Pulled Hooks and how to fix the problem...Help!

[lcagator]

I see that my brother pachi7tre has already thanked all you guys for giving us the helpful tips! I really appreciate all the info.

Well, I been out on six trips to date with a 100lber caught on my first trip; talk about luck. However, ever since, I have hook a few fish and even had my brother fight one for over 30 mins to then pull the hook. At that time I had 16 lbs of drag on strike. Then, once again, next trip, fight another fish for 10 mins and pulled the hook on 12 lbs of drag of strike.

#1, what is the proper drag? #2, should I be using breakaway sinkers instead of long-cliping them to the waxed loops (my foolish attempts to save them)? I think this is adding additional pressure on the fish. #3, everytime the bait comes up after the pulled hook, the squid becomes a ball on the hook end. Do you guys think that this is causing the hook not to set properly? The guys at Complete Angler do. What should I do?

One more thing, when the tip rod goes slack or the jug starts to act real funny, do I reel like heel or do I let the fish take line before reeling? Will this set a better hook.

Again, thanks for the help and good luck to all you guys tonight and this weekend; hope the weather holds up.

[swordfish123]

If the tip or jug acts funny, reel like hell until you get tight.

First, are you hand sharpening your hooks? thats the first thing I would do, make it so sharp you dont even want to touch it. What type of hook are you using

2nd, I would probably go to a breakway rig. The weight , when the fish is running etc, could be pulling the hook in a different direction, rather than a direct line to the rod tip, which could help to work it loose due to a wierd angle.

Some guys use about 12lbs at strike, others have switched to about 18 in efforts to shorten the battle and pull the hook quickly if its gonna get pulled.

How stiff are the rods you are using? What is their rating, action, brand. If you have a really heavy tip this could help pull hooks.

[J.P Freeman]

sorry to say it but, i think you are just in a bad streak. you are doing the same thing i do. sometimes you lose them sometimes you get them. i fish 12 to 14 pounds of drag. i don't have wax loops, i just use rubber bands. other than that, we are doing the same thing. good luck.

[ReelIntubaiter]

Originally Posted by lcagator

#1, what is the proper drag? #2, should I be using breakaway sinkers instead of long-cliping them to the waxed loops (my foolish attempts to save them)? I think this is adding additional pressure on the fish. #3, everytime the bait comes up after the pulled hook, the squid becomes a ball on the hook end. Do you guys think that this is causing the hook not to set properly? The guys at Complete Angler do. What should I do?

One more thing, when the tip rod goes slack or the jug starts to act real funny, do I reel like heel or do I let the fish take line before reeling? Will this set a better hook.

Again, thanks for the help and good luck to all you guys tonight and this weekend; hope the weather holds up.

Icagator. I'll try to give you my $.02 on your questions:

1. What is proper drag? There are two schools of thought. light drag (12 lbs) and you may bring in a gently foul hooked fish. Or heavy drag from the onset which will cause you to loose a foul hooked fish early in the fight rather than after an hour or more. I use the lighter drag. I'm not out to set any speed records. this is personal preference.
2. Should I be using breakaway sinkers? This again is personal preference. I place my sinker on the loop of my LP light. It isn't break away and my landing to hookup ratio is 71% this year. Ray Rosher, which is without a doubt one of the best captains around, uses a long line clip on his sinkers. Dean Panos though uses break away sinkers. I prefer to keep my lead bill to a minimum.
3. The squid becomes a ball on the hook end. Do you guys think that this is causing the hook not to set properly? The guys at Complete Angler do. What should I do.
The guys at Complete Angler are tops. Nelson has taught me alot about Swording. The squid balling up on the hook is a major problem. This can be resolved by proper Squid rigging. See the rigging section and squid rigging thread. There are numerous ways to rig a squid. You have to find the one you like.
4. How close is you light to the bait? I put my LP 25-30 feet from the squid. A light too close may "blind" these very light sensitive fish and lead to foul hookups.
5. One more thing, when the tip rod goes slack or the jug starts to act real funny, do I reel like heel or do I let the fish take line before reeling? Will this set a better hook.
My opinion.... Reel like hell and get tight! Last night, we had a fish pick up the bait and swim straight to the boat. I wasn't able to reel fast enough to get tight. I knew it was my fish since my blue LP was trailing behind him. He's now 5 feet below the boat and clueless that he's been hooked. I reel up to the LP and James removes it. Now I was able to get tight. The fish finally figured something wasn't right and took off. I boated that fish even though I didn't get tight for the first minute of the fight! That's fishing for ya...
Good luck, Hope this helps. Al.

[lcagator]

Thanks for the replys. I will take the advice and let you guys know how it worked; I sure it will make a difference!!! Thanks again.