Mike’s Queen Mackerel (Natal Snoek) Trace

[Capt. Hook]

 
   
There are many ways to rig a trace up for Queen Mackerel, so I thought that  I would share mine. Queen Mackerel are finicky and fussy and so the only way to  target them is to go light, the trace I am going to share is what I have  developed with the experience gained after many bad days and lost fish and so  far has produced the best results as you have to try harder and harder to deceive  these fish.
   

   
1.
   
Materials – No. 8 Swivel, 4/0-5/0 narrow gauge chemically sharpened  hook, Yamashita Squid, Duster, No.10 Wire, 20-30lb Fluorocarbon
   
I use the No. 10 Wire to make my whole trace stiff in order to easily  bind the strip bait, which then keeps it all straight to prevent spinning.
   
I know Yamashita squids are expensive, but they are the best and  produce more fish.
   

   
2.
   
Make a 180 degree loop in the wire about 50mm long
   

   
3.
   
Push the loop through the bottom of the hooks eye
   

[Capt. Hook]

    4.
Pull the loop over the bend of the hook

5.
Pull the loop tight back to the eye

6.
Make a Haywire twist with the 2 ends and line it up with the shank of  the hook

[Capt. Hook]

    7.
Measure the length of your wire trace so that the hook extends past the  skirt but the eye of the hook remains in the skirt; remember when measuring to allow  for the swivel and the knot and reduce accordingly

8.
Do a Haywire twist on the loose end and include the No. 8 swivel, leave  a small tag on the end of the twist to incorporate a point where you can affix  your strip bait to so that it will prevent it from sliding down the trace when  trolling and when the strip bait is bound properly here it will also reduce  wash-out.

9.
Insert the Duster into the Yamashita Squid

[Capt. Hook]

    10.
Push your 20-30lb Fluorocarbon leader through the squid and the duster  and tie to your swivel using a fig. 8 knot. I like to use a fluorocarbon leader  of about 4m so that there are no knots near the lure creating small bubbles  that could make the fish wary.

11.
The fished product should look like this

12.
The trace is on the rod and ready to fish.

With this trace you can prepare all your strip baits the night before  and you only need to tie them onto your line with the skirt sliding directly on  the fluorocarbon.
To prevent the lure from sliding up the trace when fighting your fish,  you use a small rubber stop that is used in Bass fishing, this will prevent the  lure being far up you leader where another fish following the one you are  fighting can take a bite at the lure and parting your line.

[PH]

  +cred Mike. I saw Mike making traces like these in a matter of minutes.
Question:
Do you use offset hooks as well?

[Capt. Hook]

+cred Mike. I saw Mike making traces like these in a matter of minutes.
Question:
Do you use offset hooks as well?

No, I never use offset hooks on any lure, feather skirt that will be trolled, it cause the lure to be unbalanced IMO.

[shagnrelease]

 :shre:

[sardinella]

excellent - thanks

[Toppie]

Thanks Mike, have so much to learn - this certainly helps.

[Manuel Junior]

Nnice post  :shre: :shre:

[John F]

  FA!

 

[Capt. Hook]

Thanks guys, keep a look out for my "Dorado Tactics" post coming soon, I am too tired now to complete it.
Just remember 

[REEFMAN]

Nice post Mike... +cred

[Quickbite]

Nice one Mike- anyone got a trace that we can use from the surf?

[PH]

FA, are there any particular colours of  dusters that you favour?

[Capt. Hook]

FA, are there any particular colours of  dusters that you favour?

Yes, I have 3 favorite colours, the white/clear as shown, but I also like the green-yellow yamashita which also glows in the dark and so wroks well before full sun up and the hot pink yamashita which Saily's love also.

[CLS]

Thanks Mike.

[Capt. Hook]

Nice one Mike- anyone got a trace that we can use from the surf?

Best to cast spoons from the surf for snoek

[Qwak Qwak]

Thanks Mike just finished making a couple of traces, will try it this Sunday.

[PH]

  Looking forward to your snoek catching report.
Read the "KZN Offshore - Whatzup?" thread for the latest snoek catching reports.
Do you launch at Vetche's?