Spottie rigging?
 

Alright, so I have been fishing Dana point for years, but just started fishing spotties down in SD and something horrible happen. I was fishing light tackle 8lb mono straight to a 3" swim bait. Having a great time chipping away at some spots. All the sudden hook up to something heavy but it's kinda running parallel to me. Then it mays a directions change and I realize I have very serious fish hooked. It rips about 15 yds of line then pop. I'm guessing it was respectable sized flattie. So. The question is: do you fish a fluro leader when pitching small plastic to spotties in the bAy? And if so, what pound test?

I listened to Mike Gardner at the Fred Hall show the dean of spottie fishing in socal. He uses 30 lb. braid and a flurocarbon leader in the bay.

I 50# braid and a flouro leader. Easier to tie the heavier braid without using readers.


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x2. 50lb braid and leader depends on yak or shore. Yak 15lb-25lb. Shore 12lb. I've also been know to go straight braid. Power pro in vermillion red.

Check this video out
Heavier braid (50lb) for baitcaster reels and lighter braid for spinners
I've found that there's a difference between even 30lb and 20lb braid on a spinner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMIjwWWKQqQ

Right on, I was using my light weight stuff to keep plenty of sport in it for the spotties but I guess it just cost me the big one. I may try just upgrading to a 20# fluro leader or something. I'm thinking it broke either at the knot or in the corner of the fishes mouth (teeth).

that was a great video, very informative

Using the heavier line can still be sporty, just don't beef up the rod. I use a 8-17lb st croix for my bay fishing. Really soft tip. And the curado I have on it is spooled with 50lb braid and 15-20lb floro depending on what I'm using.

honestly, you can go direct braid. but, if you feel the need for 'invisibility', then sure go ahead and put on a fluoro leader. i haven't really noticed fish being line shy, be it halibut or spotties.

Yea halibut are moat definitely not line shy. I've seen the caught with a cable leader, not wire, CABLE, like ones used to lock up bicycles to poles. Never gone straight braid with spotties before but I would agree that they aren't line shy

Question for those who use straight braid:

When you get a good hang up and have to break off, does it break at the knot or in the middle?

I always use a mono or fluorocarbon leader because it will always break there

It breaks where I cut it :rolleyes:

Yea I try not to use straight braid anymore. Need gloves on just to pull on that stuff without cutting my hands. #65 is tough to break while on the yak.

When I'm in the bay and I get hung up, I end up straightening my hooks before breaking straight braid. Not saying I'm superman haha I just use really thin hooks