the highs and lows of tope fishing 03/07

[forest]

People:me

Duration:3.5hrs ish

Tide:

Weather:scorchio

Bait:mac

Rigs:pulley flapper

Results:12 dogs,1 tope pup and the one that got away




Report:
decided it was time to go tope hunting .headed to the mark got set up and fired out to lumps of mac.then it all went wrong both first crab attack then both got snagged really badly and i lost 2 of the 3 tope traces i had made as well as the shock leader on my two reels!!!! so as not to waste time i took a chance on using the spare spool with 30lb braid on it and my last trace. i also moved away from the snag not long after the bites started i got about five dogs and thought no tope about as last year the dogs used to disapear then suddenly the rod doubled over i was in. was worried about braid but it held out and the fish was landed a tope pup of about 20lb RESULT! carried on fishing started to get dogs again so thought ill pack up and head for home but then a local arrived down so i stayed and had a chat with him then bang the drag took of screaming and your mans dog started going nuts i lifted the rod and hit into it this was a big fish it was running like mad i started to make some line back then it all went slack i thought the braid had broke but no it had straightened a 3/0 hook!! ah well a good few hours fishing

rsz_004.jpg

[forest]

can anyone tell me how to add your photo to this post!!!! keeps saying photo to big at 1.2mib how do you change it fit please

[Jayball10]

Great fishing! You can resize images online here: http://www.picresize.com/

Depending on the water movement of course, what size snoods do you use on your pulleys for shore Tope? What length wire to rubbing leader to main line? Also what hooks were you using? Have ya tried the Sakuma Manta Extras? Very very strong.

[eyesreilly]

20lb is a pup . What do I call my half pound one

[fishy1987]

third time the charm lovley tope well done 20lb a pup?
nice one
fergal

[forest]

Great fishing! You can resize images online here: http://www.picresize.com/

Depending on the water movement of course, what size snoods do you use on your pulleys for shore Tope? What length wire to rubbing leader to main line? Also what hooks were you using? Have ya tried the Sakuma Manta Extras? Very very strong.

cheers jayball! i usually use a 12inch wire snood with 80lb shock leader as ive lost fish with anything less so it acts as the rubbing leader prob about 18ft.when i make my own rigs i use 4/0 or 6/0 meathooks but the trace i was using that the hook straighten was a shop one so from now on ill stick to my own as they didnt let me down last year

[Tom H]

Good to see you back at the tope forest. well done

[zud25]

Nice tope man-great session thooo

[shamoo0804]

20lb is a pup . What do I call my half pound one

A glint in daddys eye

[snakewhite]

you should try snake launce for them!

[bubba gump shrimp]

A nice session cuz i cant wait to feel the pull of them bad boys again this year i know wat you mean by a pup i think that must be the smallest tope weve got from the shore yet i still plan to max out my 65lb fox digital scales

[Al and Jordan]

man thats a great result . i take it the tope was taken in co.down. i've often heard lots of rumours of tope on the co.down coast being caught from the shore. but that's the first one i've seen with a pic to back it up. really well done man

[Dawsey]

Nice one Forest thats the way to do it!! I don't think it will be long before one of you boys pulls a monster in.

[alannelson]

A co down shore tope well done braid with a fixed spool would be a very good way to target shore tope well done