problems with 10 - 12inches of 100lb wire and 6ft of 150lb mono. ive been using 6/0 catfish hooks. every tope ive caught has been in the corner of the mouth. i know this is no help with your rig but it works for me.
Re: circle hook for tope and blues?
Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:16 pm
John have you been able to source big circle hooks 10/0 locally,I dont see why you couldnt use heavy mono instead of the fluoro,I reckon you would be taking a big chance trying a mono only set up for the sharks even allowing for the circles hooking the fish at the side of the jaw.
Re: circle hook for tope and blues?
Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:42 am
The fluorocarbon should be fine for the tope as it's much harder than ordinary mono, works in lower BS for spurs.
Re: circle hook for tope and blues?
Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:39 pm
I would get some Malin single strand wire, and use owner 6/0 (for tope), and 8/0 (for blues) circle hooks, haywire twist about 18" of wire to the hook, and haywire a 150lb bs swivel to the other end, and tie on about 6' for tope and 12' for blues of 130lb standard mono.
about 60lb wire for the tope and 120lb for the blues, it is very very thin, and a brown colour which is less visible to the fish.
the heavier set up is what I use in the florida keys for lemon and bull sharks up to 200lb no bother at all.
about 60lb wire for the tope and 120lb for the blues, it is very very thin, and a brown colour which is less visible to the fish.
the heavier set up is what I use in the florida keys for lemon and bull sharks up to 200lb no bother at all.
Re: circle hook for tope and blues?
Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:53 pm
i have no experiance of tope or shark fishing except for dogfish 
i think if you feel that you may need to onto flurocarbon or circle hooks to try it a couple of sessions, if it does better keep using it, if it doesnt stick to wat you know best.
i think if you feel that you may need to onto flurocarbon or circle hooks to try it a couple of sessions, if it does better keep using it, if it doesnt stick to wat you know best.
Re: circle hook for tope and blues?
Thu Jul 23, 2009 12:22 pm
fergal wrote:ive had no problems with 10 - 12inches of 100lb wire and 6ft of 150lb mono. ive been using 6/0 catfish hooks. every tope ive caught has been in the corner of the mouth. i know this is no help with your rig but it works for me.
Hi Fergal,
Are you using single or double Circle hook.
Kev