Broke 120lb steel leader

[crossbow]

Last night I went out sharking off the beach in Sarasota. Just took out my large spinning gear in hope of a mid sized black tip. We were using cut mullet as bait. Almost as soon as the bait hit the water on 9500 baitrunner. Something grabed it with enough force to sever the 120lb braided steel leader. This leader was brand new. Had never even seen water yet. So either it was a faulty line or there is a big shark crusing of the bank. Either way I have changed out the leader with some stronger stuff and will be heading back out with my big stuff tonight.

[crashmister]

You're fishing the land o giants there bud. You're gonna wanna gun up.

[fixed80]

either buy cable with a minimum of 200lb rating or use 400 to 600lb mono leaders connected to a circle hook. got make sure you have the right size crimps though.

[Get-em-wet]

if you get a kink in the leader it will break easily with spinners and blacktips...

[Floridahogfish]

either buy cable with a minimum of 200lb rating or use 400 to 600lb mono leaders connected to a circle hook. got make sure you have the right size crimps though.

you are right but also when crimping with that make shure you dont have any sharp ends or that will cut you off as well

[crossbow]

Thanks guys I know and have had experience with the monsters in these waters. That night we were targeting blacktips and went with the light stuff. I loaded up the next night and ended up having my 9/0 all but spooled by what we think was a large bull. We were not even able to make it think about turning. Ended up straightening the hook. Needless to say I am planing on ordering a 14/0 later this week. We did end up doing pretty well as far as blacktips went. We beached 5 tippers and a lemon over the week. All released safely. We had several good runs as well. Still want to go out after that bull. But I do not plan on swimming off Lido anytime soon.

[InfinityFishingTeam]

Thanks guys I know and have had experience with the monsters in these waters. That night we were targeting blacktips and went with the light stuff. I loaded up the next night and ended up having my 9/0 all but spooled by what we think was a large bull. We were not even able to make it think about turning. Ended up straightening the hook. Needless to say I am planing on ordering a 14/0 later this week. We did end up doing pretty well as far as blacktips went. We beached 5 tippers and a lemon over the week. All released safely. We had several good runs as well. Still want to go out after that bull. But I do not plan on swimming off Lido anytime soon.

Time to invest in some better hooks. I have never had my LP hooks bend on me. Can't beat carbon steel.

[crossbow]

Time to invest in some better hooks. I have never had my LP hooks bend on me. Can't beat carbon steel. [/quote]

Agreed but we were not really equiped to handle anything over around 8 foot that night.

[crossbow]

120 stranded cable coated or otherwise (although adequate in some applications) is not reliable and pretty weak stuff if something decent chomps down on it. I'd suggest using solid wire or 400# - 480# stranded cable.

Agreed that is all we use on our big stuff. We have never had wire brake so easily. I wish I had take a picture of it. It did not appear biten but actually broke from pressure.

[Notready32]

Thys crazy!!! It must have been a monster

[crossbow]

Thys crazy!!! It must have been a monster

More then likely a large bull. We hooked into a few of them just did not have enough to get him in. Been doing pretty good with the sharks lately. Releasing everything. Waiting to pick up my 14/0 to go after the big guys.