BajaNomad - East Cape shore fishing braided line

East Cape shore fishing braided line

wsdunc - 7-22-2011 at 09:35 AM

My wife and I will be making a trip to East cape in a couple of months. For once I am not bringing down an arsenal of tackle, if I fish from a boat I'll have to use whatever tackle they can supply. I did plan to take 2 small spinning set ups for each of us, one8 lb, and one 12-15 lb. These will be for shore fishing. The 8 lb I am pretty comfortable with and plan to run straight Ande mono. It is the "heavy" one I am unsure about. The only time I have used braid is for cow tuna on really heavy tackle.
So here are my thoughts. I am thinking about using braid with a mono topshot, and maybe a short shock leader. I hope to have a fighting chance with a big fish, We can dream right? Although Murphy's law says if we manage a brute fish we'll hook him on the 8lb. Anyhow...
The rod in question I believe is rated for 12-17 lb line. So I have thought about :
20 lb braid/15 lb mono/30 lb shock leader
or
30 lb braid/15 lb mono/30 lb shock leader
or
20 lb braid/12 lb mono/30 lb shock leader
or
30 lb braid/15 lb mono/30 lb shock leader
Could I get some opinions about this please? This will be for lure fishing. Maybe the right option is none of the above? Normally I fish with straight mono, maybe wire leaders if the sierra are around. What I am trying to do is make the most potent weapon I can out of a reasonably small spinning reel.

Frank - 7-22-2011 at 10:38 AM

30# straight braid and 6' of whatever 30# flourocarbon leader. Braid is strong but not very abrasion resistant.

My Curado has 60# braid and a 40# flouro leader. The hot lure for us was a Shimano Waxwing. Sexy swimmer with lots of re-bites.

Good Luck!

bajabass - 7-22-2011 at 11:32 AM

The limitations are going to be the drag capabilities of the spinning reel. At a 1/3 rule of drag pressure to line breaking point, 30 lb braid, 30lb flouro, you need 10lbs of drag to even approach the rule "limitations".
Most spinning reels, especially of shore casting size, will not even come close to pulling 10lbs of drag. Pick your braid and go either short top shot or long, straight flouro. One less knot.

dtbushpilot - 7-22-2011 at 11:37 AM

40# braid, about 20' of 20# flouro top shot, skip the mono. Practice up on your Albright knot technique to join the two.

X2 on the Waxwing, my son in law was using one and it looked great till a backlash of his Curado caused it to sail away into the distance. He hadn't caught anything on it yet but it looked real "fishy".

Other good bets are crippled herring type of lures (metal, shiny and able to retrieve fast without spinning) or my personal "go to" lure the Rapala Sub Walk in the silver color.....dt

Osprey - 7-22-2011 at 12:12 PM

Dt, I can now tie the Seaguar knot for mono or floro to braid in the dark, drunk, in the water in three seconds and it will hold. Albright takes me two weeks with surgeons glasses and special lighting.

bajabass - 7-22-2011 at 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Osprey
Dt, I can now tie the Seaguar knot for mono or floro to braid in the dark, drunk, in the water in three seconds and it will hold. Albright takes me two weeks with surgeons glasses and special lighting.

Cardon Man - 7-22-2011 at 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabass
Most spinning reels, especially of shore casting size, will not even come close to pulling 10lbs of drag.

Actually, that's not true at all.
If you look at the specs on Shimano or Diawa spinning reels you would be stunned at how high the max. drag is. Shimano 5000 series have a max drag over 20lb. On the high end, An 8000 series Stella has 55lb at full drag.

Cypress - 7-22-2011 at 01:04 PM

120 lb. test dacron will drag most anything in eventually. All you have to do is hang on crank it in.

bajabass - 7-22-2011 at 01:17 PM

Have you priced those reels? I know that they catch billfish and truly large tuna on spinners.

Just checked the Stella models online 700-950$$$$$.

Maybe, but never for a beach rod!

baja spinner

EdZeranski - 7-22-2011 at 01:18 PM

My spinner is a BaitRunner with 15 lb mono, nothing fancy but works fine soaking bait or crocks/castmasters on San Bruno Rocks etc. That and a 3/0 Penn w 25-30lb make my basic kit. Both are on old but still nice Kunnan rods. I have a couple of Alvey rigs for shore casting.

EdZ KG6UTS

bajabass - 7-22-2011 at 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cypress
120 lb. test dacron will drag most anything in eventually. All you have to do is hang on crank it in.

Yup, and if you tie a really good spool knot, it may drag you in!!! :spingrin:

Cypress - 7-22-2011 at 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabass

Quote:

Originally posted by Cypress
120 lb. test dacron will drag most anything in eventually. All you have to do is hang on crank it in.

