Hook sizes and scratching.....

[Pat Spillane]

I was referring to the fish size, I know its a long time ago but the size limit used be 12 inches, 20cm = 8 inches, now I understand why you may want to target smaller fish. I will keep this in mind if and when I enter some of the competitions. I will also take note of the trade secrets learnt here. I may even be able to bring some of my old coarse fishing skills back but that was a different ball game. This is one aspect of sea angling I have not put any thought into. Excuse my ignorance.

[m.b3]

There are size limits in competitions, Currently in SAI I think its 20cm. Depending on the area a particular club fishes, the size limits can vary by a fair way though. I dont recall having seen size limits of under 20cm anywhere but thats not to say they dont exist.

15cm in some junior comps.

[m.b3]

Thanks for that Mark, incidentally it was the bottom boom/snood which caused the most problems as it kept getting wrapped around the lead and damaging the line.

So what are the practical uses for booms for shore angling then? Is it simply to help nail baits to the seabed on short snoods...?

Liam

wire booms anchor baits, plastic booms affect bait behaviour depending on current/ tide. in slack tides they can help keep bait on the bottom......all booms best used with short snoods. there are rare exceptions though, but this is more down to specific species, venue and conditions.

[Cooke]

There is no restriction on hook sizes in IFSA competitions.