Simple and Friendly Thresher Rig

[Mo Betta]

Thanks Steve, I was just in the garage making up the same setup, except all wire.

[?? fisherman]

Too funny, I was almost going to post a very similar thread tonight but decided I wasn't up to it (tired).

I can heavily vouch for this as myself, Chuck and a few other nameless friends have been toying with something very similar with a 100% mouth hook-up ratio in the past week (9 hook-ups).

PLEASE pay attention to what Steve is saying guys, this is the most sporting & bitchen way to hook,fight & catch these awesome sharks, and here is the kicker..... if you fish in this manner you can actually get by with lighter gear if you wish. Chuck caught a 246lber fishing solo today (5/4/09) on an Avet MX (were talking small reel) & 80# spectra. Like Steve said, the air display is sometimes a complete jawdropper, and other times they will just freight train right across the surface putting on a killer show!! Circle hooks are the key here, as I messed around with this a few years back with J hooks and had just so so success, with far more tail hook-ups vs mouth hook-ups.

This IS the way to catch these sharks, but if you still feel the need to drag a Ballyhood or BaitoMatic then at least run it hookless or cover those hooks with some plastic tubing and watch for the thump, and throw out a dropback.

Lets make drag & snag a thing of the past!! This is HIGHLY effective, cost very little, simple and far more rewarding.

Thanks again Steve for posting this, it's far overdue. My daughter spilled water all over our camera and ruined it, so once I get a new one I will post up how Chuck, myself & a few of my buddies are rigging ours as well.

Lets get more people doing this!

The unknown fisherman

[Pescador Paul]

Thanks for the info Steve. I have actually switched to circle hooks on all of my skirted thresher lures.

[Bigfish69]

Originally Posted by ?? fisherman

Too funny, I was almost going to post a very similar thread tonight but decided I wasn't up to it (tired).

I can heavily vouch for this as myself, Chuck and a few other nameless friends have been toying with something very similar with a 100% mouth hook-up ratio in the past week (9 hook-ups).

PLEASE pay attention to what Steve is saying guys, this is the most sporting & bitchen way to hook,fight & catch these awesome sharks, and here is the kicker..... if you fish in this manner you can actually get by with lighter gear if you wish. Chuck caught a 246lber fishing solo today (5/4/09) on an Avet MX (were talking small reel) & 80# spectra. Like Steve said, the air display is sometimes a complete jawdropper, and other times they will just freight train right across the surface putting on a killer show!! Circle hooks are the key here, as I messed around with this a few years back with J hooks and had just so so success, with far more tail hook-ups vs mouth hook-ups.

This IS the way to catch these sharks, but if you still feel the need to drag a Ballyhood or BaitoMatic then at least run it hookless or cover those hooks with some plastic tubing and watch for the thump, and throw out a dropback.

Lets make drag & snag a thing of the past!! This is HIGHLY effective, cost very little, simple and far more rewarding.

Thanks again Steve for posting this, it's far overdue. My daughter spilled water all over our camera and ruined it, so once I get a new one I will post up how Chuck, myself & a few of my buddies are rigging ours as well.

Lets get more people doing this!

The unknown fisherman

Exactly,,,this info is more important than most realize. I will be swapping out the j's for circles for sure and strongly believe that its people like you guys stepping up to voice your ideas and expieriencee that will pay dividends in the future. Nice job fellas!

69R

[bajaandy]

Just finished building my rigs similar to the ones shown, only all cable with the torpedo crimped in-line like ChesapeakChuck mentioned. Gonna try it out tomorrow and see if we can score a mouth hook up.

[got2fishsd]

Thank you for posting Steve you are doing wonders for these beautiful fish. This seems to be catching on already. Take a look at last years posts and compare to this year.

If you are going to go through the trouble to re rig a POS BOM you might as well just set up a rig this way.

[?? fisherman]

Why in the world anybody would continue to use the BaitoMatics or Ballyhoods is beyond me when they can make these rigs for cheap and then have not only the same success rate but possibly even better, and with a mouth hooked airborne thresher to boot.

I think the hardest part now is convincing guys to make change (taking them out of their comfort zone) and then having the convidence to keep using this set-up even when your having an off day.

