Hooking Tarpon and or Snook

[Snookfiend]

I'm having trouble keeping tarpon on and occasionally snook. I've lost all but two tarpon that i've had on. Lately I've been using a one ounce Gotcha lure and a skitter walk and hooking up with them but then they jump about 2 feet in the air and shake the hook everytime. I never have the line slack on them but they always get off, and I'm setting the hook hard. I don't understand. Is there some different technique when hooking tarpon that i'm just not picking up on?

[bolo]

Welcome to the forum. Tarpon are one of those fish are tough to keep hook. They have hard mouth. Like the other members stated keeping a sharp hook is very important. For the tarpon it is important to point to your fish as it is in the air. This keeps the hook from popping out when he slams back into the water. Smaller tarpon is not so important but good practice. As for Snook, their mouth is like a large mouth bass and if you pull too hard while fighting the fish you can open a hole and the hook will pop out. This has happen to me at Juno several times. Also, I believe as you gain more experience in fishing with the gotcha you will increase your chance of landing your fish. Keep your hook sharp and keep fishing.

[Snookfiend]

thanks everybody, I'll try doing that. Where do I go about getting a tiny hook sharpener though. I've got a big knife sharpening stick thing but is there a specific tool for sharpening hooks soemwhere because I don't want to lug that around with me its kind of bulky.

[bolo]

Dont know where you live but any bait and tackle store, walmart, or bass pro. The hook sharpener looks like a file with a handle on it.

[kancunkid]

Bass Pro sells a small hand held battery operated line stripper that also has a sharpening stone that comes out the top. It's super for sharping hooks and once you have used it to strip a reel you will never be without one again. I've given several to my fishing buddies as gifts and they all love them. Just go to the basspro website and type in line stripper as the seach term to take a look at one.

[SteveC]

Ive recieved one as a gift and it works damn well. Im an avid bass fisherman and though the battery-powered stripper is ideal, its a bit bulky. Works well for home or boat use but not really practical for boatless fishing. The hand files are small and often have a small groove in the blade that works like magic and is just as quick as the motorized unit.