Butta Bing! It's only just begun.....

[OffshoreAngler]

If you got the chance to fish this weekend, you would know its only just begun! Tuna smashing on the newly arrived baits.... Butter fish, Half beaks and peanuts all at once. The attached pic shows the contents of one well fed fish. He had 3 fat Butter fish and an 8" HB in his gut. Once again the Ocean Lures Large Peanut Bunker pattern performed like a champ matching the hatch (Butter fish as well) and casting in high winds.

Another note.....I have caught the last 20 fish (up to 120lbs) on a Allbright knot between 50lb braid and 60lb flouro instead of the 130lb swivel. The Van Staal drag puts the boots to the fish & knot so I know the knot holds up. I put 10-12 wraps on and glue it. It is much better for casting and protects from customers reeling too much line in past or up to the first eye.

[Frankie G]

Nice work Mike. I, too, tie the allbright for the same reasons, and I really despise any terminal tackle for the smaller sized fish....but I like the superglue idea. Might have to try that. Nice to see you post.

Frank

[OffshoreAngler]

Glue gives some protection from chaffing through the eyes cast after cast. The other option is a new knot more often, which is what I lean toward.

[Blackjack]

Have you guys tried the Slim beauty knot? The guys at First Light are using that so i assume it works. Unfortunately, I have not been able to test it on a tuna yet.:cool:

[Codfisher]

I use to use the Albright with a lock and glue last year and it worked well. Nat at FLA told me about the Slim beauty this spring and I have used it all season without a single failure (including landing a 10' blue dog while codfishing). Both knots work well but the slim beauty is just that much easier to tie in a hurry. Thanks Nat!

[e-sea-e]

all of the above knots work well, but I have recently just been doing a uni to uni knot, not a single break off so far. just another option to consider. we do change the knot each time out, as well as the knot to the lure. In my opinion that should done regardless of what knot youre tying.

Nice work mike, the bait up here has been scarce, other than the occasional pod of fish crashing HB's. the 2 fish we caught jigging saturday had NOTHING in their stomachs.

[Slappy]

I have found that the glue is the key, irrespective of the knot chosen. Going through the guides will eventually loosen an ungluded knot.

[Codfisher]

I have found that the glue is the key, irrespective of the knot chosen. Going through the guides will eventually loosen an ungluded knot.
I dont use glue on the slim beauty and havent had one slip yet on either my tuna or groundfish rigs. Then again I am using JB braid which seems to tie much easier and tighter than PP.

[Fishontop]

I'm with e-sea-e, I have use the uni to uni for several years now without a failure. No glue either. Works well, but a tough one to tie in a hurry.

[e-sea-e]

I'm with e-sea-e, I have use the uni to uni for several years now without a failure. No glue either. Works well, but a tough one to tie in a hurry.

funny how differently people can see things- I tie that knot b/c for me its very easy to tie in a hurry. everytime I try to tie the slim beauty fast I screw it up. But others I know can tie it in 5 secinds blindfolded.

and mike, since no one has berated you or otherwise spoken ill of you in response to your post, as is customary whenever you post for some strange reason, let me do it:

its BADDA BING. Butta goes on toast. ;)

[OffshoreAngler]

E,

The "butta" was for a spin on butter fish ;).

[Soundking]

funny how differently people can see things- I tie that knot b/c for me its very easy to tie in a hurry. everytime I try to tie the slim beauty fast I screw it up. But others I know can tie it in 5 secinds blindfolded.


Remind me to show you the cairns quickie when I get home...

[Frankie G]

and mike, since no one has berated you or otherwise spoken ill of you in response to your post, as is customary whenever you post for some strange reason, let me do it:

its BADDA BING. Butta goes on toast. ;)


Ding Ding Ding.....we have a winner....I knew it was only a matter of time till someone came after Mike!!!!!!!--125-3--125-3--125-3.<just kidding E>....I get all ****y when I tie an allbright and it slips out on me. Going to go to the bench this winter and perfect some others.

[Rhumbline]

I use the stren knot - has yet to fail, but takes a little time to tie.

Very similar to a uni-uni knot.

