Terminal Tackle

Last time, we discussed hooks. In this edition, we will discuss the remaining items in your terminal tackle arsenal. This includes leader, sinkers and swivels. The first thing you need to know about terminal tackle is ‘smaller is better’. In order to catch fish, you first have to entice them to bite your bait. While larger tackle will ensure a greater chance of landing a large fish, smaller tackle will increase your hit ratio. In other words, which is better, catching the only fish that took your bait all day or losing a few fish to catch several. I actually proved this several years ago while fishing at the Juno Beach Pier in Southern Florida. The Snook were everywhere, but they were very shy when it came to hitting the bait. Most of the anglers were using heavy terminal tackle as most experts recommend for large Snook. This included 60 to 80 pound fluorocarbon leader. Each person had caught and landed only one fish with a few landing two. The water conditions were exceptionally clear so the fish were able to see the large leader. Instead of using the standard size leader, I opted for 20 pound fluorocarbon. I was the only one on the pier that hooked eight large Snook and I was successful in landing six. The unfortunate part, however, was that Snook season was closed, so I couldn’t keep any of the fish I caught. But it was still a great day!

In addition to hooks, terminal tackle consists of three main elements. The first is the leader. There are several types of leader to choose from. Monofilament leader is the cheapest, but it has the lowest resistance to breaking and reflects more light than fluorocarbon leader, On the other hand, fluorocarbon leader diffuses light better than monofilament and has a higher resistance to abrasion. It is more expensive, but it could mean the difference between catching fish and not getting a bite all day. For very toothy fish such as Mackerel, Wahoo, Dorado and Tuna, the best leader to use is steel leader. As with all leader, your steel leader should be sized appropriately to match your line strength and the fish you are planning to catch. Leader should be no more than twice the strength of your line. The only exception is if you are fishing with a lure to catch large toothy fish, you may want to use fluorocarbon leader instead of steel to give your lure a more lively presentation, in which case you may need to use heavier leader to prevent the fish from biting through. I have used 60 pound fluorocarbon leader with 20 pound main line with live bait to catch large Bluefish.

Another item on your terminal tackle is the swivel or snap-swivel. These should be matched to your main line strength. If you are using 15 pound main line, your swivel should be approximately 15 pound class. If your swivel is too large, two things will happen. First, you will catch less fish because they will be spooked by the site of your tackle and second, your line will be unable to spin the swivel resulting in excessive line twist. Line twist will cause problems while casting and can cause degradation in line strength. Another safety tip is to never use silver swivels or snaps, especially when fishing in areas that are frequented by Spanish Mackerel. These fish have extremely sharp teeth and love to hit anything that looks shiny. I’ve even caught them while reeling in an empty silver or gold hook.

The last item is the sinker. There are many styles to choose from, depending on the type of rig you are using. The main thing to keep in mind is to use the smallest sinker possible for the conditions. The smaller the sinker, the better chance you will feel the bite of the fish.

I hope you will have a great experience using these techniques during your next fishing trip.

Next time, we will talk about the different types of rigs.

Cold day

Its cold today and very windy, after a very sunny day yesterday we woke up this morning with no sun at all its gloomy, windy and cold. What happen to the hot weather! I hope MR.Sunny will come out tomorrow so the kids can play in the backyard. Even its cold out there today my hubby finish putting a gate in our fence. Thank you all for visiting me here. Have a great night with your family!!!

Spring Break

Yepeeey! Spring break time for my girl no school for one whole week. We finally get some more sleep no need to get up early for a week hehehe! I'm excited because I can have some break too! I been stress and everything last few weeks about pinas probs but I'm ok now. Thank you all for always visiting me here in my small place online. I'll try to visit you also whenever I got time being a mother of two young kids is very busy so I hope you understand.... I better go to sleep now it's late already everybody is snoring except me hahahah!!! We are going fishing tomorrow and if we catch fish I'll be sharing a pictures again okidoki thanks all see yah tomorrow.

Easter Pictures

This is some of the pictures that we have on Easter and I would like to share it with our family and friends. Me and hubby was so happy watching our kids having fun doing egg hunting.

This is our picture after egg hunting.

