ULTIMATE ANGLING - the Ultimate SA Fishing website
OFFSHORE ANGLING => Offshore Traces, Rigs and Baits => Topic started by: dugong on January 18, 2011, 01:47:02 PM
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This is a 'tweaked' version of a common snoek trace (Queen Mackerel). You can use #3 wire throughout or a small bite trace tied to the fluro using an improved albright. I use 20lb siglon fluro throughout and seldom lose fish as snoek will take from behind 80% of the time(check the fluro for nicks after every strike) - unless they are thick and feeding well where it would be better to use wire as they are competing against each other and attack from any angle.
I have found this trace to be by far the best when the fish are shy and eaisly spooked. The main difference in this rig is the clip which greatly reduces the time to change out a bait and keeps you in the 'zone' (those of you who have fished amongst 10 other boats at backline will know what I mean). It can be especially useful to paddle ski fishermen who can pre-rig baits before launching.
Firstly the hardware.....
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Make up the hooks with heavy wire #7 or #8 - wrap the wire around the shank to make a 'stiff rig' - this makes it eaiser to bait up and keeps it straight - note the loop - this is where you connect the clip. I use these Owners as they are thin, strong and very sharp although a bit expensive. Make at least 4-6.
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I use 1 meter of fluro to a small power swivel on this the cuda duster and squid are stopped by the clip at the business end.
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Close up showing clip
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This is it with the squid and duster in place - note that you can use any colours and it is good to try different colours at the same time - I use pink with white dusters as well but the white works best for me.
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This is the final product - usually the fresher the bait the less cotton I will use and will only tie the very top of the bait(it gets more movement going) you will also have noticed that I leave a small tag end on the wire to stop the bait from sliding down.
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I usually pull these fillets quite fast but they must not crash/bash out of the water. Also remember that you don't have to pull baits - I often use small Rapalas or Yozuri minnows as well as Clarke spoons #00 and #01 and also minieyes.
I also ALWAYS have a spinning stick ready with a sprat spoon or Onde onda.
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Good Luck and watch those backline waves !
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The result!! 8Kg Natal Snoek using the fluro trace.
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Great info dugongboy (clap)
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Another great post!
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Great post....in your opinion what is the best fillet to use
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1) Red-eye sards (for sure!) 2) Normal sards / Natal sards 3) Mackeral (Bit big and needs some work trimming etc)
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Red eyes are great and have the best shine but sometimes can be a bit small, I try and get the biggest sards and trim the bait to swim well, fresh(unfrozen) mackrel is also good and you usually get 4 baits from a fish. The best for me is freshly caught mackrel.
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Only saw this now!
Great post! (clap)
:tkx:
:+ cred: for a simple, yet very informative tut!
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Thanks for the info.. :win:
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Got some fresh halfbeaks from Mozambique so decided to make some snoek fillets, halfbeak is one of the best to use (if you can get them) as it is durable and has a great natural shine!
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great info thanks.... :+ cred:
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Very nice :corrct:
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Hey Mr L, that really looks delicious....... Like the shine of the halfbeak...
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Got some fresh halfbeaks from Mozambique so decided to make some snoek fillets, halfbeak is one of the best to use (if you can get them) as it is durable and has a great natural shine!
Once you've made them up like that, do you freeze them?
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Will try that in ponta next week.
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Got some fresh halfbeaks from Mozambique so decided to make some snoek fillets, halfbeak is one of the best to use (if you can get them) as it is durable and has a great natural shine!
Once you've made them up like that, do you freeze them?
Reefz, I make them up the night before and fridge them, it takes me 10mins to make up 6 - 8 and then it's easy in the morning. These halfbeak ones are frozen and I have found there is nothing wrong with freezing as long as the bait is reasonably fresh.
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nice question reefman.
I have a similar one. can you rig up whole dead bait for couta and then freeze it?
this would make life a helluva lot easier on the jetski.
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Sure you can but rigging a dead bait is only two or three hooks??
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true, but if the wire gets kinked it becomes a mission changing everything.
its easier to just have a couple already rigged in the cooler box
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A very important mod to the trace is a small stopper(used for bass fishing) to stop the skirt from sliding up the fluro whilst fighting a fish. This prevents another fish from going for the skirt and biting you off - it has happened a few times just meters from the boat!!
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Those rubber stopprs are a great idea..?want to try a variation of this from the side with the sards here......thanks for a great post! :+ cred:
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For those monster snoek :hnthnt: use a scaled down couta dead bait trace and a small redeye sard (this is a half ounce egg sinker)
Tip: tie the top and bottom jaws together with a small piece of copper wire and you can pull them as fast as you pull fillets.
Also put the hook further back than you would for couta - snoek take mostly from behind.