Keep Losing Herring...

 Hi All, Ive been getting a few herring lately with squid as my bait (im going to try some prawns this weekend) and a longshank hook but i just keep on losing a around half i hook, Its not when the herrings out there its when the are right next to me on the rock they just either jump, falloff or get you caught in seaweed. is there anyway i can reduce my losses?

Thanks Alex


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Date Joined: 28/07/16

Couple

Thu, 2017-11-02 18:58

 Of tips some times with herring you cant do anything to stop them chucking hooks but what u can try is always keep the line tight and try using lures instead like a small metal twistie with a 3 hook barb on end that way u could hook them twice if you get what i mean another option is small circle hooks let them take the bait and dont strike and u should hook them right in the corner good luck anyway mate

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wont catch em sitting at home!

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 Should i keep the rod tip

Thu, 2017-11-02 20:12

 Should i keep the rod tip high or low to try decrease jumps?

Faulkner Family's picture

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 keep it low 

Thu, 2017-11-02 20:15

 keep it low 

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

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I tried small circles for the

Thu, 2017-11-02 23:13

I tried small circles for the kids. The hezza swallow the hook a fair bit and they're a pain to get out

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Officially off the Pies bandwagon

Faulkner Family's picture

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 yep do away with the long

Thu, 2017-11-02 19:16

 yep do away with the long shanks. black magic have a nice hook designed for the smaller bread and butter stuff. labeled the ultimate whiting hook. they come in various sizes. if your going to try lures or even  a bit of straw trailed behind a float about 3 ft back use a single hook, better hook up rate than jag hooks. 

herring do play dirty , thats why its fishing and not catching

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

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Haha welcome to herring

Thu, 2017-11-02 19:24

Haha welcome to herring fishing young fella. They've been throwing my hooks since I was about 3 and still do it to this day. They've got pretty soft mouths and are really good and shaking their heads to dislodge a hook

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Officially off the Pies bandwagon

Da pirate's picture

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Ha ha ha!!

Thu, 2017-11-02 19:50

Skip back too the last post with the hezzas young

fella ! Remember me da pirate !! Gave ya

little advice on hooks buddy !! Lol ! 

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Tried

Thu, 2017-11-02 20:11

 ah yes i tried the hooks mentioned last post they worked great, but its when i lift them out they drop or just before they spit the hook 

Thanks Pirate!

Da pirate's picture

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Prawns with the scissors ..

Thu, 2017-11-02 20:02

that's me young whipper! 

Hutch's picture

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Circle hooks are the go.

Thu, 2017-11-02 20:08

Circle hooks are the go. Something like size 4 works well and shouldn't lose as many fish

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Alex

Thu, 2017-11-02 20:13

Back your drag right off so the fish can take line, always keep the line tight, try to minimise jumping and land the ones you want to keep with a net.

I fish an unweighted bait (squid, peeled prawn or mulie fillet) on a size 10-12 long shank in a burley trail.  They can be hard to find sometimes but if they are around the burley will bring them.

Good luck, if you put the effort in you will learn.  I don't think you will have a session on herring where some of them don't throw the hook though.   

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Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - LH.

 

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 We use the Mustad Wide Gaps

Thu, 2017-11-02 20:26

 We use the Mustad Wide Gaps - the red ones 'Big Mouth' for Herring and KGs.

Make for an easier less damaging release for smaller fish and less swallowed hooks when the Butterfish and Trumpeters are around.

Seems to help minimise lost fish too.

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 Half the fun mate. I just

Thu, 2017-11-02 22:35

 Half the fun mate. I just use a light halco twisty. Keep the rod low and the line tight. You always loose a few though! Mmmm herring. I sometimes crush the barbs if they are really biting. Easier release and more challenging. 

Reel_Fishin''s picture

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 Circle hooksHarder for them

Fri, 2017-11-03 08:20

 Circle hooks

Harder for them to spit the hook

Uluabuster's picture

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 Once the fish is near the

Fri, 2017-11-03 08:26

 Once the fish is near the rocks, swing them in one big arc to land them. try not to lift them gently. If you start marking around they will jump and eventually throw hook.

 I have caught them consistently on minnows jerk violently, usually one treble in the jaw area and another elsewhere, hard for them to throw the hooks. :)

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 Black Magic KL1/0 circles

Fri, 2017-11-03 08:29

 Black Magic KL1/0 circles can't go wrong!

use them all the time for whiting/herring have also caught 550mm dhu and recently a 950mm snapper on them.

dont strike like you would with the long shanks just lift the rod to hook the fish.

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I agree with circle hooks

Fri, 2017-11-03 09:04

 They have been far more successful than longshanks in my opinion.

I've watched a few of the old boys down at South Mole who use them and they are absolute pros. Rarely lose a fish in the rocks and they fish from the road. Can't say I'm quite as successful as they are!

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To bump this with my own

Fri, 2017-11-03 16:28

To bump this with my own question. I want to set up a lure for herring. I have a couple of halco Twistys because I've been told that herring love them some twistys. I have also heard that they like green too. However I have no idea how to put these two facts together. Should I tie a normal swivel, leader and lure to a line but have a few inches of green lumo tube above the lure? Or have a triple hook below the green lumo and then a lure below that? As you can see, I have no idea.

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 if using a twistie just use

Fri, 2017-11-03 16:34

 if using a twistie just use normal hook. if using lumo tube trail it behind a float with abot 9oo to a meter of trace . no need to use both

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

Fishn n Ridin's picture

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Ah ok so they'll take a lure

Fri, 2017-11-03 17:16

Ah ok so they'll take a lure just like any other fish with nothing particular needed except a lure they like

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 thats it. have a few diff

Fri, 2017-11-03 17:50

 thats it. have a few diff types as they dont always take the same one. mix it up a bit. like with the straw. i use wall plugs but carry 3 diff colors . 

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

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Hook size

Fri, 2017-11-03 17:21

Im going to go buy the Blaxkmagic KL hook what size should i get?, 1/0?

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 yes  thats the size 

Fri, 2017-11-03 17:51

 yes  thats the size 

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together