Drift bait missing the mark

I used a Drift bait for about half the day and I missed atleast 5 real good bites.  The fish would be biting and I would hook up for about 1-2 seconds then It would come off.

Using 7/0 Gamakatsu octopus hooks, 100lb supple black magic trace and a 5oz barrel sinker, baited the 2 hooks with Sgt Baker, Squid and both seemed as bad as each other, for missing a hook up.

And I should mention that I have caught about 10 dhuies on the same style rig and baldchin and snapper.  Any suggestions as to what I might be doing wrong.


Posts: 441

Date Joined: 10/06/06

No Hookup

Wed, 2007-12-26 20:42

Hi Dean, yeah I think it happens to us all it could be that your bait is smuthering the hook and not allowing the hook to penetrate the fish's jaw. Also if you have a piece of bait trailing off the hook eg Occy leg the fish will bite at the trailing end of the bait. I tend to use smaller but strong hooks Big Reds 5/0 - 6/0  and use smaller pieces of bait.    Cheers Kev.



FISHING IS MY ADDICTION

Andy's picture

Posts: 522

Date Joined: 08/10/05

Free spooling

Thu, 2007-12-27 05:38

Another thing to try is to leave your reel in freespoon (on ratchet if it's left in the holder) and that will allow the fish to eat the bait before you strike to get him hooked Rather than just ripping the bait out of his mouth. Very much the same as fishing for marlin.
Just something to try, we are using the technique over here for reds and is working well.

Cheers Scottie

Posts: 16

Date Joined: 01/01/70

on the money!

Thu, 2007-12-27 08:18

Yeh Big Kev's on  the money. I was driftbaiting yesterday mate and hooked up everytime excluding one lost HIT.....that's a good ratio. As per my Driftbaiting article, i prefer to use smaller hooks ie 6/0 Mustad Big red, 80lb Jinkai hard trace line and a whole squid.....plenty of point showing.

Last but not least, dont strike until the rod is loaded, that's the driftbaiting technique!

All the best mate!


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Posts: 241

Date Joined: 30/10/05

we did too

Thu, 2007-12-27 09:22

yeah we dropped a few nice hits yesterday too. so big hits and nothing but i find it works best letting them run a lil first befor stiking.

Dean's picture

Posts: 1943

Date Joined: 23/02/07

Will drop down in hook size

Fri, 2007-12-28 11:31

Will drop down in hook size and use smaller baits, At one stage the fish had taken the bait and started to move of with it and I striked but no hookup so the hook must have not been exposed properly.