Tiger Stick and Tuna, Halibut

[Irish Pennant]

I have a few Tiger Sticks with the Diawa Sealine Reels spooled with 80# Tough Line. I sturgeon fish alot. With this rod, reel and line combo would you use a snubber when trolling for tuna, if so how would you rig it? Also using the same rod, reel and line, how would you rig for halibut? Would you use a snubber?

I was using this setup on a boat out of San Diego a few years ago and the regulars were hooking more tuna than I was but I was getting more bites. The regulars told me that the no stretch line was the problem, that the tuna would strike then turn and that the lure was being pulled out before the hook could set. The mono would stretch and allow the tuna to make the turn. This is why I'm asking about the snubber for tuna with tough line.
Thanks

[CATCH AND EAT]

Never heard about this but am interested in learning. Anybody ever do this? I just leave the drag loose and then tighten as we slow down so I never felt the need for something like this. ?????????

[BaitStop]

Some of the guys on here recommend the "mono topshot" over the braid. You could use a reliable splice & wind 50-100 yds. of 60-80 lb. mono over the braid if all you plan to do is troll for albies. There are posters on here with way more experience & better advice & I'm sure they will help you.

[tracker]

Often other than the heavy mono leader all I have is braid. I switch to a longer mono topshot as I move to bait later in the year!

[Grady252]

I don't think you need a snubber.

I use braid, and many of the San Diego anglers are starting to use it as well. They didn't like because of the tangles and also cutting off line, but they are actually starting to use it more and more. Top shots are getting shorter and shorter. Braid is a whole lot easier for the live bait to tow, and the farther from the boat you are the better odds. Most articles show that those who are good at casting live bait are more successful at catching as well. Good casting equals farther from the boat.

The biggest problem is the lack of stretch in the line, but when you are fishing live bait there is plenty of loose line to allow the tuna to take it. You are usually in free spool mode when you get hit. I am not sure I understand why they would have told you that.

For Albies, loosen your drag and turn on your clicker while trolling and when it goes off, tighten the drag and turn off the clicker as the boat slows down.

For Hali, drop it to the bottom with a hali rig of your choice and when you get bit reel that pig up.

[bait boy]

This must be in response to a live bait fishing situation. Yes I could see it being an issue, but I had no issues this year fishing with Pilar getting bit. I did use a 3 ft section of fluorocarbon leader.

I am not leaving my drag loose any more! I fish 16 Lbs of drag at strike with a real rod holder and safety clip(no scottys or fish ons) Troll fish are hooked immediately, if not the next one will be. no screaming 100yrd runs to reel in just stick it on the rail and grind it in. If you find Bluto you'll be glad its not set lightly as you watch the trailing end leave your spool.

[Irish Pennant]

The problem with hookups was on the troll pulling feathers, I didn't have my drag set lose and neither did the mono fisherman, I was just watching what they were doing and tried to do the same thing. I was using a different rod and reel when fishing the slide with live bait, I had no problems there.

[bait boy]

Odd that you would run into issues on the troll. most of the early oregon folks ie. last 5 yrs were and still are using tuffline to a 6 ft leader of 100-200Lb mono leader. hook placement can sometimes be an issue? Im stumped..

[fyshndad]

No snubbers needed
I have fished tuff line with 4 to 6 ft 80 to 120 lb leaders for trolling for TUNA for years with absolutely NO ZERO NADDA problems
In fact my fav TUNA rod is the Black Tiger Ugly Stick with a Diawa SG50H loaded with 80 lb tuff and I use it for Halibut as well
I just tie the tuff line onto a spreader and I use 130lb Dacron for leader and 30 lb mono for the lead dropper line

then I

[Weather or Knot]

I havent had any problems fishing tough line with a 6'-7' #100 leader. The last few trips out I added a top shot of #60 mono to the braid(albright knot) and each rod had the lengths of top shot to put the baits where I wanted them (80'-100'-150'etc.) this took the guess work out of it and made re-setting the lines quick.

[Tacklebuster]

Snubbers... Top shot

I just keep it simple. 50 pound braid, 2' leaders and a drag set pretty snug on the feather troll.

Never had any issues with fish not sticking. There was once though we had a rod that was being difficult. Course the hook guards still in place was the culprit... hugh Gary

[Pilar]

Uhhhh. That has never happened on my boat. The rod that keeps getting pounded and then goes flat.

Set all safeties to zero before deployment.