Bullshooter

There's a good article on offshore circle hook rigs in the May "Saltwater Sportsman" and has a couple of rigs for naked ballyhoo. I've used circles on my Ilanders and it doesn't seem to change the way it runs or catches.

DISANTO

Don't be scared of the circle hook. They have been used successfully all over the world including areas with "fewer" billfish like ours. (although not Costa Rica..we get our share)

Be careful rigging them. There are nine million ways to rig a ballyhoo w/ a circle, but the most important factor is ensuring the hook is free to rotate in the fishes jaw. The hook must be able to "rotate" freely to catch the corner of the jaw. Ideally, there must be a small "gap" between the hook and the balyhoo. (created with wire, swivel, floss...whatever)

There are several rigs using balyhoo/islanders/circles floating around on the web, but I don't like any of them. I think the islander will obstruct the circle from finding its target. But, if you are a die hard islander guy....search the web...you'll see a few examples of how they put the circle hook out in front of the balyhoo/islander.(gonna need a monster drop back) Or.....just troll the islander without the balyhoo. They will still catch fish.

In regards to the comment about being by the rod at all times ready to drop back...that's fishing! The crew should always be ready to drop back on a fish (circle hook or J.) If you find that this is not practical given your circumstances....you have other options. How about looping your line in the release clip to give you an automatic drop back. Or, how about, keeping the reel in free spool with the clicker on. While there is no substitute for a vigilant crew...both methods are being used by anglers to date.

Believe it or not, there are captains out there that swear circles will hook fish (billfish and other pelagics) on the troll with full strike drag settings. The bottom line is....practice..practice ...practice. I like the statement made that the techniques fun fishing will be the same as when in tournaments. How else will we be ready in a tournament if we don't fish the same techniques all the time. Tournament time is not the time to be experimenting.

Bottom line...many of us do not employ the classic "bait and switch" fishing techniques used in other parts of the world. However, circles can, and have, been used successfully in trolling applications pertinent to our area. I would not doubt that we will be seeing much more of the circle hook. They are mandated only in tournaments with natural bait.......for NOW. Who knows about next year....may we take an example from the bottom fishing regulations??!!

I hope to learn more this season as it has been some time since I TROLLED a circle. I hope that members of this forum will share their experiences, and that we can all become better fishermen/women! Do I agree with the ruling....no. Do I think J hooks trolled increase gut hookings...no. Does it matter what I think....NO! So, let's get out there and catch some fish.

Below is a link and a pic of a few examples of lure/hoo/circle rigs

http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/...rig-34296.html

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andyyar

Haven't had a chance to pull this for bills yet but i intend to pull it at standard artificial trolling speed with 24#'s of drag locked and loaded. Many billfish seem to swat/eat the bait from the side and turn to run with it in their mouths instantly. it may have something to do with their eyes being on the side of the head, but that head thrash to the side seems to account for a lot of the false hooking. In my opinion (hopefully soon confirmed with catches!) if the fish gets the circle hook anywhere in his mouth and turns to swim off against a boat moving seven knots and 24#'s of drag, then that hook point is going to snag the corner of his mouth and set hard, fast and securely. That is why i rigged this lure with the hook in the center of the lure, rather than at the end of the skirt. the billfish striking from the side seem to generally find the center of the bait. this particular lure is alomst 20" so im hoping that the centered hook location will up the odds of it finding his mouth on the first whack. Ive spoken to some west coast guys who've been trolling artificials with circles for 10+ years and swear by it. they claim that with lures, the drop back is not necessary. provided that he gets the hook somewhere in his mouth, when he turns to run the hook does the rest of the work. they emphasized heavy drag mostly due to the toughness of the mouth, they want that hook to drive home well in the corner. hopefully will have some real world feedback on strike to hookup ratios soon.

ay

Ropes

Of course you do Blue Hoo, your big game. I expected 8 though.

josephyar

Andy and I have spent hours arguing and laboring over the best and most efficient way to rig ballyhoo with circle hooks. I have my roots in the light tackle and stealth approach to rigging natural baits. I like to use accurate reels with 65lb braid albrighted to 80lb fluro leader snelled to eacle claw 9/0 non offset circle hooks. From there the picture tell the story. This rig is great completely naked or with a duster and has the stealth and the no nonsense pin spring combo we are all familiar with. Its fast, brainless and swims perfect. If one desires, asmall egg sinker can be positioned in between the hoos eye sockets with copper wire for additional weight. This rig just dumbs down the wiring B/S associated with guatemala rigs etc. This is number 9 wire haywire twist with standing pin, small bait spring, spro 130lb swivel, yozuri 80lb fluro, and the components can be upsized for horse hoos, flyers, etc.

Xanadu

I suggest you re-examine your lure selection or rigging technique and here's why. Each lure has a designed action and it takes proper rigging to get it. Too thick or heavy and there's no wiggle. Store made double hook rigs on heavy cable are horrible and can ruin an otherwise great lure's action.



Meat baits get a lower hook-up ratio than a properly rigged lure without bait. There are several factors for this and if you like I can explain. Also, the main reason bally/islander combos work is because everyone on the freakin planet is dragging a couple. Replace it with a Bart wicked o pro-het properly rigged and the barts will catch the same fish with a higher hook up. Essentially, an islander with a ballyhoo turns the smallish Islander into a big lure. the bally hoo wiggles and flashes like a natural fish should and makes for a highly visible and eatable lure. It runs on the surface like an injured bait and appeals to the prey drive of billfish and others.



Personally, I can't really see spending $6 per fake ballyhoo to get it killed on every wahoo strike, lower my hook up ratio and expose mono to toothy critters I can avoid with other rigs.



There are many, many ways to rig meatbait/lure combos with circle hooks that will work. The best I've seen is the small softhead chuggers with the circle hook in front of the lure and bait bridled to hook. Good luck.

Xanadu

Rig your circle hook and leader like you would for live bait.



Take a piece of 100# leader and form a tight loop in both ends - big enough to fit barely over the barb and to pass through the head of the lure and then to attach to bridled ballyhoo. Basically, you're rigging the lure with a little leader loop out the front and back. You slip the circle hook through the front loop and attach the rear to the bridled hooter.



This keeps you from losing your lure, but hard heads like Islanders will get dropped a lot. You'll miss damn near every hooter and tuna on the troll. For best results, use soft heads.