Getting excited for the ling opener

[schu7498]

yep, pure luck!

[Fishingadam]

Can't wait to head back out to Westport. I've taken two trips out with playboy 2 boat one each of the last two years. Both trips we limited on lings and sea bass. My biggest was 19 1/2 pounds and my uncle caught a couple of 20 pounders. They have been good to us so planning another trip with them in the next month and a half but would love to fish the jetty sometime.
Congrats on a nice catch.

[Dan Boone]

OK, total lingcod noob question, but do you think I could get away with 30 lb. braid with 25 lb. leader on 8.5' MH rod? I might go after them some time, but I probably won't if I'm going to have to buy a new rod.

[Fishingadam]

Will work just fine

[Fish-or-man?]

Hey Schu! Since your husband caught the first monster of 2013 I think it's up to you to put up the 2013 saltwater trophy thread!

[Dan Boone]

Will work just fine

sweet

[AJFishdude]

Hey everyone, so I'm interested in getting out to the salt this year to try for Lings or Rockfish, but I am totally new to it. If I plan to be doing jetty fishing, what is a good setup to go with for live bait or jigging? I saw someone above posted about an 8.5' medium heavy rod with 30lb braid being adequate, but could I get a little more info?

These would be my questions:
What length of rod do you use?
What sort of action on the rod (fast, slow, etc.)?
What line rating on the rod?
One piece rod or not?
What line and leader type/weight?
Is there really a need to get a "saltwater" reel, or will any properly rated reel work?

Thanks!

[schu7498]

Its almost that time of the year again! Jetty opens March 15th this year for ling cod! Time to stock up on jig heads while theyre still cheap! They will go up almost twice as much once the puget sound opens for lings. I will be out on the jetty march 26th-28th. Anyone is welcome to join my husband and I, especially if you want to learn the jetty. Last years monster ling was caught i believe on the 28th so hopefully another one of those will be lurking around!

[schu7498]

Hey everyone, so I'm interested in getting out to the salt this year to try for Lings or Rockfish, but I am totally new to it. If I plan to be doing jetty fishing, what is a good setup to go with for live bait or jigging? I saw someone above posted about an 8.5' medium heavy rod with 30lb braid being adequate, but could I get a little more info?

These would be my questions:
What length of rod do you use?
What sort of action on the rod (fast, slow, etc.)?
What line rating on the rod?
One piece rod or not?
What line and leader type/weight?
Is there really a need to get a "saltwater" reel, or will any properly rated reel work?

Thanks!

Hey AJ,
9+ MH rod or H with good backbone fast action. You want to be able to really yank those lings out the rocks.
10-25lb line rating should work.
We use two piece rods. sensitivity isnt too important.
We usually use around 40lb braid and tie is directly to the jig head. But there are so many different ways you can fish the jetty. We spend most our time just twitching jigs. 3/4oz jig head-2oz, our ideal jig head though, is the 3/4oz.
The reel I use is a fresh water reel, quantum incyte, I got from toni. It is going on it 2nd year in the salt. Your reel needs to have a good amount of drag. I bought a daiwa laguna for the jetty and lost quite a few lings because the drag tightened all the way down wasnt enough to control the fish. I also have a pflueger president that is going on its 3rd year in salt and it is also going strong, it also has plenty of drag to yank the fish out.

[AJFishdude]

Great, thanks schu7498! I actually just picked up a new rod today in anticipation of the coming Chinook season. It's an Okuma SST, 9', MH, rated for 10-30lb line. It officially say the action is MH, but describing how fast it is I would say it is fast to medium fast. I'm planning to pair it with a Pflueger Purist 1340 spinning reel. So based upon what you are saying, it sounds like that setup should work fairly well. Thanks for all the info.

One other question though. You say that you just tie your braid straight to the jig, but I have heard that the teeth on those Lings can cut through braid pretty easy. Because of that I have heard people recommending using strong monofilament leader. Have you ever had an issue with this?

[schu7498]

If you havent bought the purist yet, I would suggest staying away from them. Mine broke on the first outing when I was reeling in a king. Chatting with others they have had the same experiences. But have only heard good things about the president. Many people I have talked to say they are work horses.
I have never had a ling chew through my braid. But not saying it would never happen. Yeah a lot of people like to use thick mono like big game. But 40lb braid is hard to cut through even with sharp scissors. On the jetty we have used tuf-line.

[goonatic]

schu, do you happen to work at cabelas? and recently transferred to the fishing dept?

[AJFishdude]

If you havent bought the purist yet, I would suggest staying away from them. Mine broke on the first outing when I was reeling in a king. Chatting with others they have had the same experiences. But have only heard good things about the president. Many people I have talked to say they are work horses.

That's interesting, seeing as the Purist is a more expensive reel. That of course is not always the end of the story. I guess I'll just have to see how it does.

[mizm05]

AJ, we're planning a trip out there during the week after the opener. Hit me up if you're able to join...weather permitting. It's not safe to be out on the jetty in bad weather. PM me for more details if you're interested.

[jd39]

I have to get down there this year and check the jetty out, not sure I can do it in March though, how long does decent fishing last? Whole season or does it get picked clean in a few weeks/months?
Damn I just bought a purist, it was on sale at OE for cheaper then the president....I figured worst case it's probably the same parts as the president just different color/paint.....