handling keepers

[JerryB]

i have been reading a lot here in preparation for my first SW trip since the 70's, but have not seen anything about how you keep your keepers? any suggestions for stringers, cooler with ice, bucket or something else?

thanks
jerry

[Hat80]

Cooler with ice, only way to go...Tightlines

[HuskyMD]

or...when you forget to bring a cooler (or forgot your stroller to carry your cooler --long story)...just put the fish in your pocket. :D

[JerryB]

Jerry: hi honey i'm home...

Mrs. Jerry: ooh! is that a flounder in your pocket or are you just happy to see me????


:D

[JerryB]

thanks,

i like to use a cooler when going out all day and a bucket for panfishing here on the lake where i live.

too bad i just took a slighty dented, slightly dirty old coleman cooler the the dump. would have worked great for a few fish. i'll have to see if the new cooler fits into my daughter's wagon?? if not i have some old lawnmower wheels and some aluminum laying around...

cheers

[jay b]

Nothing like baiting up with Trouser Trout to catch some Hot Tuna!! I usually fish in waist to chest deep water with waders on, so there's a stringer on one side and a net on the other for landing the toothy ones. There's also a cooler with ice in the truck when I'm done. Either way, happy hunting!!

[Hat80]

Someone told me that Husky guy was a wise guy and liked to stir the pot. Now who told me? I just can't remember. Oh well so much the mind of the old. I'll blaim it on the 60's...LOL

[JerryB]

thanks guys, took a trip to the garage and found an old styrofoam cooler that i bought on a walleye trip in canada that fits the kid's wagon real nice, with room to spare for a tackle box. now to make a clamp on rod holder or two, i'm almost ready; anybody want to take on another newbie question? i made some bottom rigs based on a web page at hatteras outfitters, what other type of rig(s) should i have for the surf? for example if i want to use a small croaker or spot for live bait, or cut one up?
cheers

[blue bird]

You could use a rig that consists of your hook, a heavy leader about 24" long, and a three-way swivel with a sinker attached on a short leader. That might be best if you are fishing for a larger fish with live bait or larger cut-bait.

[seafisher]

The 'bottom rig' that you saw on hatteras outfitters was probably a fish finder rig which is used to cover water fast. Get some wire three-hook bottom rigs, or make some. Also, it is good to have a fireball rig, or bluefish rig, which is a rig that stays on the bottom but has two corks above each hook to keep the bait off the bottom (so crabs wont get your bait.) The rig works well for bluefish (because I think that the cork attracts them) but I have even seen pictures of cobia caught with these rigs. You need to have some lightweight rigs for pompano and mullet and some heavy duty rigs for stripers and cobia or the possible huge shark or ray. If you use artificials it is good to have some stainless steel leaders on hand for trout, spot, or bluefish that may bite regular line in half. You also need some flounder rigs that have a spinner and a bucktail type hair that goes over the bait (finger mullet, shiners, or shrimp work) and you might want to have a flounder rig that you made yourself (just remember that whenever you make or buy flounder rigs they need to have the offset kahle type hooks which are very commonly used for flounder.) Hope this helps.

[JerryB]

seafisher,
thanks for the reply, the bottom rigs i made are like the ones shown here, only two hooks:Bottom Rig (http://www.cabelas.com/information/Fishing-Saltwater/Bottom-Rigs.html) the one i made are with 50 lb main line, i got a deal on some #2 circle hooks and snelled them with 15 lb line for light rigs. thinking croakers and similar.

is the bluefish rig the same deal only with a cork and using wire for the droppers? do you suppose that i could use the sliding floats that are used for steelhead rigs in lake michigan to make these, they are about 1/2" diameter and 1" long all kinds of colors.

found a page on fish finder rigs, i'll make a few up thanks. i'll probably buy some flounder rigs, maybe bring one of my heavy FW rods for fishing those if the weather is decent.

thanks a bunch!
i just keep learning

[oldsalt]

Md regs. two hooks per.pole :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[JerryB]

I'm going to south carolina so i'll check the regs carefully, thanks for the heads up.

[seafisher]

JerryB, the bluefish rig is like a bottom rig only with a cork above the hooks. They are commonly tied with not wire, but heavy 80-100 test that would take a while for a bluefish to chomp through. The sliding floats you mentioned are a whole other rig (some call it a popping rig because the waves make a cork pop against beads---these rigs normally are used for trout or blues.) If I were you I would go to Wal-Mart and just buy some cheap corks (make sure they arent the red/ white plastic kind---- they need to be the softer cork ones that are solid yellow or solid red.) You can make a flounder rig by doing the follow

1) Have the main running line tied to a 2 or 3 oz. trolling sinker

2)Tie the leader line (monofilament line rated at 25-50 lb. test) to trolling sinker

3)On the end of the leader line tie the offset kahle hook or 'flounder hook'

Hope this helps.

[JerryB]

thanks, i'll be able to make them all now.

cheers
jerry