10/28 ssp

[conureman]

Arrived at 1am to secure a spot.
Mack bite started at 7:40 during outgoing tide, only caught 4. Bite wasn't good. When the tide changed a started throwing a bubble float and caught 2 more. Got tired so started using a bobber with 6ft of 25lb fluorocarbon to a j hook. Cast it the opposite side of the direction of the current to let it float torwards me and repeat the process. End result 15 macs and 6
False albacore. 4 broke off either to getting tangled with other fisherman or them spitting it out. live bait won this round.
If you're going for macs I'd so say go for it.They are definitely there but be wary of false albacore. Fish on.

[shot33gun9]

Mack slayer........looks like they are still running small

[stuckintherocks]

What a day !! Glad someone else is catching on to the perks of arriving the night before ;D unfortunately for me I’m loaded with work these next few weeks and with my luck the bite will be dead again by the time I make it back out there… so conure now that you’ve got all these macks and albies under your belt…. I think it’s time for you to start researching and chasing that skyway pier kingfish hahaha

[conureman]

Oct 29, 2023 16:41:42 GMT -5 stuckintherocks said:

What a day !! Glad someone else is catching on to the perks of arriving the night before ;D unfortunately for me I’m loaded with work these next few weeks and with my luck the bite will be dead again by the time I make it back out there… so conure now that you’ve got all these macks and albies under your belt…. I think it’s time for you to start researching and chasing that skyway pier kingfish hahaha

I have the gear. Just deciding when I want to actually attempt it. The 2 rod limit is what's really holding me back from attempting it. I may just feeline a blue runner or big greenback in a outgoing tide so I can have a spare rod to fish for macks.

[shot33gun9]

That's how I would do it, just hope you don't hook one on a weekend with all those lines in the water

[conureman]

Oct 29, 2023 17:06:32 GMT -5 shot33gun9 said:

That's how I would do it, just hope you don't hook one on a weekend with all those lines in the water

That be a nightmare but sadly the only days I can really go out there.

[stuckintherocks]

I know you’re an end of the pier fisherman but I refuse to believe that’s the only place you stand a chance to get one… only fishing the weekends is unfortunate because you have to deal with the loads of people on the pier and the loads of boats in the water… I would wait until the weather is just crappy enough to keep the boats away. Then you might be able to drift a bait way out off the corner without having to worry too much. Not sure the legality of this but one of those small just keeper Mack’s would be better bait than money could buy. I know that most recent one caught on ssp was on a whole ladyfish.

[conureman]

Oct 29, 2023 17:45:53 GMT -5 stuckintherocks said:

I know you’re an end of the pier fisherman but I refuse to believe that’s the only place you stand a chance to get one… only fishing the weekends is unfortunate because you have to deal with the loads of people on the pier and the loads of boats in the water… I would wait until the weather is just crappy enough to keep the boats away. Then you might be able to drift a bait way out off the corner without having to worry too much. Not sure the legality of this but one of those small just keeper Mack’s would be better bait than money could buy. I know that most recent one caught on ssp was on a whole ladyfish.

I had a encounter with one back in April where it followed a clarkspoon with pink flash stickers but I had the drag too tight so it snapped.
It was like in the middle of the pier right past the bait shop.
Saturday and Sunday are 2 tide days but it's outgoing in the morning. I doubt I'll catch one but imagine try. Don't think Mack bite will be good but I at least gotta try.

[shot33gun9]

Legal size mack is good bait, just don't use chunks, keep it whole. Few years ago I watched a guy get two 30" kings by the storage shed, back to back on big threadfins. Was springtime though....freelining on an average falling tide

[conureman]

Oct 29, 2023 18:53:40 GMT -5 shot33gun9 said:

Legal size mack is good bait, just don't use chunks, keep it whole. Few years ago I watched a guy get two 30" kings by the storage shed, back to back on big threadfins. Was springtime though....freelining on an average falling tide

Quick question is 40lb braid enough?

