Wind-On Leader Magic - Northeast Angling

By Capt Andy LoCascio – 07/12/2017 – Brief URL: https://neangling.com/?p=7869 – Views: 13780

“Reverse please”, I’m directing the captain of the Vertigo II to again the boat down and assist me get well a deep diving trolling lure that’s hung within the backside. For the time being I’m lamenting the truth that regardless of my objections, Pete Santini (our information) had me put a 130lb wind-on chief on the 50lb class braided line trolling outfit. I had advised an 80lb chief simply in case this occurred. He advised that they often hook massive marlin whereas trolling for tuna and Wahoo within the Galapagos. I used to be skeptical (extra on that later). Now I’m now confronted with the practically unattainable activity of breaking the lure free or snapping the road. Rattling you Santini!

The Chief

The wind-on chief consisted of a 12ft size the brand new Yo-Zuri TopKnot 130lb Flurocarbon chief threaded right into a 5ft size of hole 200lb Spectra. The primary line (braided) has a brief bimini-twist that has been handed by a loop within the 200lb Spectra. The identical connections that guarantee most energy additionally make the rig very troublesome to interrupt off if it will get hung up.

This Will Not Be Fairly

The boat has lastly slipped properly previous the purpose of the underside the place the lure is hung up. Now I’ve to attempt to get it free. A dozen or so sharp tugs suggests the Galapagos Islands backside construction isn’t going to provide in simply. I level the rod on the backside (to keep away from damaging it), push the drag to the utmost, however the lure stays caught. I’m now all the way down to the “nuclear” choice. I slack off the drag and wrap a number of turns of line across the reel and lock it up once more. As the road will get actually tight I tug it sharply and it lastly breaks free.

The Weak Level

When the road lastly mades all of it again into the reel, I examined the break. Your entire wind-on was intact and the 90lb snap (used to attach the lure) has been pulled practically straight. This was NOT the anticipated consequence. The weak level ought to at all times be the knot that attaches to the lure/snap or the main-line itself. Nonetheless, it’s actually laborious to interrupt the main-line. No matter, the road ranking is, it’ll actually break even greater than that. Add a brief bimini twist (which acts as a spring), and the connection to the wind-on is at most energy and the springiness of the bimini absorbs any sharp tugs. The final knot actually must be the failure level. On this case, the snap was just too mild. Both method, that is helpful lesson when constructing any rigs for excessive fishing.

Select The Proper Wind-on

When Santini and I debated the right wind-on, my concern was {that a} 130lb TopKnot chief was overkill. An 80lb chief could be sturdy sufficient the deal with the wiring of wahoo and yellowfin tuna (as much as 100lbs). By “wiring”, I imply that act of placing your palms on the chief to get the fish in place for a photograph, launch, or a gaff shot. I additionally thought the chances of hooking a giant marlin had been fairly slim. Although there are many marlin (all massive) within the Galapagos, the large ones not often hit a trolled deep-diver. The choice by no means thought of the toothy wahoo, as a result of when these are focused we add a 90lb wire chief. It was actually concerning the skill to wire the fish.

Santini Will get the Final Phrase

A day or so later, I’m nonetheless reminding Santini concerning the 130lb wind-ons that had been nonetheless in place after the early downside breaking one in every of them free. It had been a extremely good day that included a number of massive grouper, a bunch of 75lb class yellowfin tuna on poppers, and we had been again to trolling for giant wahoo. We additionally added a brief size of wire in entrance of the lure to forestall bite-offs. I had boated one which was properly over 60lbs and it was Tarin’s (my spouse) activate the rod. The starboard rod will get hit and it initially seems like a small wahoo or perhaps a tuna. As she lifts the rod from the gunwale, the road begins to blow up off the reel, after which a 450lb black marlin begins leaping. Pete Santini skewers me with an “I instructed you so!”. I’m speechless and searching for a spot to cover.

Massive Black Marlin

Tarin is not any rookie. She as soon as caught/launched a 650lb+ black marlin (video right here) on a stand-up 80lb out in underneath an hour. She additionally caught/launched a 450lb+ black on a two-speed 30 loaded with 50lb in lower than half-hour. She has additionally managed a 700lb+ big bluefin tuna (video right here)on stand-up this previous summer season in simply over an hour. It could look like I’m bragging, however she has actually caught some notable fish on stand-up.

650lb+ Black Marlin – Feb 2013

Now we have the correct angler on the rod, and we even have a few different issues going for us. The 130lb TopKnot Fluorocarbon wind-on shall be essential if we ever get to wire the fish. The reel is loaded with 50lb braid and we all know that connections are sound. Tarin can apply a whole lot of strain. We do have one nice worry. The hooks within the deep-diver are 3/0 dimension and it doesn’t take a lot to bend them straight. Most certainly these hooks are going to both be straightened or just pull out earlier than we ever get the fish anyplace close to the boat.

Tarin makes the choice to use practically most strain to shorten the battle and make sure the finest probability of a profitable revival and launch. Typically you simply must put the fish first. Perhaps it will have been totally different if it was her first marlin. As we watch her including drag together with her gloved hand and never giving the fish an inch, we give her nearly no probability of getting the fish to the boat. Nonetheless, because the minutes go by, I’m beginning to assume that perhaps the hooks are in the correct place.

A half-hour later I see coloration and have the fish centered within the underwater digicam. Tarin by no means provides the fish an opportunity to show its head, and leads the fish completely to the wireman who shortly brings the fish to the aspect of the boat. Then the “enjoyable” begins. The fish is so inexperienced that it proceeds to beat the crap out of Santini (who has grabbed the invoice) and Luis (the wireman/mate) who’s making an attempt to get the lure free. The lure slips free and the fish is launched (escapes) in document time. Pete and Luis are evaluating bruises and scrapes. It was superb that neither of them had been speared by the invoice.

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Girl Luck

After we lastly bought an opportunity to overview the underwater footage, we uncover why the fish didn’t throw the lure. In the event you look rigorously you may see the whole lure within the fish’s mouth, however extra importantly the chief is wrapped one time across the invoice. This meant that almost all, if not all, of the strain utilized by Tarin was distributed to the invoice and never the lure. The 130lb wind-on actually made the distinction on the finish of the battle.