To be or not to be HOOKED!

[HavaGo]

I have a hook-up question.
Yesterday i was floating and free swimming live poddies out behind the boat looking for a wandering Mack or pelagic.
Both rigs were setup with 30lb braid with 80lb mono leader with a single 5/0 short shank mustard.
After ten strikes and no more livies left the count was 1 black tip whaler 4 1/2 feet long released, 1 something huge nearly to the boat and eight 10-60sec battles followed by a rigorous head shake and the hook coming free.
Were they all sharks - I don't believe so as I had no break offs and no abbrasive mono. Sharks mouths are hard to set hooks in I know but I feel that the hooks may of been too small to properly hook in the corner of the mouth.
What are other peoples thoughts on hook size and hook ups?

Cheers,
Sean

[fish2eat]

you may be better using circle hooks, likely to get into the corner of the mouth and less likely to be bitten or abraded off.......frustrating eh??

[Billo]

where were you fishing Sean ?

and how big were the mullet ?

Only thought is the hook could be too big for the bait
Did you leave the reels in gear also ??? it could pay to leave the reels out of gear with just the ratchet on , allow the fish long enough to take the bait down

[HavaGo]

Thanks for the reply fish2eat!
I'll give those cirle hooks a go. Are they're called tuna hooks also? It was frustrating but also very exiting! Hearing the reel on ratchet scream off at 100 miles an hour is pure heaven. I never conceeded any gear, and thought that a longer shank or larger looped/size hook might give me more of a chance of getting in under the jaw bone. The only problem with the larger hook is for the little ole poddie to pull around. I guess I'll just get bigger baits. I'm still dreaming of those reel screams and waking up with a teepee in my PJs and a big smile on my face each morning. [smiley=devilish.gif]

[HavaGo]

Billo,

First couple of hits was with the ratchet on an the drag disengaged.
On the first hit I picked it up and locked the drag and tried to set the hook which pulled out.
Second hit I let him run and tightened up the drag after he realised it was in his gob. He ran b4 drag tightening for about 10 secs, and that was the little whaler I managed to bring in broadside.
The others were a with the drag just engaged and ratchet on. The hook I thought must of set as I reeled 1 almost to the boat and another half way in. The reel scream was incredible when they hit. Some of the runs were for 50metres plus.
Maybe larger baits n larger hooks? I could just flop out a pillie on a set of gangs - not as much fun.
I was just fishing in Moreton Bay. I was the only one there so I could float the baits out quite a ways.
Last year I hooked a spanish mack (10kg) there and pulled him to the side of the boat b4 he bit threw the lead wire. I'll never use those pre-made wire traces again.
Mullet size was only small approximately 3-4".
Looks like I'm off to buy some different types of hooks.
Thanks for the interest Billo.