bluefish/spanish pier combo

[cockroachjr.]

I got a Okuma Trophy Pro 40 on a 6'6" intercoastal ugly stick. Is this a good setup for throwing gotcha's, Mirrolures, and bucktails from the pier for blues and spanish? Thanks.

[hokieboy]

that will work. it needs to be able to throw at least an ounce. I have a 7' tsunami with a browning reel. The thing loads great with a gotcha. I am using 15# big game which some think is heavy but it cast good for me. But you want the rod to load good with 1 ounce which is the usual wieght of a gotcha.

[bluerunner]

if thats a spinning reel it sounds good to me, load it up with some 10-12 pound mono or 6lb diameter braid and go after them. Learn how to tie a gold hook/sabiki rig too a lot of times they are feeding on tiny glass minnows and won't hit anything else.

[bluerunner]

that will work. it needs to be able to throw at least an ounce. I have a 7' tsunami with a browning reel. The thing loads great with a gotcha. I am using 15# big game which some think is heavy but it cast good for me. But you want the rod to load good with 1 ounce which is the usual wieght of a gotcha.

we must have been typing at the same time.....but the heaviest gotcha i've thrown was 7/8, and it doesn't hurt to overload the rod, i use a 7' Lightning Rod thats only rated to 3/8.

[Reelturner]

Gotchas plugs are made heavier than 7/8 oz. but as bluerunner mentioned above the 7/8 oz is the #1 weight gotcha that is thrown on the NC piers. I have tried working a heavier gotcha say a 1oz or 1 1/4 oz I believe that is made and the heavier weight will really take a toll on you after working the plug after a while. And from my expierence the 7/8 gives you a great plug action that can't be beat. Now I think the reason that I tried the heavier weight is I was thinking I could throw it farther and I could but I needed a heavier rated rod and a longer one and the bigger rod wasn't the answer. You know what I mean if blues or spanish isn't thick or if your trying to get pin rigging bait and there isn't none around.

RT

[Reelturner]

I use 8 - 10 # mono with a short piece of leader on the end to the plug.

RT

[bluerunner]

i generally use the smallest bait i can throw when after spanish, they can be very picky. I've caught more on a diamond jig at the bottom of gold hooks than any other lure

[Reelturner]

I didn't mention it but to me the gold hooks are killer!!! There is a difference in using them.

RT:D :D :D

[bluerunner]

yes they are. a lot of people just use a pyramid sinker on the bottom, but a 1/2 oz diamond jig will slay the spanish

[CrawFish]

i generally use the smallest bait i can throw when after spanish, they can be very picky. I've caught more on a diamond jig at the bottom of gold hooks than any other lure
And you do this from the pier? Hmmm.. I might have to try that...