"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On 28 Nov 2005 10:04:20 -0800, "Ron M."
wrote:

My question: is there any particular reason why they don't use a fine
wire leader, to prevent so many biteoffs? These tuna were 10-30
pounds, and a 20# leader would be plenty strong and very fine. I don't
know why it wouldn't work, but these guys were seasoned pros, and knew
what they were doing. Any comments out there?

Um...they can't bite through mono - most likely there were other fish
around like kings or barracuda. Conventional wisdom years ago was
that you didn't use wire leaders because they had sharp eyesight - eh,
I'm not sure about that. Wire leader has zero stretch and that's the
more likely explanation.

Most nowadays are using Spider wire or other high-tech braids in this
situation - at least up here on the East Coast and I've heard tell
down in Texas/Louisiana.

They're using braids with no leader?

I use braid with a fluorocarbon leader, and a very light drag setting to
accommodate for the lack of stretch in the line.