Rigging slugs for Mackos

[flatzie]

Hi All
Havent been working slugs that long, be keen to hear what rigs different people use.
I am currently using 20lb mono straight tied to the slug. Have converted hooks to single 4/0 rig instead of the treble.

Im going to get off that and go back to a larger treble than the slug came with, the single hook tends to get stuck a bit and often comes in spinning round and round.
So with this setup, showed me by the mate who took me out, I am getting too much line twist, which is a real pain,the idea has been to have minimal gear to avoid spooking the fish.

Im thinking going either to a minimal snap clip with swivel, or fixing a swivel to each slug with a split ring.
On another matter, braid or mono? For me not having a join in the line is an advantage, but braid is slimmer and is easier when sending the slug back to the bottom.
Im running this on a Gladiator SnakeSpin stik witha 3500 Daiwa Coastal. Its a new reel and whips em back with the 5.3 -1 retrieve.
So..what do you use
Thanks in advance
Flatzie

[wags on the water]

Main line to a swivel then 60lb trace. After catching a couple of Spotties, the leader needs changing.

[brisbane_boy]

braid isnt good at all for the mackerel, they spit the hooks a lot more. quality treble like an owner 3x size 2-4 is well suited to most small and medium slugs.

are you running an inline decoy type single, it sounds like youve put any old single on the slug to cause that problem.

[Jono_SS]

Flatzie,

I find that the single hooks are better if you can put them directly on the lure, rather than via a split ring. This makes them point straight up or down. And make sure they are straight hooks in the first place (e.g. good old 7766's) rather than with a slight offset (e.g. like 4200's). Generally, I take this approach with the lead slugs. With the metal slices, I tend to use a treble on a split ring. At the front end, I either run a swivel on a split ring (metal slices), or tie directly to the lure (lead slugs).

Here are a couple of examples.

Jono SS

[flatzie]

Jono
Yeah thanks for that I have got an offset hook on the slug and can see yours are straight, point taken thanks mate.
Flatzie

[Jeremy]

20 lb leader to the lure is fine. 60 lb will not stop bite off but will reduce hits. As above, use a straight style single hook like the 7766, but I stick with trebles. A 3500 size reel with a 5.3:1 retrieve ratio is OK, but mackeral respond really well to speed. You might want to upgrade if you want to get into spinning for mackeral seriously.

[CHOPPER 2]

I believe it depends on what mackeral you are chasing. I am using 60 to 80lb leader because I get a lot of spanish in between the doggies and spotties so 20lb most times would not suffice in this scenario. I use both singles and trebles and have success with both but make sure they are good hooks (singles and trebles). When i am targetting spanish I also use homemade snap clips with a longer shank attached to a swiwel to prevent line twist but make sure the swivel is good quality.

[boney-leg]

braid isnt good at all for the mackerel, they spit the hooks a lot more.

That's not true for around my area.

[cobiaman]

i use braid, 20lb leader and single hooks and find that is the best way to go

[Horse]

I have alternated between braid and mono and currently use 12lb-15lb braid with either 20lb or 30lb flouro leader tied with an improved Albright
Ihave also tried singles and trebles. I noew use better quality eg Owner trebles and fish lighter drags and use "soft hands" for the rod work. I cant remember the last fish I dropped. With the old TSS4 and broomstick spin rod I could drop 1/2 on braid

[flatzie]

Yeah thanks all, I have noticed fishing for these fish in Moreton Bay is certainly different to up north, you just cant use stuff like wire traces, heavy leaders etc if you want fish. Beats me why but its true!
I like what Horse said about light drag and soft hands, certainly would get more fish to the boat I think.
Any more comment on having a swivel and clip on the front, or swivel fixed with a splt ring, to avoid twists in the mono?
Cheers
Flatzie

[boney-leg]

Yeah thanks all, I have noticed fishing for these fish in Moreton Bay is certainly different to up north, you just cant use stuff like wire traces, heavy leaders etc if you want fish.

Not sure how true that is ... I have a mate at Pt Lookout who is out at every opportunity he gets and catches a lot of mackerel. He uses wire traces with no problems and the ex pros have a winch with a wire line. Heavy wire traces become a problem as the sun gets up high. I did notice last year he started using a 2m length of fluro carbon between the braid and shortened the wire trace.

I do similar to horse. Light drag and light hands. This is really important with braid as a yank of the rod pulls the hooks/bait out if not taken properly. Light drag allows you then to use lighter traces which is also helpful.

I'd avoid clips but that is a personal thing. As someone said "not what" but quality is the go. I'd swivel to trace and trace straight to slug but everyone is different.