Best Hook at bait, to catch mr Dhuifish???
Submitted by wadetolley on Wed, 2009-07-15 21:40
Hi there! Im wondering what hook type/size and bait, people think is best for chasing dhuis. Have heard big baits work best..any info would be great
hlokk
Posts: 4294
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Personal preference I like
Personal preference I like 6/0 owners occys with cutting point snelled. Despite how good those california squid look driftbaited, mulies are what gave my PB snapper and dhuie. Sargeant baker or wrasse otherwise with scales off. Dont know if it makes much difference, but I like longer strips (just seems like the fish will eat it from the 'tail' instead of the side). Lots of people like skinned occy tentacles. Of course, i'm no dhuie king, though I have watched a lot of dhuie kings to get my preferences :p
That being said, I mostly prefer jigs of course
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18085
Date Joined: 11/03/08
hook size doesnt realy
hook size doesnt realy matter, i got a good size one on snelled 2/0 hooks, by catch chasing kg's, however it was going after the large wrasse that was already hooked, so i think a good size and well presented bait are the go , we generally use 6/0 or 7/0 snelled hooks for the larger species,
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wadetolley
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 27/06/08
Cheers
Cheers! I already use 2/0 snelled setup, that we have been catching our baldies,kgs ect But i was thinking because the dhuis have such a big mouth, if i wanted to go for just dhuis i should increase my hook size. Im sure the other day i had a couple of good hook ups on dhuis, but the hook didnt seem do be setting...probly just me!
Feral
Posts: 1508
Date Joined: 01/11/06
i normally use a rig with
i normally use a rig with snelled 9/0 or 10/0 in octopus patterns with 2 droppers under that with size 18 tainawa (spelling) hooks attached ... not your usual set up but the big hooks are for a strip/live bait and the smaller ones will handle any size fish you care to catch but also your kg's, black bums, queenies etc.
some ppl only like to use 2 hooks but i prefer the longer rigs with 3 hooks when drift fishing
got to admit that a floater rig with a mulie or sqiud strips will usually catch more as long as its near the bottom
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
8/o Big reds,not the best
8/o Big reds,not the best hook on the market but do catch fish Two single hooks normal bottom bouching rig. bait anything fresh and of a good size ,still making sure the point of the hook is not covered with bait.Jesse has been using a handline of late and driftbait ,his catch rate has gone through the roof,with a lot more species being boated ,drift bait are the way to go but it has to be calm ,as you don't want to much lead.
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Scaly Man Fish
Posts: 212
Date Joined: 30/12/08
where to see drawings
Is there somewhere on this site or others too see these rigs you use for Duhi's for bottom bouncing
sunshine
Posts: 2627
Date Joined: 03/03/09
I am really surprised
That no one has suggested circle hooks - I swear by gammy circles and only wish they would make smaller versions. The real advantage being that you can virtually guarantee corner of the jaw hook up no matter how small the hook and they never fall out
Best bait - western king wrasse preferably small and live. My best (before the bag limits were reduced) was three dhuies on the same wrasse which had initially hooked itself and was therefore clearly live when taken by a 15kg dhu, I dropped the somewhat crushed wrasse straight back down whilst bleeding and icing the first fish, immediate second hookup and a 12kg fish resulted, further mangled bait again dropped for another immediate hookup with another double figure fish. I then ceased fishing having more than my share although we always share the fish amongst the people on the boat irrespective of who caught them. A mate then dropped the remnants of the wrasse on his gear only to hook a real horse that evntually snagged him.
Wrasse for sure
flangies
Posts: 2550
Date Joined: 11/05/08
I swear by gama cirlces too,
I swear by gama cirlces too, use them on most of my rigs now.
As a testiment to their success, shecky landed a 2m+ shark in fremantle on 50lb leader and gamma circles, the only reason he was not bitten off was because the shark was pinned perfectly in the corner of the jaw.
I use the 1/0's for bream aswell but im crap at breaming haha
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
personal opinion!! Bigger
personal opinion!!
Bigger bait bigger Fish!!!!!
depends on the water im fishing, but i will range anywhere from 6/0's to 10/0's for paternoster rigs.
Dift bait i would either have a gang of 4/0's or snelled 6/0's
Occy with skin off (a must) by far the best bait., When buying occy, get the premium stuff with the biggest tenticles you can find. Ryan sells good occy!
Also butterflied herring do a good job too. And fresh suid whole and drift baited.
Gonna do a run to two rocks soon Wade, should come for a spin!
wadetolley
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 27/06/08
if
That would be great! Let me know when you heading out, and if im in town, would be good to go for a fish up there, cheers
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
will let you know definately
will let you know
definately not this weekend :| wouldnt even get out over the reefs in this weather.
Following weekend im in Karratha, but the one after that looks the go.
Andy Mac
Posts: 4778
Date Joined: 03/02/06
Snelled Gamakatsu Octopus
I predominantly use a 10/0 at the top and a 7/0 at the bottom. Ideal for pinning a mulie on the top hook for extra attraction. Nibblers pick at the mulie and create a bit of burley and then whammo the Dhuie takes the whole squid.
Note that I hide the snell leader (wire in most cases) inside the mantle of the squid for extra stealth.
Circle hooks work well also but never combine with J hooks as you need a different strike for each. I learnt the hard way with several lost fish.
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
terry.toughguy
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 13/06/09
Personally
I prefer single circle hooks, and quite small ones too.
Usually when I fish for Dhufish I use a 3/0 to max 6/0 circle hook on a dropper rig (Paternoster) with a relatively light sinker, just so as the bait sits a couple of metres off the bottom. When they hit it, they do not get a chance to take you to the bottom, and bust you off, or bury you in a cave.
