Floatlining - How do you rig your pillies?

[Platitudinus]

For years when floatlining for Snapper in NZ and AUS, I have rigged a whole pilchard on a double hook rig with the bottom hook through the head and the top hook through the pillie body. Two half hitches on the tail and a ball sinker running onto that.

Met a guy last week who had the pillie head by the ball sinker as it did less damage to the pillie and no need for the hitches!!! Made me question the fundamentals a bit but my basic knowledge tends to suggest fish eat smaller fish head first and presentation is better my way with the line and ball out of the way.

Any thoughts?
Plato

[ronnien]

wrong,
not all fish hit smaller fish head first, take Spanish mackerel they will nip the tail first than come back to finish the job. thats why i put a treble in the fork of a gar fish, my brother does the same with a wolfie.
but each to their own, what works for you keep doing.

ron.

[Noelm]

half a Pilly, the tail is bait, put on a single hook with a half hitch around the tail, the head becomes the burley, how simple is that?

[Noelm]

OH and the reason I use the tail, is because the head is the bit that spins the most in current and gives you nasty line twist!

[Platitudinus]

Thanks guys;
My focus was on snapper and should have said so and yes when using half a pillie the head goes overboard due to the spinning problem.
Plato

[nezevic99]

Two hook rig. Offset bottom hook near the tail with the point riding up, straight top hook through the bottom of the head coming out in the hard flat bit on the top of the head. Doesn’t spin, sits right way up in the water.

[Noelm]

Fish are simple animals, a well presented bait will be eagerly taken regardless of the hook configuration, brand or colour, you only run into trouble when you are using heavy line, huge hooks, and "blobs" of bait, anchored to the bottom with a house brick, half a Pilly, a whole Pilly or a cube will matter little if it is presented well, and used in conjuction with a small amount of burley of the same bait, keep it simple and catch fish.

[Platitudinus]

Thanks Neze - several different suggestions coming up now. Do you use this method for all floatlining or just for Snapper fishing?
Plato

[Platitudinus]

Noelm;
Totally agree - the lighter the better thats why I floatline for most of the time on reefs when not using plastics.
Plato

[nezevic99]

We pretty much target snapper only. Not saying we don't like bycatch though! Agree with Noelm though presentation is the key. After that it's all about what you feel confident using. I like to have 2 hooks in a bait but am not a big fan of gangs. I'll switch to a gang if there are toothy critters about biting off the second hook but otherwise the rig described above is my prefered rig when fishing baits. Lightest sinker i can get away with.

[DigitalSI]

When floatlining I use 2 x #5 Truturn hooks ganged with a swivel in between tied directly to my 30lb mainline. I bait up similar to a 3 gang when fishing for Tailor, tail then head then sinker and the sinker is a free running #3, 4 or 5 ball depending on the water conditions.

Bottom bashing is a different story

[Jurkyjj]

I have always used the old gang method.
Simply either 3 X 5/0 linked together. Sometimes with a small swivel in between them.
I know that it is old fashioned....but...if it ain't broke, why fix.
I have always had tremendous success with this approach.
The head of the pillie or horse mackerel always running up the line and a small 1 or 2 ball sinker running freely up the leader.
I have just starting to use a stinger rig as an alternative, but, have not had as much success.

My advise, find a way that works and stick to it!!

Cheers, Jason.

[Platitudinus]

Thanks everyone. Seems that honours are even! However the clear message is lighter we go the better the catch - especially off Goldie.
Plato

[Horse]

I use a couple of 7766's with the top hook through the middle of the head between the eyes and the second hook in the shoulder area