Paternoster vs Running rig

[youngfisho]

Have this arguement with a mate about using a paternoster rig for bay squire and snapper vs using a sinker over the hook fishing light. we went out the other day and he was using a double hook rig with a large size snapper lead using long shank whiting hooks. My advice to him was to switch to a smaller sinker with the hook point exposed. but he insisted that it would work. We were anchored up near a beacon, and I said that fishing with the bait stuck to the bottom with a pound of lead would not entice a shovel nosed ray let alone a squire, sweetlip or any other reefie you find in the bay. I said fish as light as you can that the current allows.

what do fellow ausfishers think

andrew

[straddie]

Heya Youngfisho,

I fish anything from no weight to big snapper leads in the bay with a lot of success, what I use depends on the bottom to some degree but more importantly depth and current. Certainly nothing wrong with using big leads in the right circumstances if the rest of your rig is suitable.

I would be telling him to lose the whiting hooks though, any squire worth eating will easily inhale a 3/0 or if he wants to cover maybe a decent bream coming along then go no smaller than a 1/0

The exposed barb is good advice but a bit hard for him if he intends perservering with the tiny hooks, as any bait big enough for a reasnoable snapper isn't going to fit

[Cheech]

I think you should do or take note on anything Straddie says because he knows what he is talking about..

The next thing I would say is that you are breaking one of the first rules of fishing and thinking that your way is the best way.

Having said that, I have only ever used a paternoster in the bay once. But,,, that is not to say I will never do it again. Luckily I know that I am probably going to be doing something completely different next year.

I think I have sort of agreed, and sort of disagreed assuming why the question (because it looks like you are hopeing for agreement).

Sorry not much help. The only answer is,,, what actually puts fish in the boat is the real answer.

Cheech

[youngfisho]

True cheech, i to have used a paternoster rig with some success but as far as a natural bait presention goes I think that the single hook rig wins hands down. I would use a paternoster for fishing for whiting using small hooks and light line. But as far as fishing for squire\snapper, I have caught my fish using the single hook rig and minimal sinkers. not saying that my way is the best, just that for the given situation would be more appropriate. given that paternosters have the tendency to spin around in strong tidal flow.

andrew

[mackmauler]

You can use the paternosta up north in the bay with a strong current, maybe a slight variation but ive used a long trace running off it around 3-4m and caught some good fish, results are what counts howd your mate go?
rob