Danielson wire halibut leaders

Yes mainline much heavier than your safety line is probably superfluous.  A litter heaver is good though, so that when you're hung up the safety line will always break first.  If your mainline breaks then you gotta tie on new safety line as well as a new leader.  If the safety line breaks (as it should) and there is enough of it left, you can just tie on a new leader.

So I was fishing 50# mainline last week in Panama with a topshot of 80# fluoro, and leader of the same 80# fluoro.  I got absolutely rocked a few times with no chance of stopping the fish.  15 pounds of drag and holding on for dear life, that is until I got anchored to the bottom.

What would Rory do?  What would Bill do?  What did I do?

-Allen

I can tell you what Craig would do...pause and guzzle a beer.

I can tell you what Craig would do...pause and guzzle a beer.

That's what I was doing wrong ... I didn't even think about the beer option.

-Allen

Was your reel capable of more drag?

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Was your reel capable of more drag?

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Yes it was, but the likelyhood of me going into the drink would have been high.  That being said, I barely had time to yell fish on, let alone up the drag.  If I get another shot at these fish, I'm going to have nothing except a leashed rod onboard, and will be expecting to take a swim.  Take it straight to sunset on the reel and hold on.  Somethings got to give ...

Or maybe I'll get a length of rope with a hook on it and then have a big boat pull me away from the reef.   

-Allen

Were you fishing Mr stumpy?

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Were you fishing Mr stumpy?

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Alas, I was not.   

-Allen

Should have used a hand line

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Were you fishing Mr stumpy?

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Alas, I was not.   

-Allen

I think you were on the right track with a very short stiff rod. Though I think you be well off by just laying the rod flat on the boat. Only letting the line run a few inches past the gunnel, then lock the drag down and lean hard the other way. Be ready to swim.
Damn I gotta do a warm water trip soon!

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Though I think you be well off by just laying the rod flat on the boat. Only letting the line run a few inches past the gunnel, then lock the drag down and lean hard the other way.

What do you think I was doing?   

-Allen

hmmmm ... you should have been using a LX Raptor.

hmmmm ... you should have been using a LX Raptor.

or a santa cruz raptor...backwards

What species Allen and are you going to post some pics from your trip?  Swimming in Panama wouldn't be so bad.