Marlins Mouth

[Matt]

I was wondering how much drag is required to pull a hook into a marlins jaw. I have lost many fish by trying to set the hook with the rod and I have ended up loosing them so I prefer to let the drag set the hook (using lures). But how much drag does it take?
Matt

[Linwood]

Set the drag no greater than 1/3 of the line test.Also ask around to get a consensus:fishermen are famous for craftiness.Three more things to rember:learn how to sharpen hooks and keep them that way..ditto ditto.

[Warren_Brantley]

We have been using 10 to 15 pound drag settings (12 pounds is nice) on Penn 30s and 50s. On the 80 and 130s we've been using 18 to 22 pound settings. If the marlin is less than 200 - 250 pounds it allows for a quick, feisty fight that is not prolonged and allows for release of a viable billfish.

We kick up the drag settings on the 80s and 130s for bigger fish once they get over the initial jumping and grey hounding. This is governed somewhat by the size and physical condition of the person fishing.

With the above settings (with lures) the fish hook themselves and we do not re-set the hooks on the 80s and 130s. On the 30s and 50s we may slam them a few times immediately (if not in the air), before we settle down for the fight. (I view this as optional.)

With these settings I catch close to 50% of the billfish which take lures. I personally prefer smaller lures (7 inch is OK), double hooks with one hooked through the eye of the other in opposing directions, of very high quality, with razor edges and true points. Lures, hooks and leader are checked through the day and of course after any strikes or fish released.

I've not yet learned how to catch 100% of them but am working on it.
Tight lines, WGB

[Matt]

So bassically the concencus is that 1/3 - 1/5 of the poudage of the line is a good amount of drag to set the hook on billfish using lures and should not require the angler to "set the hook" on the fish, only the pressure of the moving boat. of course the hooks are always razer sharp and this only applies for lures and other baits that do not require a dropback.

[Linwood]

A lot of expert charterboat captains like to put the boat in the smokehole when the rod starts loading.The problem fish is the one nobody sees hit the lure because if it is a large Marlin,you could be spooled in a very short time. Just seeing one that size leap clear of the water is unforgettable.I saw my father have an old Penn 9/0 get spooled in one run once.

[S._Cameron]

Hi,
We have found that with a sharp 9/0 or 10/0 hook around 8kg (18lb) of pressure is required to set the hook into the base of a Striped Marlin bill. how you achieve this becomes a matter of debate & speculation, & this is where you generally get the divergance between the soft drag v's heavy drag argument. Soft drag + water pressure on the line = enough drag to set the hook v's hard drag set immediatly. I personally have been using softer & softer drags but have noticed a drop off in the percentage of solid hookups ( I have also been upsizing my hooks 9/0 to 11/0) For our upcoming season i intend to go back to 9/0 60 degree stiff rigged doubles with 8kg drag on strike. 4-6 years ago we went 2 seasons without dropping a fish, it has not been the same since. Only difference is bigger hooks & softer drags. All I will say without trying to start an argument is that there aqre no hard & fast rules in our chosen sport. Find a method that works for you & stick to it.
regards
Stuart
www.fish-crazy.com

[George]

Usually I let the boat help set the hook. I use lighter lines than most respondents (12, 16 & 20) and haven't had too much trouble setting the hook.