GTPopping.com - Giant Trevally, GTPopping, Topwater & GT Fly-Fishing Resource
Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Tackle & Techniques => Topic started by: Scott Schrapel on July 28, 2010, 02:29:04 PM
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Hi All,
How may of you guys fish live baits for GT`S & dead baits????
What rig set ups would you use to fish this technique????
Anny additional info on this type of fishing would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Scott.
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I've caught them before live baiting and dead baiting. Used 1 to 1.5 kgs bonito. When live used a very crude system. One 7/0 hook in the top jaw, one 9/0 hook two inches from the tail. Rigged through with wire trace and trolled super slow, 2 or 3 knots. When dead baiting we cut the bonito in half and used the back half tralwed tail first with a single hook in the setup, the wire was tied to the tail as the towing point, with the tail trimmed so it didn't spin. Both live and dead on the down rigger with the reel in freespool till it was taken and then strike..... Caught some nice ones in the 30-40 kgs range like that.
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Sorry Scott, but I don't use bait (live or dead) for any sportfishing I do as I'd fall asleep waiting for something to happen ;D
With GT's, for me its only stickbaits or poppers. Its visual, seeing that take is what makes it fun.
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I'm with Ken.. Someone once told me try using a fusilier hooked through the eyes with a fast retrieve, it works great with a head assist hook as well! ;) ;D
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I'm with Ken.. Someone once told me try using a fusilier hooked through the eyes with a fast retrieve, it works great with a head assist hook as well! ;) ;D
Must be a smart fisherman that came up with that idea Sunny ;)
i have also been informed that Fusiliers swim better with a treble on the belly ;D ;D
Sorry Scott, but I don't use bait (live or dead) for any sportfishing I do as I'd fall asleep waiting for something to happen ;D
With GT's, for me its only stickbaits or poppers. Its visual, seeing that take is what makes it fun.
Dido Ken
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My mate Dave has used the livebaiting technique to great effect, though it looks too much like hard work to me
First, you have to take a Kong 180 and throw it around on a popper rod for a while to catch the bait
Then when you have the bait (in his example, a red bass about 5kg) you slowly bring it towards the boat, pretending to be disappointed
Then a big GT comes and smashes it and you hope you hook up
Here is the result
(http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo56/maybs79/Fiji%202010/CIMG3931_small.jpg)
For mine though, I would rather just skip the red bass part and get them to eat the damn lure :D
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Awesome feed back guys.
Much appreciated as I am a novice. I am trying to cover all areas for my up coming trip to Cairn, Mission Beach & Hinchinbrook in February.
I want to give my self the best chance possible in catching one of these GT`S. I have spent the coin on all the right gear & I need it to pay off...along with a lot of luck.... LOL
I will be using a Smith GTK77 paired with a Stella 18000SW for my popper rod & a Saltiga SG 80TN paired with a Saltiga 450Z for my stick bait rod.
I have booked in on a charter (Blackout Charters with Kerry) the first day of my 16 day trip. I hope to learn from him before I go out on my own & try & to start a battle with one of these fish.
Cheers guys keep it feed back coming & I have a lot to learn.
Kind Regards,
Scott
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Hey SCott,
We do a fair amount of Live baiting for GT's here in South Africa, with good numbers of 50 kilo plus fish being taken off our beaches every summer, especially on our North East coast and up into Mozambique...
Our conditions dictate the use of long 12' to 14' surf rods, coupled with large overheads like Trinidad 40/ Saltiga 50 reels or similar, usually spooled with about 200 metres of .55mm Mono over a 600 metre braid ( usually 50lb ) backing...
These guys use one of two methods:
Non Return Slide Trace:
This involves casting a 8oz to 10oz Grappling sinker as far as you can ( these guys push it to 120 to 150 metres ) and getting the Grapple sinker to "sit" solidly in the sand/reef...
They then clip either a deadbait or live bait onto the mainline, by use of a non return slide trace which they then slide down the mainline by bouncing/swinging the rod.... its an amazing system which allows one to send a 2 to 3 kilo bait a good hundred metres out..If you google Non Return Slide Trace you should come up with some examples and a better description than I have given here...
The other option would be Swimbait Trace:
This involves swimming a large live bait directly off the beach... The shark boys here in SA use anything up to 70 kilo rays/Skates to fish for Bull Sharks and Tiger SHarks off the beach... but the guys focusiing on GT's usually use a small Tailor, a Wave Garrick ( Spotted Pompano ) or best bait being a live bonefish...
These baits are hooked and swum directly into the surf... and basically allowed to swim till they get eaten...
Most concious anglers are using a single circlle hook rig for this...