Yup, and if you tie a really good spool knot, it may drag you in!!! :spingrin:

Only if you're a wimp. :yes:

dtbushpilot - 7-22-2011 at 01:26 PM

Quote:

The main reason that I use the Albright is that if it is done right it will be small and travel through the guides without hanging up on them.

I don't use spinning gear so this is more critical as the guides are much smaller on conventional rods. Even a momentary snag of the knot as you are casting with braid can be disastrous....

I actually picked this mess out after 2 days and 2 6packs or beer, the Salas 6oz jig that I was casting disappeared out of sight headed for Mazatlan....dt

[Edited on 7-22-2011 by dtbushpilot]

bajabass - 7-22-2011 at 01:27 PM

The Kunnans were one of the first, decent, affordable rods from Asia that I can recall. I've still got one that I use from the mid 80's.

bajabass - 7-22-2011 at 01:30 PM

One of the better bird's nests I've ever seen DT! I've come close with my Avet MXL throwing iron from the beach. A big knot will get you every time :yes:

Spearo - 7-22-2011 at 01:34 PM

20 or 30 lb Sufix spectra to 30# flouro topshot with a 14 turn albright. Thread the tag end ot the albright through the loop twice when finishing the knot. Some folks will hit the knot with a cyanoacrylic glue but I've never had a problem.

Use a loop knot on your jigs and it will improve the action.

Cardon Man - 7-22-2011 at 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabass

Maybe, but never for a beach rod!

Agree to disagree. Not that I own a Stella...but I lust for one badly.
Stella aside...there are more affordable spinning reels that have the drag and capacity to catch big fish from shore.

One of the many benefits...

vgabndo - 7-22-2011 at 02:05 PM

DT...for many years my co-pilota has been a textile artist. She's in the habit of tying intricate knots in literally hundreds of strings at the same time. She is not only GREAT at untangling a backlash, she enjoys doing it! I wouldn't trade her for a damned good truck.

Also I landed a heavy 3 1/2 foot ray from the rocks, through the kelp, at San Roque with 12 pound cheapo mono on a WalMart combo outfit. It ain't all in the equipo!

[Edited on 7-22-2011 by vgabndo] :lol:

[Edited on 7-22-2011 by vgabndo]

MMc - 7-22-2011 at 05:12 PM

Wsdunc, I have a little different take on on your set-up I would go with 20# or 30# Braid and 15# flouro straight tie(Seagur). Back off the drag a bit. It will be very sensitive and you need to pay attention. Keep the rod up and let it be the back-up shock absorber. I fish from shore and off kayaks a lot with spinning reels. Big fish on light lines are so much fun.

[Edited on 7-23-2011 by MMc]

mcfez - 7-22-2011 at 07:27 PM

Me....too many times that I have been .....at the hot spot....and not have that one darn thing I left at home. :yes:

Better pack everything.. for a good fishing day.

bajabass - 7-23-2011 at 06:48 AM

I agree to agree Cardon Man!! I have a Daiwa Regal 5500 that has caught some very nice fish!! Honestly though, I cast my conventionals, level wind and not, further than the spinner.

Very frustrating when you see fish chasing bait, just beyond casting range. I've ended up with more than a few of DT's examples trying to get my lures out to the fish!!!

McFez, my tackle box weighs so much I use it as ballast to trim the ride out on my 17cc. :yes:

Seems I always wanted that ONE lure I did not bring!!

mcfez - 7-23-2011 at 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabass
I agree to agree Cardon Man!! I have a Daiwa Regal 5500 that has caught some very nice fish!! Honestly though, I cast my conventionals, level wind and not, further than the spinner.

Very frustrating when you see fish chasing bait, just beyond casting range. I've ended up with more than a few of DT's examples trying to get my lures out to the fish!!!

McFez, my tackle box weighs so much I use it as ballast to trim the ride out on my 17cc. :yes:

Seems I always wanted that ONE lure I did not bring!!

Aint that the truth.
Having pack everything for a run last May (?) with my boat......had to wait for 4 days for the winds to die down...waiting off a beach called "nowhere" :-) Finally....got out there.....hooked real fast, wow. Had to move the boat closer to shore.....did....threw the anchor back out...bad rope.......lost that anchor......bad language!

So yes...one cant pack everything :lol:

ddawson - 7-24-2011 at 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dtbushpilot
40# braid, about 20' of 20# flouro top shot, skip the mono.