So tired running around picking up eggs heheheheh

Mommy my basket is so heavy

Go Ian go


Daddy and Ian


We found the bunny

Happy Easter

Happy Easter To all! I need to get ready for our egg hunt today Ian is already excited, and want to hop out to the backyard. While Mia is already eating candy so early in the morning. Okay Guys have A nice Sunday to all!!!!

8 Years In US

This month is my 8years already living in Florida USA, and it's been really wonderful living here with my hubby and kids. I love our life here my husband is been wonderful and always there for me whenever I need him. He really make my life complete. Life for us now is more meaningful because were sharing it with our two beautiful kids. This year we are celebrating our 10Th year weeding anniversary for me it seems like it was just yesterday that we meet hehehehee! Our love with each other is growing more and more each day. I thank God everyday for giving me such a nice and wonderful family!

Me and hubby on our weeding

Me and hubby couple years ago

Our Little Boy

Our Little Girl! Not so little anymore.

My Family!!!

Good Morning

Hello guys good morning! Hows your day today mine is okay I'm trying to do some update on my little house here. I didn't see Mr. sunny today I think it's going to rain later, anyway thank you all for visiting my place I appreciate it. If you want to exchange links just give me a buzz okay. I can't wait to start planting vegetables again in my backyard I miss my ampalaya that I plant last year so this year I'm going to plant again. Have a good day to all of you and take care!!!!

To My Dearest Shiela

I make this post just for you Lang I remember when you were born and I cannot believe how big you are now. I guess I'm getting old na ha! It seems like every time your online I'm offline. So I decided to do this post, we spend so much time when you were young I still have a lots of picture of you and me. and I'm going to scan it so you will see it one more time. Hope your doing good at school so later on you can help your mama and papa in catanico. you know how difficult life is out there. Since I don't have time to scan our picture tonight I will do it some other time okay. Anyway I can't call you right now I don't have a phone card a soon as I get a phone card I will call you OK. However I will attach a picture of you that I have here in my computer this picture was taken the first time your uncle Richard visited Philippines.

This is the Shiela that I remember!1!


And this is you now see the different my gosh Dalagang dalaga kana.

My Poor Brother

I feel so bad for my brother for what happen to him and the woman he suppose to marry next year. after living together for almost a month my brother's fiancee run away with another guy. That is really hurt, at first they thought something happen to her because she go shopping at the mall and never come back home. A days later they found her in the port with another guy and they we're already in the boat to go to manila. My brother was hurt so much but right there he told the parents of the lady that he doesn't want their daughter anymore. The family of my brother's fiancee was so embarrass on what happen. Right now my brother is slowly recovering from all the pain and he's fiancee is in manila now with the other guy, good thing it happens because we found out that she was pregnant already and the father was the other guy not my brother.

New Haircut

Finally I got my haircut done I been wanting to cut my hair a little shorter because it's really getting so long and every time I brush my hair I get so frustrated. now I feel better it's easy to brush now, and I'm happy with my hair now I got a picture but you can't really see my hair cut. My daughter take this picture of me while driving home with my cellphone.

It's Monday

Hello everyone good morning! I been very busy catching up to do all my house work this past few days. It seems like since I start blogging I don't have time for my house all I do is seat in front of my computer and catching some oopppsss. This time I need to balance this work so I don't feel bad of myself heheheheeee! Anyway I still want to go back to sleep but I can't I don't want to be snoring and my little girl get late to go to school, that's why I decided to do some posting on my blog. Okay guys I need to get ready to cook breakfast for my kiddos see y'all later!

Good Morning

Hello all I have to put some update her in my domain and after this I have to do my cleaning. I been very busy lately dealing with an everyday life hope some of you understand if you didn't see me that much in your blog , but I promise once I have time to seat here I'll be doing my blog hop. Anyway some of you who want to x-change links just give me a buzz on my comment box so I can add you. To all my friends who always come and visit me here thank you verymuch!!!!

( Pakapin Picture)

Mia Catch A Fish

Yap! Mia catch a fish, This is so funny because we put the last bait we have on her line and hubby said OK after that time to go home. SO I told Mia to get ready to seat on her seat because we need to go back in the dock, and then she start screaming saying that she have a fish on her line wow! she was so happy that she catch a fish. After that her brother help her to put the fish back in the water.