It goes through the guides a little rough - I think the knot hitting the guides on the cast is the source of a few of my wind-knots.

I've never tried glue and retie each time out.

[S Wally]

I found that the Albright would sometimes slip out, but never the "modified" Albright - sometimes called the Alberto. Google "alberto knot" for a link with good instructions. Essentially it's an Albright with 10 wraps up and then 10 wraps down. I've never had it slip.

[tunafishdeath]

So Mike, How did you go about getting the bait out of the fish? Did you do it the way sam riley thinks it should be done?

[DMMSR2784]

When the fish put an eye ball on Mike
way up high it took a S***T they went
over and the bait was on top of the
water.

[e-sea-e]

E,

The "butta" was for a spin on butter fish ;).

that went right over my head.

I cant even launch internet attacks right.

dam I suck.

[OffshoreAngler]

So Mike, How did you go about getting the bait out of the fish? Did you do it the way sam riley thinks it should be done?


We do have new footage of that process!! --123-3 --125-3!

[featherbaiter]

Mike, just a really general answer would be great. Were you north or south of the cape? (Or Possibly east)

[OffshoreAngler]

Honestly, there "was" (lots of weather coming through this week) fish from the NWC to the Canal. I am not being vague, that is just the ground I covered last week and saw fish in those areas. I did stay mainly West rather than East. After this weeks weather, they could be anywhere and that's the best part of this fishery....Findng them after a good hunt!! The facts are they are here and will be here for a while. The weather is warm next week and a there is a forcasted warm Fall. I most likley will stick around here instead of heading to N. Carolina for a week in November.

[featherbaiter]

Thank you sir, that was the answer I was looking for.

[anut]

Converted this yr from the albright. The albright was strong enough but was a pita to tie and did not cast worth a damn. Huge new fan of the Slim Beauty. Can tie in a minute or 2. Can tie it while under way in all but the biggest slop (important to rookie like me who gets wind knots left and right). But most important, it is strong and casts like a dream. By using the PP wraps to build up the diameter on the leader before the flouro figure eight knot it slips right through on the cast. It has not been the point of failure for us on lost fish (yet anyway).

Brought this in Monday from mid bank with a SB :)

[DRYFLY]

you two make an adorable couple. jen and nanci better watch out.

[OffshoreAngler]

He is much bigger than me....I don't like the position that puts me in...:eek: :confused:

[riptide]

Remind me to show you the cairns quickie when I get home...

Last time you showed someone that move you ended up with an angry farther chasing you. :eek:

[PAX]

Brought this in Monday from mid bank with a SB :)


Nice fish. Just curious about the setup in the background. Is it a Penn 9500? Looks small compare to the fish. What about the rod?

Thanks,

[sage fly guy]

Brought this in Monday from mid bank with a SB :)



Fantastic spin fish, great picture, and an butt load of sashimi......sweet.:)

chris

[anut]

Nice fish. Just curious about the setup in the background. Is it a Penn 9500? Looks small compare to the fish. What about the rod?

Thanks,

yes a historic 9500 penn prone to wind knots and premature bail closure (i now hook my pinky on the bail to keep it from spinning and closing during agressive casts). Love the drag, bullet proof. I was at 12 # and that fish took 300 yrds in the first 2 strong runs. Rod is a custom eglass (nice with the braid for fighting, the forgiveness complements the briads lack of strech, but not the best casting for light lures).

Chris, 4th meal since Monday. trying to mix it up I bought a 150 BTU burner. Hook up to propane and wow. Like a jet taking off, Half throttle is all you need. I seared a piece of toro tonight that was crispy on the outside , but 1/16 of an inch inside was pink and red just the way I like it. I am hooked. My grill did not get hot enough, this is the ticket.

george

[sage fly guy]

Chris, 4th meal since Monday. trying to mix it up I bought a 150 BTU burner. Hook up to propane and wow. Like a jet taking off, Half throttle is all you need. I seared a piece of toro tonight that was crispy on the outside , but 1/16 of an inch inside was pink and red just the way I like it. I am hooked. My grill did not get hot enough, this is the ticket.

george



You devious rotten bassturd, go ahead, rub it in.;)

Where did you purchase the burner?? I may need to get one.

chris

[Gadabout Guinea]

Hey,

OK, I tend to go years between pulling in the monsters you guys wrestle with on a regular basis but I've always used the double improved clinch knot on all my terminal tackle and have yet to pull a knot!

