How deep??

[Sean]

Of the guys out there who catch Mackeral regularly, how deep do you tend to set your livies(under a balloon). I am fishing in around 50ft of water. As it gets later in the day (10am) do you set them deeper, I have been trying to catch them in Ballina for a while now, and last year they never really showed but apparently they are 'on' now so I bloody well want one!!! Thanks

[Lucky_Phill]

For Spotties at Palm Beach Reef, I set them 10ft under a piece of styrene, never used a ballon !

If there is a little current going, no balloon or float, just keep adjusting the length of line from mid water to deeper and deeper, maybe even have a couple out.

Maybe even have a 10ft leader and put on a 10 ball sinker.

It really depends on where they are feeding !

8)

[webby]

Hi, Stagger them from say 10/15/20
and berley to bring them to you.
If using a balloon and the currents or wind is running/blowing fill about 1/3 of the balloon with water and it will sit better. If your over reef and they wont come up you'll have to resort to a floater to get it down to them,
If using gangs you wont need wire.
If using a 2 hook rig on dead bait, depending on size of bait, tie wire to first hook and pass wire up the bait arse and out thru his mouth (i use a piece of 1/8 gauge wire to push wire thru) place the second hook on and putit thru his lips to keep his mouth shut, then onto a swivel about 5cm out, no need to tie off second hook, just leave it as a slider on the wire, swivel to main line.
I take it your chasing spotties , for spanniard its a whole different ball game.
regards

[Sean]

I'd actually prefer Spanyard tips, also what guage wire do you recomend, and is black nylon coated wire a put off? thanks so far.

[Heath]

If fishing for spaniards the faster the water is running the deeper you set the bait. We have our furthest bait on a balloon so other boaties can see we have a bait out. all other baits are just on foam. we usually fish in 15m of water & when the current is racing we set our baits to around 15m. with the current this will have the baits in the top half of the water column. If fishing slack water, then set them to about half the depth you are fishing. Wire, well it really depends on what you prefer. single strand or multi. I prefer the multi strand & currently use 60lb. I am contemplating going up a size in wire. This is purely an economical decision as you use 1 rig per fish. With 90lb wire you can catch several before changing rigs & gives you a better chance at them damn Wahoo when they come through.

I will get one!!!! Oh yes...... eventually

Hey Phil,

You'll appreciate this idea.

The first thing we do at Palmy is throw a line out with a balloon on. Not even rigged

Get the balloon out, then enjoy a hassel free morning, with no idiots trying to anchor right on top of you.

[mackmauler]

Heath, if your using 7strand in the lighter sizes wahoo shred it, 49 strand is the go they can't seperate it anywhere near as easy.

Sean, for spaniards I prefer the light single strand, 44lb, I know they can cut it but imo they are not good fighters and a bit of skill and common sense can make short work of them, a lot of bustoffs around here are actually sharks taking the mackerel, hence all kinds of theories blamed on the wrong fish, I use a bit of superglue on the haywire twist with the single strand wire to, stops it kinking at the twist a bit.

Rob