Ocean Fishing for Newbies

Since salmon seem to dominate the northwest, a lot of us have our reels spooled with heaver (40-65lb) braided line.  To spool and respool reels can become costly if you are wanting to switch with a lot of frequency.  If you have the money to buy multiple reels than this problem can be solved.  Since i lost a setup earlier in the year and the Daiwa reel i bought broke at the base I only have a couple of reels.  I have 50lb braid on one line and 65 on the other.  When fishing for salmon or linfs i typically use 30lb leader.  I run my ocean rigs with a bit of a longer leader in case it somehow gets wrapped on rocks.  For example i typically have 5-6 ft of leader from the braid to the bottom hook.  I will typically have a few 3 way swivels in between so i can add different presentations. 

I have had no issues breaking off with this method.  I could see a scenario in which 5-6 ft of leader may not be enough but it would be rare and i have not come upon one yet.  However, a longer length leader never hurts and can be safer for those scenarios, just watch to make sure the leader is not longer than the rod.  If it is and you still want extra space, then add a bumper like previously mentioned.

FYI-  my level wind reels, that I troll salmon with and also use for lingcod, are always spooled with either 50# or 65# Tuf-Line XP, I just always have 20# leader or a 20# break off segment in the rigging.  At the very most, I will use a 25# pre-tied mooching rig.

25 lbs snap swivel above a store bought shrimp fly rig... FYI most of my hooks easily straightened before I broke off when the jig got hooked. It’s technique you need, if you know HOW to break off you can break off 80-100 lb line from plastic. I learned that the hard (wet) way. Don’t hold the rod to the side   

FYI-  my level wind reels, that I troll salmon with and also use for lingcod, are always spooled with either 50# or 65# Tuf-Line XP, I just always have 20# leader or a 20# break off segment in the rigging.  At the very most, I will use a 25# pre-tied mooching rig.

So we think alike  .  I dont change mine out either.  I just like the 30lb line as i am not having to change it out as often when fishing for lings.  Those teeth can be tough on lighter lines.

I'm not even talking about the safety factor of needing to break off in an emergency.  It's more about the fact that most of our kayaks only create about 20-30lbs of drag in the water and a fish will pull you before they will break you off. 
That and a lighter set drag at the reel will also reduce a fish breaking you off.  If you are fishing from a power boat, then much heavier braid/mono is necessary to combat the boats heavier drag factor.

Reminder that this is aimed at bottom fishing.  Now if using the same rod/reel for halibut, salmon and bottom fish that's already spooled with 50-60lb braid, I guess can see that along with a top shot of 20lb or less. 

Bottom fishing itself does not require heavy tackle, nor a heavy rod, nor the higher expense of either.

Bottom fishing itself does not require heavy tackle, nor a heavy rod, nor the higher expense of either.

Totally agree!  Barbie pole for the win!

INSAYN is completely correct.  If you are getting into the sport and just want to do bottom fishing than most  lightweight rods will work. 

My point was you dont need to buy a new rod and reel if you already have a setup.  Bottom fishing is pretty easy to gear up for as many combos will work.

If you want to pick up a separate rod/reel i would go with something light weight and wont break the bank.

If you plan on doing this long term i have heard the shimano trevalas are amazing jigging rods.  However, i cannot stomach the $130 price tag. 

I was using 65 with no leader until I lost a bunch of line while fishing off the rocks at boiler bay. Now I use 65 pound braid with a 50 pound mono leader. Breaking off is pretty easy while on the kayak. I just wrap the line round my arm and pull. It pops, or comes loose. I don’t like bottom fishing with light tackle. If I hook something big I  want to be able to yard it off the bottom before it gets in the rocks.

I was using 65 with no leader until I lost a bunch of line while fishing off the rocks at boiler bay. Now I use 65 pound braid with a 50 pound mono leader. Breaking off is pretty easy while on the kayak. I just wrap the line round my arm and pull. It pops, or comes loose. I don’t like bottom fishing with light tackle. If I hook something big I  want to be able to yard it off the bottom before it gets in the rocks.

You might be happier with a 20’ long 25-30 lbs flouro topshot tied with a double uni to your mainline when working in sharp rocks. It’s strong, doesn’t stretch much so it will still pull a big ling up a few cranks and out of the rocks, and is abrasion resistant.

Also, wrapping line around your arm seams is like a r ally bad idea.

Yet another technique to bottom fishing that comes with practice is how to get unstagged. 

If you are not snagging at some point then you are not bottom fishing, right?   
Getting unsnagged is an art form for some, and just dumb luck for others.