This method has resulted in countless Dhufish (as well as other tasty morsels like Snapper, Breaksea Cod, etc) over the years. It also increases your chances of picking up smaller species, like some of the giant King George Whiting that are frequently around Dhufish, but are never caught due to peoples hooks being too large.
As for bait, i like using anything, as long as it is fresh.
Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
nice big circle hook with a
nice big circle hook with a huge flap of Sargent Baker on it.
in fact if you rig a nice circle hook ( I like the Black Magic ones) on the bottom and just above it a standard Big Red J-hook to hold the bait, then you onto a winner.
jmo
Tony
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
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Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Pref!
Wade,
I prefer suicide hooks, i've tried all types but come back to suicides all the time!
My pref is Gamakatsu & Youvella hooks in 6/0 size, this size hook will still get ya big KG, baldies (small mouths) but also Dhufish etc. Big baits do work well on Dhufish but also reduce the catch of other fish will smaller mouths i've found!
Skinned local ocky & californian squid....my fav bait!
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If i'm "just" targetting Dhufish then driftbbait a whole californian squid (they cant resist) or patternoster with 2 droppes but sneeled (2) hooks. One bait a strip bait of sargy or mullet and the other a whole cali squid!
wadetolley
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 27/06/08
cheers
Cheers for all the info fellas.
carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Tarpons
Use 9/0 or 10/0 tarpons on a paternoster rig and best baits are live parrotfish,the bigger the better,dead parrotfish and last but not least fresh mullet fillets kept on ice.Freezing them destroys them
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
I use 4x 4/0 tarpons ganged
I use 4x 4/0 tarpons ganged for the mulie or two snelled 4/0 suicides wrapped with bait elastic to slow down the pickers at the top of a paternoster.
Down the bottom of the paternoster I use a hunk of occy sometimes with a plastic lumo squid above it or above the mulie or chunk of fish.
The idea is that the plastic lumo squid attracts with its dull light emmision and it also increases the size appearance of the bait. Sometimes a giant lumo twister tail on a paternoster above and some occy bait below works.
I only use circles in 50 metres plus as they are an automatic hook and the boat rise and fall in shallow water will pull the hook out of their mouths rather than them hooking themselves. Circles are a non-striking hook. They definately produce more in deeper water where takes may not be sensed.
If Im using Bay Rubbers Ill put a square of squid on the rear hook for flavour convincing. Its the same principle. Makes the bait look bigger. Save on bait. Ill jam a bay rubber in one rod holder letting the swell provide the action on the drift then Ill hold the paternoster rod in my hand.
Theres been guys getting fish on jigs lately while their mates next to them get nothing on bait. It maybe a territorial reaction, whatever, its working. With the jigs try a decent sized paddle tail or a twister tail on assist hook.
Let us know how you go, pictures even better.
Angling tourism is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy - 90000 jobs; more than any sport; spread the word
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
Top 4 x 4/0 tarpons ( mulie
Top
4 x 4/0 tarpons ( mulie , squid, occy ) Bait elastic
2 x snelled 4/0 suicide ( mulie , squid, occy ) Bait elastic
Bottom
8/0 - 10/0 suicide (occy or squid)
deep
circle hook - bottom
Bait elastic is one of the most under utilised materials in my personal opinion. You put a bait on and its off by the time it gets to the bottom or its picked before the bigger fish can get there. You cast your mulie only to see it land next to you after its ripped free on the massive cast you have performed?
I think Gillies make it?
Angling tourism is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy - 90000 jobs; more than any sport; spread the word
wadetolley
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 27/06/08
Cheers mate
Cheers, thanks for the info..will have to get some bait elastic!
aquagenes
Posts: 223
Date Joined: 28/10/08
I allways used when i was
I allways used when i was living down that way and have a similar rig up here..9 or 10 os tuna circles hooks with a good size bit of occy.Slice with knife length this stops the occy from swelling up. (sea water)and a soft plastic on top hook.
Aquagenes
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
Cheers, thanks for the
Cheers, thanks for the info..will have to get some bait elastic!
The poms use bundles of it. The South Africans build some great casting baits with it.
The days when the fish even the big ones are picky they have to try harder.
Some fish actually bash the bait off with their tails before eating it. Elastic stops all that.
When the bait gets soft it disintergrates off the hook before it hits the ground.
The longer it stays on the better, more so in deep water. Saves the long wind up.
Angling tourism is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy - 90000 jobs; more than any sport; spread the word
wicked game
Posts: 249
Date Joined: 13/11/08
over the past 10 years of
over the past 10 years of deep sea fishing for dhuies i have found that the normal paternoster rig with single 6/0 to 8/0 hooks works the best. as for bait the old saying "fresh is best" definetly applys for dhuies. because i was lucky enough to work on crayboats when we could fish while working, there was always fresh bait to use and the best bait by far was the dead crays that had been attacked by occy's or fish. shell on or off didnt really matter, as soon as the bait hit the bottom on most occasion's it was gone or i was hooked up within 10 seconds! but in saying that, fresh, skinned occy worked almost as good.
danno
Posts: 1676
Date Joined: 12/07/09
i think that use a gang or
i think that use a gang or snelled hooks on top so that dhuies and other big fish see this.
but also having a smaller hook on the bottom so that u can get kg baldies and other smaller mouthed fish that swim around the same lumps and areas as dhuie.
at the end of the day u could come home with a mixed bag.
wadetolley
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 27/06/08
not
Not a bad idea Danno