I went out yesterday and pulled my mouth hook rig for only one zip and then nada for the remainder of the day. I did watch 4 threshers hooked and all were on BOM or Ballyhoods, BUT I also know of 4 other boats (whom I know personally and are very good fisherman) who were fishing the same area and dragging BOMs with Zero results for the day also, yet I saw a total thresher noobie hook-up twice right next to me ............... sometimes it's all about just running over the fish.

I guess my point in all the above is that even if you are not having the best of results for the day with this rig, DON'T discount it, it really does work insanely well and with the bonus of a mouth hooked thresher (as it should be) and in most cases an air show that will amaze you! I am quite certain that if all the guys I saw fishing on tuesday were running these rigs the results would have been the same or better!

Seriously, bail on those other snag & drag rigs and make some of these and give them a try......... there's no excuse now, make the switch!! If I have to Ill make them for ya....... just do it!!

The unknown fisherman

[BuonaForTuna]

Originally Posted by BiggestT

I got tired of making repeated posts, so here's a picture of the leader I use to slow troll bridle rigged mackerel for threshers:



The circle hook is a heavy duty Owner. I believe the size is 8/0 or 9/0, but I placed it next to a 5 oz torpedo weight for reference. There's approximately 2' of 400 lb cable and 10' of 400 lb mono. I use a 400 lb wind-on (by Basil) above this leader, so my main line is well away from the thresher's tail. The weight is attached just below the wind-on connection with a #32 rubberband using a 5-turn cats paw so it won't slide down the leader. The #32 rubberband breaks about 10 lbs and the weight will typically drop off during the fight. I usually use 6 oz to 8 oz weights, depending on the size of the mackerel.

Slow troll at 2 knots. I use a single 48" chute to slow my idle speed from 2.7 knots down to 2 knots or less. You will not cover much ground, so find your fishy areas, whether it's feed on the meter, birds, have even got them in areas with porpoise. Drop 2 baits in and work the area for 30 minutes. If nothing, then move to another fishy area. Troll the baits with the drag set to where the line stops paying out. Sometimes they will inhale it and are off to the races with the reel screaming, then just push the drag up. If you get a zip from a tail slap, stop the boat and let the baits sink out. You may have to wait minutes, but observe your baits to make sure they're still there as I've had them swatted completely off the hook. Typically they'll come back around and inhale the bait they just swatted. We had a 300 lb T inhale both baits last August. Give the fish a good 5 to 10 second count, push up the drag and you should be on.

Your hook-up ratio will be soooooo much higher using this method. Every missed tail swat on a Bait-O-Matic will most likely become a hooked fish because you're feeding them as opposed to trying to snag them. You'll know a mouth hooked thresher because they'll put on a aerial show and your jaw will drop when you see a 300 lb slob come completely out of the water. Also, there's less chance of the deep death dive with a mouth hooked T. Once you get their head, you can get their tale to work for you by using the boat. None of this straight up and down pulling on a tail hooked fish. We've brought 300 lb fish to the boat in less than 20 minutes and rarely go over 40 minutes on them.

So when are we going? . Good info bud Miggs told me you had some secret spots and we all know sharing is caring.

[The Right Kind]

What's the best way to hook the bait, sideways or up through the lower lip, other?

[locobro]

Great post.

One thing to note about mouth hooking a big T. They have the potential of coming to the boat alot more uh.. spirited, so you had better be on your game

There is a big difference in dealing with a lethargic, oxygen starved fish vs. one who comes to the boat just to see who is screwing with it.

Flying gaff and a good tail rope if you plan on taking it, a dehooker isn't a bad idea if you don't. It sucks to try and release a shark from the business end and screw them up in the process.

Oh yeah, and Wheaties.

Enjoy every second of it.

[el capo]

Originally Posted by The Right Kind

What's the best way to hook the bait, sideways or up through the lower lip, other?

Bridle it.

[BiggestT]

Originally Posted by el capo

Bridle it.

Miguel is right: bridle it. When you bridle rig a mackerel, it will stay alive much longer, like all day. So you are not at risk of the bait spinning out on you. If you don't know how to bridle rig a mackerel, learn how. If it's still more than you can handle, then look at the Quick Rig Tool that Melton's sells.

Also, I see other suggesting to rig the weight in-line, or using the in-line cable rigged trolling weights in the 16 oz size. No doubt that will work. It is a matter of preference and I prefer a 6 to 8 oz torpedo rubber banded to the leader as depicted in the photo. The weight will dump off during the fight. IMO much cleaner than messing around with an in-line weight.