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Heads or Tails

Posted by Rex HB <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Rex+HB' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 19/12/2012, 12:23 pm

A few weeks back I had a bit of a heated discussion over these fellas with a fellow pania club member. There a competitive lot at times

The two top ones were over 3kg which is a bit unusual to see at a Pania weigh in. The argument was about how I caught them and particularly about which is best for Kahawai? Pilly heads or tails. I caught these ones all on heads. Got one hit on a tail in about 4hrs of fishing and the Kahawai spat it. I was told by the fella arguing with me that I couldnt have caught all those kahawai on heads as they much prefer tails.

He used a competition with a well known fishing Guru to illustrate his point. Apparently the Guru outfished him with tails quite substantially.
Thought this was a topic worthy of discussion/argument. Which ones best heads/tails? How come?

Re: Heads or Tails

Posted by racepics <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=racepics' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 19/12/2012, 3:01 pm, in reply to "Heads or Tails"

More to the point (for me at least) is when you use the head half of a pilly for bait, do you hook it so it hangs head down (hook ends pointing up) or the other way up so the hook ends are pointing away from the exposed flesh?

http://www.paniasurfcasting.org
http://www.surfcaster.co.nz

Re: Heads or Tails

Posted by Naki-Fisher <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Naki-Fisher' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 19/12/2012, 3:02 pm, in reply to "Heads or Tails"

Most of my big snapper have been caught on headless pillies

Re: Heads or Tails

Posted by SNAPPA NAPIER <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=SNAPPA+NAPIER' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 19/12/2012, 6:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Heads or Tails"

Both. I usually chop the heads off of the bigger pillys to streamline the bait and expose a bloody mid section. Wasn't your fishing buddy rexy

Re: Heads or Tails

Posted by Rex HB <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Rex+HB' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 19/12/2012, 6:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Heads or Tails"

No it was El Presidente

Re: Heads or Tails

Posted by AndyG <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=AndyG' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 20/12/2012, 7:59 am, in reply to "Re: Heads or Tails"

I don't know, I get the same amount of bites on tails as I do with heads.. My problem is getting the fish to hook up (Yes my barbs are well out from the bait).
Latleyl I've been cutting the head of and then splitting the body in half lengthwise which seems to attract more bites, as the blood and guts are on the outside of the bait..

Re: Heads or Tails

Posted by jeep <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=jeep' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 20/12/2012, 8:42 am, in reply to "Re: Heads or Tails"

Instead of cutting pillie in half, I've been cutting off head and slicing down backbone to give two fillets. Along with plenty of bait elastic it seems to give a better presentation on the hook.

Re: Heads or Tails

Posted by AndyG <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=AndyG' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 20/12/2012, 9:17 am, in reply to "Re: Heads or Tails"

Yeah, that is what I've been doing, seems to have good results.

Re: Heads or Tails

Posted by Rex HB <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Rex+HB' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 20/12/2012, 9:21 am, in reply to "Re: Heads or Tails"

I do similar with my pillies too at times. If your missing the hook up Andy it could be your picking the rod up too quick. I leave the drag a little loose and let them pull for a little bit before I pick up.
Some say the first whack is often the Kahawai hitting the float and then they come back for the bait. I'm not so sure but I do know quickly grabbing the rod on the first hit can often lead to an empty line. Kahawai can be as picky as any fish at times.

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