BigBendFishing.Net

Looking for ideas in rigging flatline baits offshore. Not trolling flatlines. What type rods and reels, leaders, hooks, bait, tactics, etc.

Reels- Spinning
Shimano Baitrunner 6500 or 8500

Reels-Casting
Ambassador 6500 or 7000
Shimano Calcutta 400 or 700
Outbait click is a must.
Lever drag is nice but not necessary.

7 foot medium to medium heavy rods with a fast tip.

15-20 pound high vis green or yellow line. I like ande an trilene big game.

Rigs. Read this months Florida Sportsman for Capt. Tom Stephens' 30 second kingfish rig.

I use 43 pound sevenstrand wire and small swivels. You can suspend under a balloon or a Bluewater thunder, or just free line.

Thanks Tom.

Tom's reply is excellent. To his choice for conventional or levelwind tackle, I would add a Shimano TLD 15, spooled with either 20 lb mono or 50 lb Power Pro, a 6.5 or 7 foot medium action composite rod.

I like leverdrag reels like the TLD's for livebaiting or trolling, even though I also have a Shimano 4500 Baitrunner and a Shimano Calcutta 700 outfit, which will also do very nicely. Both of those outfits have 50 lb powerpro on them.

EJ

I have to say although I love power pro for certain things, live baiting offshore is not one of them. I feel like I need the shock absorbsion of mono because of some of the more violent runs and head shakes that kings, cobia, etc. make. I use it inshore around structure for the abrasion resistance.

Its surely a tradeoff. I like PP for the sensitivity and diameter/strength ratio. It allows me to use smaller, lighter tackle for the same job that I used to use big stuff for.

EJ

The Blue Thunder sounds good, if I can find them around Perry, or Keaton.

You can find the Blue Thunder floats at Keaton Beach Marina. Just ask Sandy there where the fish are biting. She can clue you in to the best spots and techniques.