My Uncle Nunzio (RIP) showed it to me when I used to battle big pike on his private lake on ultralight tackle. I've only run into one other person that ever even mentioned it - I believe it was Rich Murphy (?).

I also wanted to post a great site for learning all things knot-ty:

http://animatedknots.com/

Cheers!
Chris

[anut]

You devious rotten bassturd, go ahead, rub it in.;)

Where did you purchase the burner?? I may need to get one.

chris

I purchased at Home Cheepo. It is by bayou classic. They sell a bunch of different kits (burner and pots) for turkeyfry, fishfry, seafood bake, etc.. I got just the burner 150,000 btu heavy duty stand for $45. Throw on large skillet and it works great and keeps the frying fish smell outside (wifey like) I will buy a turkey pot and holder seperately for thanksgiving.

I would feel bad, but know you eat more than your share!

[Nelly]

I don't know about the double improved clinch knot, but powerpro advises against using any clinch knots, noting the higher likelihood of slippage.

I learned this lesson the hard way on a nice bass earlier this summer. --124-3

[PeterSorensen]

I always use a tripple surgeons knot between 50# PP and 40# Seguar Fluoro and have had no problems with fish up to 65# so far on a Tsunami 20-40 with a Spheros 12000.

[anut]

tpalomar or loop knot on the lure (ease, fast,) . cinch knots are ok but are bigger( visable) and more prone to failure with tuna IMHO. ilike the palomar but it can eat your leader on the multiple retie.

[e-sea-e]

I use the improved clinch knot for all line to lure connections. never had a failure. When I used swivels to connect PP to floro, I used it as well to copnnect the PP to the swivel. if you double up the PP and it wont slip when tying the improved clinch knot--or at least it didnt on me for 4 years. just gotta be careful when you tie it so you dont leave a long tag of the double line. I suppose you could cut it off, but I never did, I just tried to tie it so it was 1" or less. again, never had a problem and caught many many tuna that way.

as noted above, Ive now ditched the swivels- got sick of replacing guide inserts destroyed by dsaid swivels.

[Smcdermott]

For those not using swivels have you had increased issues with line tangles. The few times I have tried it that seemed to be the main draw back.

Thanks,

Sean

[Slappy]

Line tangles are caused by user error. Many people fish braid without wind knots, the technique involves always keeping a tight line and no spool loops.

I use a glued double uni because I know I can tie it well. Dropped the swivels a couple years ago because they are a nuisance and dangerous to tips.

[Living Waters]

To avoid wind knots, always close the bail by hand. When you reel the bail shut, you put slack and loops on the spool which will cause a birds nest.

I never use swivels. The best knots to use for joining braid to mono are the back to back uni-knot or the slim beauty. I've had great luck with the uni, it's all I use. I grabbed a friend's spinning rod a few weeks ago as we approached a small pod of tuna, made the cast and hooked up. After fighting it for a few minutes, pop it's gone. My friend won't use the albright anymore.

Doubling the line on the braid end with a bimini twist or similar creates more bulk in the braid to form a better uni-knot. Good luck!

[anut]

huge user error. I tried to get more distance by loading the reel to the gills with PP. Combined with popping surface lures (not alway tunder ension while retrieving) = wind knots.

[e-sea-e]

little tip to get more line on your reel and get fewer wind knots.

PP gets packed onto the reel VERY tightly under a load- a reel full to the gills suddenly has room for more line after a few tuna are caught on it. so....


overload your reel with pp. go out into deep water and tie a 20 oz sinker on your line. let all your line out. reel your line back in. it will pack the line nice and tight and your overstuffed reel will suddenly have the "right" amount of line on it. if you cast coreectly, it will also lessen the possibility of wind knots.

while casting and reeling will unpack it a bit, every time you hook and fight a tuna it gets repacked.