hand rod vs reel rod for mullet

[Simon G]

hello everybody

this is a question every amature is faced with when starting the hobby

I personally prefer using a hand rod there is more controll on the fish and it is a great challenge espesially if you hook a big one say over 1 kg (My personal best is 3.85kg from marsa)
the  drawback is you tend to loose the nice ones as rod and line are put under immense pressure.

[placebo]

one of my personal rules - never use less than 0.14mm mono on pole rods (hand)

It is becoming a habit in Malta using rod reels for mullet, where you can use less than 0.10mm monos.



you can either use a fixed float on 7mtr / 8mtr reel rods or else use the running float method.

the advantage of the fixed float is that you have less slack to strike the fish when float makes the move....remember....reflexes are at their best when fishing mullet.

my conclusion - 9mtr pole with 0.14mm line for not clear waters, while fixed/ running float method with 0.08mm - 0.10mm mono in crystal clear waters.

[The Angler]

Hi I am new to the forum but I cannot say i am new to fishing, I have tried most sorts of fishing and have owned a relatively small boat for 16 years. Finally I got down to shore angling and had great satisfaction. My fishing  was reduced to max. 4 hour sessions due to various commitments. Going out with the boat means ?? hours of fishing.

I totally agree with keeping least 0.14mm on pole but it all depends on the fun and risk you want to take. The fact is how low can you go? In the past we have started a system of record keeping. Its not easy to keep but it is very interesting. Eurpoean Clubs keep it very seriously but you need evidence and a record keeper. Thinner lines and bigger fish are what count.

[Rams]

Hi guys,

Placebo wrote:

one of my personal rules - never use less than 0.14mm mono on pole rods (hand)

Its fair enough, but this limit can be increase and decreased according to the length of the pole. A nine metre pole can be equipped by a monofilament of diameter 0.12mm and obtaining the same results as fishing with a 0.14mm on an 8 metre pole . Other factors affect the pole's response including the parabolic action of the pole.

Apart from the speed issue, the pole is also very convenient when one is fishing in a restricted area with lots of buoys and 'hassle'. Better control of the fish imo!

Credit to the bolognese or match method should not be overlooked. Thinner diameters, greater distance and possibility of fishing in deeper waters are just a few of the advantages. Possibly, local club experts can give and explain their own methods.... and leave them open for crits and discussions.

[skip]

Welcome to the Forum, Angler and Rams, as I don't practice shore fishing I like to read up in this section to see what's going on and learn a bit.

As we use it offshore for big game, have you guys considered Spectra, like power pro (www.powerpro.com). I know it used on Spinning reels as well and gives monster casts and its also used for bottom line because it has zero stretch you can feel even the lightest bite, but I wonder if it could be used for handline. 8lbs test power pro has an equivalent diameter of 1lb test. 0.14 mono will usually give you around 2.1lbs breaking strength so as you can see that power pro is very thin and sensitive.

Thoughts?

[sergio]

hey skip actually i've been thinking about spooling up my reel with spectra , to use for bottom fishing from our boat. my reel holds 195 yards of 0.30mm mono. how much do you think the same length of spectra would cost ? I heard it's quite expensive but i guess it's worth it .

[skip]

Well let me put it this way, 1500 yards of 150lbs test Spectra cost us GBP 143.00 !!!

Having said that, it should be much cheaper in the smaller lbs and spool ratings. 0.30mm is like 12lbs mono so you could put 50lbs Spectra and spool the same 195 yards!!! or instead put 20lbs Spectra and spool 390 yards or 15lbs test and get 585 yards!!

Have a look at www.powerpro.com click on Buy Power Pro and then you can see the costs.

[The Angler]

I have tried some of these braided lines. They are fabulous. The only limitation is the competition aspect. As to all countries in eourope, The monofilament is the only line one can use in matches. We are trying to adopt this rule for matches so it's not wise to practice with barided lines while fishing alone. I did try the .09mm braided line and caught well sized fish that you would never imagine catching with a monofilament of less than .22 mm.

On the otherhand it is ideal for baracudas and sharp toothed fish. I also use the .25mm braided line on my side caster for bottom boat fishing since the friction to the current is much less and you would need a much smalle weight increasing the overall sensitivity of the system.

But up to now practising KSFA members would always opt for the monofilament. Finally it would not be fun if you land all the fish. Its good to give the fish a chance sometimes.

[skip]

Hehe all valid points Angler, indeed if you're into Competition then looks like you can't use braided lines! I believe IGFA don't allow it either for record setting. I think you could still have fun landing the fish with Braided line, I think what you mean is that it isn't so Sportsman like! which indeed it isn't. If only more people were in it for the Sport and were more disciplined fishing in general would be a totally different scene.

Can you imagine telling everyone that had to practise skip season fishing to increase the fish stocks and size. Eg. Year 1 No fishing whatsoever of any type, shore fishing, offshore fishing, commercial and non commercial within the 25 mile Maltese Fishing Zone and actually enforce it and then Year 2 either Open or semi-controlled fishing. The US did this in a way when they banned Long Lining in order to re-build their Swordfish stock and after 3 years the results were very impressive.

Food for thought!

[The Angler]

If we have some extra control over the length of nets and most of all the charges which are still in use over the reefs it would be a big plus. Do not get me wrong, I like to keep a descent sized fish and I know its not easy for the big guys to earn a living out of fishing, but finally good control is for their own good.

I hope that the closed season does not come into force for shore angling but I would really like that people start thinking of releasing small fish which one keeps for the cat or usually puts in a freezer as a trophy. If we reach this for now it would be an achievement.

[placebo]

I love to take a fish home to eat but sometimes it's just...........

just listen to this quote:

give the gift that keeps on giving

throw the fish back into the water and see what comes back to u...
who knows may be it will produce good karma to you
maybe something good will happen to you just because you returned a fish to its home

the fish you release is your gift to another angler and rember it may have been someone's similar gift to you!!!!

[Simon G]

Hi guys
I would like to say i just broke my previes record by 50grams and now the bar is set at 3.9kg (i am uploading the pics)

Size regulations are coming into practice I work very closeley with FCCD (fisheries department) they did not annouce a date yet but i have all the paper work mullet is set at 11cm

good luck guys
ps if anyone beats my record please let me know

[placebo]

3.9kgs!!!!! prosit Simon. Is that from land?

[The Angler]

Is it a mullet. WOW!!! that must be huge. Show us the photos please so we have a new target!! How did you catch it?

[Simon G]

well i shot that one but the 3.85 kg one was caught on a hand rod from salina

The place where i got the stonker is close to land but the peaple who fish there go for sargi not mullet

there is a shoal there of about 500 about 10 mt from shore

the area is mellieha the place a secret