Obviuously tactics off a boat are completely different, but should be pretty simple... live bait with a bridled circle and you're in business... small Bonnies or similar are like GT Candy and will get sucked up!
Granted we would all prefer to catch GT's on Jigs and Poppers, but sometimes the fish will only eat a live bait, and I for one, after 3 days of popping or Jigging with no love, and I know the fish are their, will not turn my nose up at swimming a Livebait on my popping rod for a bit of fun....
I think that admitting to that on this forum is akin to commercial suicide, but I'm a fisherman, not a purist!!!!! ;D ;D
And standing on a desrted beach at sunset wityh a live bait kicking out through the surf while you sip a beer is a pretty fine way to enjoy the end of a good fishing day!
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Hey SCott,
We do a fair amount of Live baiting for GT's here in South Africa, with good numbers of 50 kilo plus fish being taken off our beaches every summer, especially on our North East coast and up into Mozambique...
Our conditions dictate the use of long 12' to 14' surf rods, coupled with large overheads like Trinidad 40/ Saltiga 50 reels or similar, usually spooled with about 200 metres of .55mm Mono over a 600 metre braid ( usually 50lb ) backing...
These guys use one of two methods:
Non Return Slide Trace:
This involves casting a 8oz to 10oz Grappling sinker as far as you can ( these guys push it to 120 to 150 metres ) and getting the Grapple sinker to "sit" solidly in the sand/reef...
They then clip either a deadbait or live bait onto the mainline, by use of a non return slide trace which they then slide down the mainline by bouncing/swinging the rod.... its an amazing system which allows one to send a 2 to 3 kilo bait a good hundred metres out..If you google Non Return Slide Trace you should come up with some examples and a better description than I have given here...
The other option would be Swimbait Trace:
This involves swimming a large live bait directly off the beach... The shark boys here in SA use anything up to 70 kilo rays/Skates to fish for Bull Sharks and Tiger SHarks off the beach... but the guys focusiing on GT's usually use a small Tailor, a Wave Garrick ( Spotted Pompano ) or best bait being a live bonefish...
These baits are hooked and swum directly into the surf... and basically allowed to swim till they get eaten...
Most concious anglers are using a single circlle hook rig for this...
Obviuously tactics off a boat are completely different, but should be pretty simple... live bait with a bridled circle and you're in business... small Bonnies or similar are like GT Candy and will get sucked up!
Granted we would all prefer to catch GT's on Jigs and Poppers, but sometimes the fish will only eat a live bait, and I for one, after 3 days of popping or Jigging with no love, and I know the fish are their, will not turn my nose up at swimming a Livebait on my popping rod for a bit of fun....
I think that admitting to that on this forum is akin to commercial suicide, but I'm a fisherman, not a purist!!!!! ;D ;D
And standing on a desrted beach at sunset wityh a live bait kicking out through the surf while you sip a beer is a pretty fine way to enjoy the end of a good fishing day!
Have to agree with you Andre - fishing live-baits from the beach does require skill, and i second the sentiments in your last three sentences..! ;)
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Here in Hawaii we use live bait in many different ways. For a rather unique way.....lol....look for "ulua eating awa" on youtube. The GT in question is about 40 kilos....80lbs+. I have gotten many of them to bite like this but have not been successful in landing them.
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Our conditions dictate the use of long 12' to 14' surf rods, coupled with large overheads like Trinidad 40/ Saltiga 50 reels or similar, usually spooled with about 200 metres of .55mm Mono over a 600 metre braid ( usually 50lb ) backing...
These guys use one of two methods:
Non Return Slide Trace:
This involves casting a 8oz to 10oz Grappling sinker as far as you can ( these guys push it to 120 to 150 metres ) and getting the Grapple sinker to "sit" solidly in the sand/reef...
They then clip either a deadbait or live bait onto the mainline, by use of a non return slide trace which they then slide down the mainline by bouncing/swinging the rod.... its an amazing system which allows one to send a 2 to 3 kilo bait a good hundred metres out..If you google Non Return Slide Trace you should come up with some examples and a better description than I have given here...
(...)
And standing on a desrted beach at sunset wityh a live bait kicking out through the surf while you sip a beer is a pretty fine way to enjoy the end of a good fishing day!
You guys amaze me. I fished with a lot of SA anglers when I was in Gabon and I've learnt a lot on the surf casting technics. To my mind you are one of the best beach fishermen in the world. The technic you mention is, nowday, the only one I use when it comes to fish from the shore. The problem is that I don't find these non return slide trace in Europe. Anyway, I have stil a dozen left and will use them till the end !
This technic is the ONLY way to cast far from the shore and reach spots where we usualy don't fish. You can rig a fragile and tiny livebait for Lady fish or a 2kg mulet and fish at >100m from the shore. Thats just AWESOME !
