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One More Cast...
Time spent FISHIN'
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The
Uni to Uni Knot The
Uni to uni knot, sometimes called the barrel knot, is one of the easiest line to
line connections to form. It is an excellent knot for attaching monofilament to
the super braid lines that are becoming so popular among surf fishermen. This
knot is useful for rigging leaders or connecting super braid line to monfilament
backing. It is most effective when the two lines are of similar diameter. Figure
1. Overlap main line and leader by at least one foot. Figure
2. Form a loop in the main line. Let the tag end over lap the leader by several
inches. Figure
3. Take 4 to 6 turns of the tag end through the loop around both the main line
and the leader. Lighter monofilament lines will use 6 turns; heavier lines will
use 4. For super braids use 7 or 8 turns. Figure
4. Partially tighten this half of the knot by pulling the tag end and standing
end of the main line. Do not fully tighten it yet. This is done only to keep the
first half of the knot manageable while you form the second half. Form
the loop as before; this time with the tag end of the leader. Figure
5. Take 4 to 6 turns of the tag end through the loop around both the leader and
the main line. Lighter leaders will use 6 turns; heavier leaders will use 4. Figure
6. Partially tighten this half as you did with the first half in figure 4. Figure 7. Moisten the knot with saliva to lubricate the knot. This will prevent friction from weakening the knot. Pull the standing ends f the main line and leader to finish the Uni to Uni Knot. Pull the tag ends as needed to make the knot seat properly. Surf
Tips - Snag Rig For Peanut Bunker
by Angus Macaulay Each
fall massive schools of peanut bunker leave the rivers and bays, swarming the
New Jersey beaches on their migration southward. Striped bass and other gamefish
converge on this gathering of bite sized morsels. There are many ways this link
of the food chain can be used to the angler’s advantage. Fishing
with a small spoon that imitates the small baitfish is one option. Peanut bunker
come in a range of sizes, from barely 2 inches to over four inches. Your
artificial offering may not be a close enough match to the bait schools in front
of you. There are times when the fish will settle for nothing but the real
thing. Live
peanut bunker can be purchased at many bait shops and marinas. This adds another
expense to your surf outing. More importantly, transporting the baits and
keeping them alive can be difficult and cumbersome. Netting
the peanuts with a cast net is another way to procure live bait. If you own a
cast net and know how to use it, this is a quick way to get a lot of live bait.
One drawback is keeping the extra baits alive. Constant water replacement is
required to keep them cool and well aerated. You are also tied to one location -
the spot you keep your bait pail. The
most flexible way to catch and fish with peanut bunker is the snag rig. Carry
this rig with you at all times. It doesn’t take up much space. Best of all, it
catches the bait and presents the bait all in one cast. Tie
a size 1 bronze finish treble hook to the end of your main line or monofilament
leader. Attach a rubber core sinker two feet above the treble hook. You will
want to use the lightest sinker that you can comfortably cast with your tackle.
Usually, the weight is between ¼ and 1 ounce. That’s all you need. It’s
ready to fish. Cast
into a school of bunker and give the rig a couple snaps of the rod tip. After a
snap or two, you will feel the weight of the snagged baitfish, sometimes more
than one. Retrieving the bait is not necessary. Let it drop to the bottom. You
can be certain predators are close by. The wounded peanut bunker tethered to the
bottom sticks out like a sore thumb. When
a fish strikes, set the hook right away to avoid deep hooking with the treble.
Concern for the fish is also why we use a bronze finish hook. If you happen to
break off a fish, the bronzed hook will rust out and do less harm to the fish
than a corrosion resistant tinned hook. If
a fish doesn’t pick up within a couple of minutes, start a slow “stop &
go” retrieve. Move it just a couple of feet at a time. Sometimes this added
action gets their attention. When your bait reaches the beach, pull off the old
bait or baits and start the process over again. This
simple rig can save the day when fish are finicky. I’m a dedicated lure man,
but I always have the snag rig components in my surf bag.
I just shot a DVO surf fishing TV show for broadcast later this year.
Bob Murray with one of the many double hook-ups on just one cast.
Surf
Tips - Teasers
by Angus
Macaulay A
teaser is a fly or sometimes a soft plastic sand eel imitation rigged on its own
leader ahead of a conventional lure. Teasers are most often seen ahead of
swimming plugs like Bombers or Redfins. They are also effective rigged with
metal baits, bucktails, or even poppers. My favorite combination is a 4/0 white
teaser ahead of a silver & blue FishTek Tremor. Figure
1 Thirty to forty inches of 30-50
lb. test mono connects your main lure to a swivel. Ten to fourteen inches of the
same strength mono attaches the teaser to the swivel. Adding
a teaser to your presentation may be the easiest way to increase your surf
catch. A
teaser gives the fish its choice of two prey items. This is the most obvious
advantage. The fish can select the teaser or the hard bait, theoretically
doubling your chances for success. The
teaser and lure can also work in combination. This increases the effectiveness
of one or both of the offerings. The sight of a larger plug following a smaller
fly can evoke the competitive instinct in gamefish. This will cause a reaction
strike at either the chased fly or chasing lure. A fish that may not have been
interested in a fly or lure alone will often take a teaser. The
third advantage is strictly mechanical. There are times when a fly is the best
lure choice. A teaser and plug combo allows the spinfisherman or baitcaster to
cast a fly. The lure simply provides weight for casting. Figure
2 This bluefish double header fell
for a FishTek Tremor and teaser combo. Sometimes
the plug outfishes the teaser. Sometimes the teaser outfishes the plug.
Sometimes it is a 50-50 split. One thing is certain. A teaser will increase your
catch. _________________________________________ SURF FISHING TIPS
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