I was using 65 with no leader until I lost a bunch of line while fishing off the rocks at boiler bay. Now I use 65 pound braid with a 50 pound mono leader. Breaking off is pretty easy while on the kayak. I just wrap the line round my arm and pull. It pops, or comes loose. I don’t like bottom fishing with light tackle. If I hook something big I  want to be able to yard it off the bottom before it gets in the rocks.

50-65lb braid is overkill for line strength in a kayak, but 50lb mono is nutz for this fishery.  That is some thick stuff.
There are ways to yard fish up well before they scurry into a hole where just about any weight of line is rendered useless. 

And PLEASE don't wrap line around your arm, please!

I was using 65 with no leader until I lost a bunch of line while fishing off the rocks at boiler bay. Now I use 65 pound braid with a 50 pound mono leader. Breaking off is pretty easy while on the kayak. I just wrap the line round my arm and pull. It pops, or comes loose. I don’t like bottom fishing with light tackle. If I hook something big I  want to be able to yard it off the bottom before it gets in the rocks.

50-65lb braid is overkill for line strength in a kayak, but 50lb mono is nutz for this fishery.  That is some thick stuff.
There are ways to yard fish up well before they scurry into a hole where just about any weight of line is rendered useless. 

And PLEASE don't wrap line around your arm, please!

I disagree that 50lb. leader is overkill.

I use 50+lb. flouro leader now for abrasion/teeth resistance and have been very happy with it. When I've got 100+ feet of line out and I'm dragging through crevices the 50lb leader really stands up a lot longer than lighter options. It makes for a good "handle" for dealing with the fish at the boat too. I also use a 20lb weak link right above it for ease of breaking off. I've never lost a fish due to the 20lb. weak link breaking and it's easy to snap off so I can get fishing again quickly.

EDIT: I should mention, too, that I really enjoy light tackle fishing, even in the salt, and will regularly use 0.5-2oz. jigs in situations where most people will use 4-6oz. But I still run the 50lb. leader unless I'm just pitching at kelp, because once you've lost one monster to your leader getting chewed up it's too many times.

I was using 65 with no leader until I lost a bunch of line while fishing off the rocks at boiler bay. Now I use 65 pound braid with a 50 pound mono leader. Breaking off is pretty easy while on the kayak. I just wrap the line round my arm and pull. It pops, or comes loose. I don’t like bottom fishing with light tackle. If I hook something big I  want to be able to yard it off the bottom before it gets in the rocks.

Holy shit yikes!! 
For newbies reading this that haven't realized it already this is a really bad idea. Braided line can cut through flesh like a band saw. If I need to break off mainline like that I wrap it around my fish bonker.

I'll also agree with Redbeard on this in that 50lb mono isn't overkill as a leader as long as you have a weak link somewhere in your rigging. I call it a fuse.

Interesting thread, it's why there's lots of different kayaks, poles, reels and bait. Bottom line, there's no set rule and know what you're going to doing BEFORE a hangup.  The ocean is fun and unforgiving.

Until you practice breaking high lb test line, it's a good idea to keep a "fuse" in the 20 lb range.  Being anchored to a short high lb test line and then being hit by a big wave or current provides a great opportunity to test the immersion gear re-entry. 

If you need to break off a snag, might want to use a wrap-around process unless you need a new pole.  Wrap line to be broken around something OTHER than a body part if you want to keep it. That goes for an expensive immersion suit as well.  If you choose a lighter leader, check it more often for frays and have backup leaders to clip to a fuse so you don't waste ocean time re-tying while bouncing around.  If you have a heavy leader, you still need to check it but the odds are you won't replace it as often.

Seems like that kinda covers it with no blood letting, some humor intended.  All good advice, just needs to be applied in the right manner and technique that matches the manner.

I respect all of your input. Most of you have been kayak fishing much longer than me. I like the heavy mono leader and braid and will likely stick to it. Wrapping the line around my sleeve to break off is something I’ve done forever (before I had a kayak). It works for me. Guess it’s a terrible habit that I should break especially since I really don’t want to screw up the new suit... or cut my arm clean off! 🤪

Some may have the guns to arm wrap, but I prefer grip strength.  Of course, now I want to try it, but not on my arm.  I like my arm where it is, not chumming.   I just hold the reel and yank if I have to, but I always run a weak link somewhere depending on the rigging.  I lost my waterwolf on the willy (the only thing that makes sense is that the camera itself got stuck) with 65lb braid on the mainline and 10lb for the dropper.  I don't normally use more than 30lb braid but I've been using "steelon" (?) leaders sometimes which are a short bit of wire to battle teeth when I expect it.  I started fishing light, then drifted into way too much, and now I'm back to as light as I think I can get away with almost all of the time but with a "fuse" on whatever I expect to get hung up most and care about the least (i.e. cheapest).  All good fishing trips start with making it back to shore safely.  The coolest thing is that we all try different methods and have a place to mull it over.