[shot33gun9]

Should be if you have the patience to play a fish.....I don't, I put the pressure on fish, not looking to have a prolonged fish fight...getem in and getem in fast..if they pull off they pull off, tomorrow is another day

[stuckintherocks]

Oct 29, 2023 18:53:40 GMT -5 shot33gun9 said:

Legal size mack is good bait, just don't use chunks, keep it whole. Few years ago I watched a guy get two 30" kings by the storage shed, back to back on big threadfins. Was springtime though....freelining on an average falling tide

No kings but I’ve always had luck by that storage shed as well. Seen a guy catch a huge cuda there a few months ago as well. Couple years back when the Mack bite was real good I would drive up and down the pier… every spot after the baitshop would be packed and no one really catchin fish, while I was the only car by that shed catching limits of mack and multiple big pomp’s everyday.. was awesome times hahaha

[stuckintherocks]

Oct 29, 2023 19:33:45 GMT -5 conureman said:

Oct 29, 2023 18:53:40 GMT -5 shot33gun9 said:

Legal size mack is good bait, just don't use chunks, keep it whole. Few years ago I watched a guy get two 30" kings by the storage shed, back to back on big threadfins. Was springtime though....freelining on an average falling tide

Quick question is 40lb braid enough?

I would say so but you need a reel that can hold a lot of line.. that first run they make can be a doozy

[conureman]

Oct 29, 2023 20:25:41 GMT -5 stuckintherocks said:

Oct 29, 2023 19:33:45 GMT -5 conureman said:

Quick question is 40lb braid enough?

I would say so but you need a reel that can hold a lot of line.. that first run they make can be a doozy

I have a 6000 reel that I use for albacore and macks. Will I need a bigger one? Like shotgun said I wanna try to end the fight as soon as possible but since it's gonna be my first time I will have to learn to fight it.

[shot33gun9]

6000 reel is all you need, I'm guessing that reel will hold 400yds or more of 40lb braid, some guys I've known use 40 with about 6ft of 60lb mono leader. Your leader to line knot is critical, I suggest a 20 wrap FG knot

[conureman]

Oct 29, 2023 21:16:18 GMT -5 shot33gun9 said:

6000 reel is all you need, I'm guessing that reel will hold 400yds or more of 40lb braid, some guys I've known use 40 with about 6ft of 60lb mono leader. Your leader to line knot is critical, I suggest a 20 wrap FG knot

Alright thanks now I gotta wait till Saturday now

[tears143]

Oct 29, 2023 21:16:18 GMT -5 shot33gun9 said:

6000 reel is all you need, I'm guessing that reel will hold 400yds or more of 40lb braid, some guys I've known use 40 with about 6ft of 60lb mono leader. Your leader to line knot is critical, I suggest a 20 wrap FG knot

My friend just had his 6k spooled.. it only took about 325yds of 30# PP braid. IMO 30# braid is more than enough if your knots are good. 30# braid is around 45-50# breaking str. I have heard people catching big kingfish with 17# mono on the NSP once. The key is just to let the king run. They get tried fast compare to bonita.

[Fish.On.]

Oct 29, 2023 13:02:47 GMT -5 conureman said:

Arrived at 1am to secure a spot.
Mack bite started at 7:40 during outgoing tide, only caught 4. Bite wasn't good. When the tide changed a started throwing a bubble float and caught 2 more. Got tired so started using a bobber with 6ft of 25lb fluorocarbon to a j hook. Cast it the opposite side of the direction of the current to let it float torwards me and repeat the process. End result 15 macs and 6
False albacore. 4 broke off either to getting tangled with other fisherman or them spitting it out. live bait won this round.
If you're going for macs I'd so say go for it.They are definitely there but be wary of false albacore. Fish on.

With that float/ 6 ft mono/ j hook rig,what are you using for bait?

[conureman]

Live threadfins/greenbacks

[albatross]

10/30. Got there at 435A.M. Lots of people on the pier, especially the end. Just drove there to see what was going on; it was so packed, I had difficulty to turn my car around. I left the pier at 11.00 after the worst fishing day in my life. I guess Flipper felt sorry for me, so he stole my bait just so I can say I got a bite. Tried from end to almost end and I saw one guy bring a tiny blue Runner over the rail.

[shot33gun9]

New front moving this way, Thursday might be good

[conureman]

Oct 30, 2023 19:27:01 GMT -5 albatross said:

10/30. Got there at 435A.M. Lots of people on the pier, especially the end. Just drove there to see what was going on; it was so packed, I had difficulty to turn my car around. I left the pier at 11.00 after the worst fishing day in my life. I guess Flipper felt sorry for me, so he stole my bait just so I can say I got a bite. Tried from end to almost end and I saw one guy bring a tiny blue Runner over the rail.

I guess all the people posting their catches on the weekend caused all that increase in people fishing.

[shot33gun9]

Over the years I've noticed that Mondays are usually crowded and so are Fridays...unless the weather is nasty