I also use this setup for shore fishing. It's worked pretty well for me so far. My rod is a little heavier though, I use a Seeker 12-30lb. My spinning reel is a Shimano Spheros 5000 with upgraded drags.

mulegemichael - 7-24-2011 at 07:12 PM

40# braid, 20# flouro topshot....i use uni to uni knot and it works great; always has...better invest a little bit more and get a true saltwater certified spinner so it lasts you more than 6 months down here...wash off thoroughly after each use even with the certification...i even "saltaway" mine..

Russ - 7-25-2011 at 07:39 AM

This is my "light setup to. I join then together with end loops and haven't had a failure yet. The loop knot I use is super easy and putting a new top shot is quick. The knots are really small so you don't feel much as it goes thru the guides.

half twist then feed loop thru.

Quote:

Originally posted by Cardon Man

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabass

Maybe, but never for a beach rod!

Agree to disagree. Not that I own a Stella...but I lust for one badly.
Stella aside...there are more affordable spinning reels that have the drag and capacity to catch big fish from shore.

[Edited on 7-25-2011 by Russ]

Old rods

EdZeranski - 7-25-2011 at 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabass
The Kunnans were one of the first, decent, affordable rods from Asia that I can recall. I've still got one that I use from the mid 80's.

I always thought they were in South Carolina, made rods and golf shafts, but the factory burned down. Anyway, have four different Kunnans, some Ugly Sticks, Seekers etc all from yard sales or swapmeets in San Diego. Yard sales in a fishing town keep the costs down..~8^)

EdZ KG6UTS

choyero - 7-25-2011 at 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by EdZeranski

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabass
The Kunnans were one of the first, decent, affordable rods from Asia that I can recall. I've still got one that I use from the mid 80's.

This is my understanding as well. I got 3 at a g-sale for cheap and then went home and researched them. They are actually pretty sought after by many. I thought they were cheapies when I got them as part of a huge lot, I was in for a pleasant surprise.

wsdunc - 7-25-2011 at 11:49 AM

Thanx everyone, I was out of touch for a while so didn't get to follow this as the posts came in. Everything is making pretty good sense to me except...Most folks say braid to floro, Im OK with that. But most folks talk about fairly short floro sections, I had envisioned floro the distance of a cast (to avoid "wind" messes with braid) and braid backing. Someone want to educate me on the short vs long topshot question?Thanx again for all the input.

classicbajabronco - 7-25-2011 at 03:24 PM

not sure if you know or not but make sure your rod guides are rated for braid. If they are cheap guides, braid under tension will cut a grove into them, and this grove will cut your braid.

I used to fish braid, but went back to Mono or co-polymer p-line with a flouro leader. The reason is I fish mainly for roosters from the beach. The lure of choice is a 3 oz ranger, which creates a lot of line speed when cast. Being that I use baitcasters only, it is a matter "when", not "if" a backlash will occur. Braid has zero stretch, so when a backlash occurs a 3oz ($15) lure goes zinging out to sea, when the backlash stops the spool and the braid can't absorb the hit being that it has zero stretch, so it either parts or cuts itself. With mono the line stretches rather than breaks, usually saving me a lure.

Braid also sucks in the abrasion resistance area, and when fishing from the beach 9 times out of 10 there are rocks within "rocking" distance. Not sure how many big fish(and lures) I have lost when fishing braid and a fish takes you into the rocks, one nick with braid and it's all over. Adios amigo

Braid also costs way too much. I can buy 3000yds of 40lb p-line for about $80, where braid would cost $450 for the same quantity. I don't see enough benefits to warrant the cost, that is unless I was bottom fishing 500' down, then the zero stretch would pay off as one could feel the take.

[Edited on 7-25-2011 by classicbajabronco]

bajabass - 7-25-2011 at 04:23 PM

I could very possibly be wrong on country of origin on the Kunnan rods! I was told by the salesman, at Turner's Outdoors in Orange,Ca., that the were "inexpensive Asian" rods. Love the one I have! I wonder whose blanks they used?

:biggrin:

I watched a 3oz chrome and prism Kroc go at least 100 yards out after a heave and backlash episode at La Ribera yesterday. Dra. Bajabass got a good giggle out of the expletives that followed. :rolleyes:

On my heavy beach rig I have 65lb braid and about a 50 yard topshot of 40 lb mono. The light rods are 15 and 20lb mono. The stretch does help save most lures from launch, but not all! Usually when the bait/fish are breaking just beyond normal casting range!!! CRAACK!! Adios cien pesos!!

classicbajabronco - 7-25-2011 at 04:59 PM

kunnan used their own blanks. They called it Spiral tech, if you look closely at a kunnan you can see it, the filaments are spun around the rod. Most graphite rods are rolled carbon sheets.