Rod n Reel .

[Andy Rowe]

Jon, abit off-topic again...

I got an email this morning, rumors of sailfish biting at Alor...sure you can't make it???

I've never fished for them, so on the chance they do show up, can you or anyone give me some tips on the finer details of setting up a combo for sails, i assume a more gentle approach required.

Rgds
Andy

[Jon Li]

Andy ,

Ky Doucet whom you met in a Singapore tackle shop taught me how to hook the sailfish , it requires good timing when to strike and upon finding solid take , must strike repeatedly , say 8~10 times to drive the barb of the hook inti the bill of the sailfish . Treble won't work , must use single hook .

Myself still learning , only had 3 solid hook up so far after twice went to Rompin but sailfish is completely different than GT or Tuna , smaller lures around 60 gr. is a better choise .

Can't make it , I have commitment with my business partners n have to attend the Fishy Gathering on Sunday , Dec. 14 - 2008 . Sorry but timing was not convenient for me .

Jon .

[Andy Rowe]

Jon,

I was thinking of a modified Z4500H with PE4 60lb braid and smaller spinoza or SJ41 jig hooks on kevlar cord tied onto tuna stickbaits

Should one also back the initial drag off a touch for the initial take?

Thanks
Andy

[Jon Li]

Hi Andy ,

Tried SJ41 but better with results with longer shank hooks , in Rompin they use " Baker's rig " which is single hooks back to back held by electrical shrink tape .

I use SW6000HG ( 2003 ) + Z4500 as spare , Ky uses his SW10000XG ( 2008 ) and Twinpower 8000PG as spare so your combo is OK .

You ned to have long bite leader to avoid abraion by the bill of the sailfish , a 100 lbs. mono leader would last 5 strikes before you need to change it , an expensive lesson in 2007 for me , now I use 70 cm bite leader using 300 lbs. mono or better still fluorocarbon .

I use mainly Wahoo 60 or Ulua 60 but Skipjack 60 works too .

Jon .

[Andy Rowe]

Hi Andy ,

Tried SJ41 but better with results with longer shank hooks , in Rompin they use " Baker's rig " which is single hooks back to back held by electrical shrink tape .

I use SW6000HG ( 2003 ) + Z4500 as spare , Ky uses his SW10000XG ( 2008 ) and Twinpower 8000PG as spare so your combo is OK .

You ned to have long bite leader to avoid abraion by the bill of the sailfish , a 100 lbs. mono leader would last 5 strikes before you need to change it , an expensive lesson in 2007 for me , now I use 70 cm bite leader using 300 lbs. mono or better still fluorocarbon .

I use mainly Wahoo 60 or Ulua 60 but Skipjack 60 works too .

Jon .

Jon,

300lb is huge flouro, they are obviously not too shy of it!! Do you twist the bite leader back 70cm and lock it with crimps top and bottom or do you have another method? And how long is your overall leader length and is it all 300lb or is your leader different material to your bite leader?

Thanks
Andy

[Jon Li]

Hi Andy ,

My overall leader + bite leader is just over 2m in length , the bite leader stays outside the tiptop guide when casting , it's crimped on both ends and mono leader is tied directly to the loop while the other end of the loop to the lure I use splitring to the eyelet .

Jon .

[Andy Rowe]

Jon, ok got it, so a single strand crimped and tied onto say 100 to 130 lb leader.

Thanks
A

[Greg Burt]

Ray, the 18000 has 8cm more retrieve than the 10000 which is a smaller reel, too small for the GT-Special, you have the right reel for that rod IMO

Stella SW 
Model            Ratio   Retrieve per Crank (cm) Max Drag (Kg)    Line Capacity (m)      Bearings    Weight (g) 
 
STL10000SW  5.8:1        119                           23                     5/457, 7/292, 9/201         15              638 
STL18000SW  5.7:1        127                           25                     9/379, 11/311, 14/256      15              836     
STL20000SW  4.4:1        104                           25                     9/420, 11/347, 14/292      15              856 

[Ray Stevens]

Thanks for the input Greg....

I have gone for 130 pound PE jigger8 HG Braid for my main line ....using YGK Galis Castman absorber for my twisted leaders, in 170 lb and 200 lb, Ive kept the leaders down to 8 feet in length though (castability) so I have my (gloved) finger on Braid when I am casting.

My stratagy (if I get lucky) was to be able to put pressure on early if a bigger GT latches on, to try and drag it clear into open water...and hopefully win the tug of war as to who is going to be in the water or out of it....provided ofcourse the Bimini Twist double, rings, hooks or lines do not give way first.

I liked Lukes recent comment in another thread, about how you are only as strong as your weakest link.....

Cheers