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Alban,
Glad to here someone of your experience was so impressed with the SA anglers... With our conditions, our boys are forced to adapt to put fish on the beach....
If you ever need anymore Slide Traces buddy, let me know, I can get the heavy duty ones for you no problem and send them to you.
Cheers
Nepps
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Guys, this site is called "gtpopping" for a reason. I really don't think thread is consistent with the ethos of the forum
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Guys, this site is called "gtpopping" for a reason. I really don't think thread is consistent with the ethos of the forum
Go on Brandon ya big meanie. You've also got whole sections devoted to Tuna and jigging. Is it really that bad?
BTW, GT's love live school/spotty mackerel (legal size of course). There's a few spots around Cairns where they'll grab them as soon as they hit the water. It's surprising (to me) how big a bait GT's will take. Only really need a simple rig - Decent leader and hook pinned halfway down the mac's back.
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Sorry Brandon. No disrespect intended. I like to catch GT's with all techniques. Plugging, live baiting, slide baiting, dunking(chunking), etc. Mostly catch and release too. BTW, I had an extra large GT attack and try to swallow a baby hammerhead shark a couple months back. UNREAL. Too bad it missed my 11/0 Super Mutu hook that I stuck in the back of the hammerhead.
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Hi guys,
We aren't pointing the finger at anybody - merely reminding members of the purpose of this site - which is GT popping and stickbaiting. We also have jigging and tuna casting as they share a lot of similarities in transferable equipment, rigging styles and techniques etc
The reason why the content quality of this site is so high is due to our highly specialized and specific subject matter. We do not want to be everything to everyone - there are other forums out there for that.
We are prepared to be flexible in some cases but let's not push it too far.
As a sign to the members that this is merely a reminder - we will keep this thread open.
Please continue to enjoy the site!
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Hey Scott, for what it's worth, and without wanting to upset the masses, I remember a little session popping for GT's on the back of the Odyssey at Bugatti (after a hard day popping from the dories of course), when one of the guys jagged a fusi on the popper quite by accident. Sure enough the fusi was subsequently pinned onto a live bait hook and sent back off the back of the boat directly into the middle of probably 6-10 circling GT's.
Y'know what....the GT's would not touch it! We went on to take a further 2-3 GTs on the poppers whilst the fusi swam quite happily unmolested around the back of the boat in full view of the circling GT's. It wasn't until the guy holding the rod finally got bored of everyone else catching the fish that he wound the little fusi in to swap over to a popper rod. Out of pure sympathy and part interest I offered to dispatch the fusi for him whilst he re rigged.
I clocked him over the head (the fusi that is) partially butterflied both sides so the fillets were flapping in the current and sent him back over the duck board for another swim.....would you believe it was snapped up by a 25kg GT before I could even open the bail arm to lower it deeper into the water. My curiosity satisfied, I retreated to the bar for another cold one.
I'm not sure exactly what it was that set them off, whether it was the blood coming of the bait or the seductive wiggle of the fillets in the water....one things for sure though, the poppers were much more successful (and fun) than dunking the live fusi - and a lot less stressful, I would imagine, for the fusi!
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i like to use a small dog or cat,lol
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Settle Peter!
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I know I'm a little late commenting on this post, however thought it was worth noting the largest Gt (50+kg) I have seen landed took a live bait footed under a balloon. It was caught off Dunk island over a ship wreck in approx 80 meters of water. Must also say we got smoked by several other fish that day on the poppers and jigs.
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Live baiting is a very proven lbg technique however there is at least one other forum that is well known for its lbg and is mainly concerned with live baiting so i advise others to check there firstly i think its not really appreciate for this forum .
Personally I find it as an angler boring I prefer to cast whether its high speed spinning for tuna or mackerel , using tuna hardbodies such as tackle house/souls for both species and poppers and stick baits for gt,s but also for all three .
South of the border there has been a shift in attitudes and kingfish is being regularly targeted from land using Gt rods, poppers and stickbaits successfully however the majority still live bait .
What i like about this forum is that apart from the jigging section it is dedicated to casting lures for Gt, Tuna and kingfish all done by casting the techniques used for Gt fishing share similarities to casting for tuna and same with kingfish and all can be done from land if you have the right spots and experience. no disrespect to anglers who live bait for Gt's from boat or land but i agree with both Luke and Brandon's post live baiting discussions should be done in a forum that is dedicated to that and its not hard to find . No disrespect to south African anglers probably the best lbg fishos around not to mention the amount who are directly involved by working for gt popping charter operators
Personally just love to cast (hate game boat trawling as well 8)