Got SMASHED!! Need Help

[geoff72]

Went for a quick throw today at coombabah around some pipes, fishing with soft plastics i only use pretty light gear,well sort of light. I use 8lb fireline and 12lb fluro carbon leader, well 1st cast with a squidgy fish in gary glitter colour to a 1/6 jighead and a trev about 70cm had a swipe at it, i crapped myself,wasnt expecting it, 2nd cast,trev has another go BUT.... a barracuda beats him to it, there were 5 of these teethy buggers there about 1m long, by the time i had really relised it had taken it i was biten clean off, i was pumped and spewin at the same time. Can one one tell me what a good strenght leader to connect to 8lb braid would be. I have 30 lb stren but no sure if that would be ok to tie to 8lb and would a heavier leader make it harder to use SPs with.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers

Geoff

[fishphile]

Mate I sometimes use 30lb trilene leader to 8lb fireline and a double uni knot seems to work alright. For a bit more strength in the knot I will tie a double in the fireline and then a double uni.
Have had big barracuda go through 30lb like butter.

Dave.

[Pistol_P]

Hi Mate,
I recently caught a couple of cudas in one of the creeks here.
I was using 6lb fireline with a 10lb leader initially and had the same problem as you...I was clean bitten off.
I then tied some 16lb leader (I use Nitlon flurocarbon which I find great) and landed 2 of the toothy buggers.
You might find anything heavier than 20lb fluro to be a bulky leader knot and it causes you dramas....unless you have a very short leader so it doesnt bang through your guides when casting.....Give 20lb a go mate.
Cheers
Pete.

[marty_z]

I have tied 40lb leader to 6lb Fireline (using an albright) and had it stay connected when catching biggger fish. The trick is to only run a short length (around 2 foot) of leader so the knot is not passing thru the guides when you cast.

Obviously this won't attract flighty fish, but I don't think the cudas will be easily spooked.

Marty

[hooknose]

I use 30lb Vanish tied on to 6 lb fireline with a double uni knot at Coombabah and elsewhere - haven't had any probs yet and manage plenty of lizards, Estuary cod, Trevs and the odd jack !!!

Wont help you when those big Cuda's or Pike are around unfortunately !!!

[84mick]

This is probably a stupid question but is there some kind of wire trace we could use for SPs?

Cheers, Mick.

[geoff72]

thanks very much for the help guys, i have some 20lb,15lb,12lb florucarbon and 30lb stren,will give each one of them ago,except for the 12lb, to see how it all goes,thanks again guys,hopefully can post of pick of the buggers today, going back there with the boss.hehehe.

[last_cast]

A slim beauty knot will give you the most castable connection to a 30lb leader. It is also as strong as any other leader knot available when using heavier leaders.

[killitfillit]

try a few inches of tyger knottable wire then via slim beauty knot to your 12 lb leader

[Pistol_P]

This is probably a stupid question but is there some kind of wire trace we could use for SPs?

Cheers, Mick.

Wire is hopeless mate....Fish see wire very easily.
You just wont get the hits.

[Scalem]

Wire is hopeless mate....Fish see wire very easily.
You just wont get the hits.

Agree 100% Pistol P

Easiest solution?? You are doing everything right, just accept that fishing light with plastics is prone to multiple bust ups. Re rig and try again... and again.... and again.... back to the tackle shop for more gear!!

Scalem

[geoff72]

went to the same spot yesterday and got done again by the cuddas,used 20lb flurocarbon,saw the fish take it,didnt even feel him take the lot but saw a monster trev,bigger than the one i saw the day b4,would have been a good 1m long,no joke.

[geoff72]

if anyone reckons they could give these buggers ago, pm me and i can meet you there one day and you would be in awe of the size of these fish and maybe we can nut out how to connect and stay connected to these trevs and cuddas.
cheers
geoff

[_Dan_]

Geoff PM Sent mate...

[stonecold]

Tyger knottable 6kg you'll only need about 6 inches of leader. Yes its hopeless if you want to chase bream etc but with a metre long cuda it might be your best option. Certainly helps when I'm chasing bigger choppers off the stones with light gear.