Foxy,
I don't believe that there are problems associated with other fish hitting the lure when it is sliding. At Teewah we all use sliders for spotties and as long as we use a short piece of wire, then there are no probs at all. Spotties of course don't require the same sliding motion that is necessary for tailor as they are not a leaping and headshaking fish. So we use a length of wire not much longer than the slug to avoid the hooked fish biting us off and to prevent the lure getting far enough away from the hooked fish to allow other fish to hit it. Other fish won't hit a lure or sinker that is close to the hooked fishs' mouth due to potential damage to themselves from the panicked hooked fishs' teeth. Once the lure or sinker is more than probably 20 - 25cm away from the hooked fishs' mouth then it would appear to be a target. I learnt this from our days of fishing for spaniards off the beach with baits in the 70's and 80's.
Although the advantages of using sliders are less when playing tuna, mackerel etc then they would be with tailor etc, there is still a benefit in that any headshaking effect will be reduced. Cobia is a fish that I have noticed distinct advantages with the sliders when the fish surfaces close to the boat and headshakes dramatically. Tuna aren't as bad in that sense but again any reduced impact from any headshake particularly when there is little length of cushioning line out, has to be advantageous and is. There are absolutely no dramas of other fish busting up when fishing for tailor with 30 - 40cm of wire length. Any body who would suggest otherwise simply doesn't know what they are talking about. I would suggest that any experienced angler should imagine in their own mind the forces that are at work when playing a fish. Picture what the lure is doing and understand the physics that play a role with the different species that can be targeted with slugs. Logic will tell you that a weighty slug being thrown around by the fish increases the likelihood of being thrown especially with poor hook positioning. The suggestion that my technique is at fault is both offensive given my experience levels and incorrect given the pure logic associated. Check out 'Beach Bliss' from April reports, just as one only example to see whether sliders work on different species. I guess the proof is always in the pudding.
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