2 days of Skates !!

[Phil 4s]

Fished the South end for the last 2 days and had nothing but Skates. I think the fat lady is here. Phil

[Cardshop]

Mostly the same results for me too Phil. I had a few striper hits and did land 1 short but mostly had skates. They weren't even fighting once they were hooked.

Question: Do you use circle hooks with the Breakaway rig? If so is there some trick to making sure that the hook releases? I've had a little trouble with this.

[Dr. Bass]

I had two days of skate skunks soaking clams with a slider rig. Finally got into them into some shallow water at the surf inlet - junction. Keep trying there are some still around.

[SURF GHOST]

Phil, Skates for me too !!! Last wk.-- Ran into Brigjetty1 & 1a,Njfisher Capt.Ray & Beachie Sue !!!--- Nothing but Skates !!!... :( ..SG

Oh Buy the way, Didn't see 1 Surfer out there !!!---- tongue.gif

[njfisher]

Cardshop.

On the breakaway impact shield, there is a little piece of rubber around the base of the shield that holds the line against the plastic and gives tension so that the shield doesn't just flop up and down on the line.

If the rubber is too big, it will create too much friction, and the sheild will not move all the way up, fast enough to pop the hook off. Cut the lenght of that rubber in half. You can use a sharp pair of side cutters to do this, by snipping a little bit at a time, working your way around, without cutting the mono, Once you have it cut all the way around, cut it from top to bottom, to get it off the rig, and it should solve your problem.

[Phil 4s]

Cardshop, Besides what nj said about the rubber slide I have found that the underside of the impact shield sometimes gets burrs on it that impedes the hook release. Take a little piece of sandpaper and smooth it down. Also sometime on a line drive cast the rig doesn't hit the water with enough angle to release the hook. Also Breakaway and Rolling Tackle Box make a rig with a loop behind the hook so you don't have to insert the hook in the impact shield that seems to work every time. Mike T uses these rigs only and swears by them. Phil

[Cardshop]

Somehow I knew that you guys would have the answer. Thanks so much. PS: If you're interested in a road trip to IBSP this spring just let me know. I'm sure that there's a lot I could learn.

[Tip of the day]

Guys, Look at it this way. At least your catching fish in sub-temp january! All of us envey that. That must be great-and BTW some say that skate is good eating. I do not know and hope it remaines unbeknownst to me. But to be able fish at all right now is the big banana it.Argue w/that. To catch, no matter what in these conditions is to enjoy. It's catching them during flounder or striper season is when you want to break out the knife!!!!