The float on those blue rigs..

[nmigliore]

I've never targeted blues before, so when I looked up some rigs it looks like a few of them come with some sort of float attached at or near the hook. Here are 2 examples of what I mean:




Basically, what is the float for? Is it supposed to be for fishing at the top of the water? If so then what is the purpose of the sinker-accommodating snap that is also attached? Any help on how these rigs work (and if they work) would be great!  

[Scott G.]

The Float keeps the bait off the bottom.

[nmigliore]

Thanks for the quick reply! I had a feeling that might have been it. Are these rigs effective? The blues don't mind the float?

[Scott G.]

Not at all...Blues will attack anything.. One of the guys on the forum put a hook on a soup spoon with a snap swivel and caught a blue.

[Andys Delight]

Some old salts told me of the days when they wrapped tin foil around hooks to catch blues when they couldn't afford bait.  Blues bite first and ask questions later.  the float helps suspend the bait off the ground for them to see it.   

[ped579]

Besides keeping the bait up it also keeps it away from the crabs during the warmer water when they are all over the place.

[Hunter 2]

 

[PierMan11]

Hi, not to invade on someone else's topic, but I also had some interest in these bluefish float rigs. Has anyone tried out Sea Striker's fireball rig for blues? This is what it looks like..

(my apologies if the image is too large)
I ordered the ones tied with steelon and #4 plated hooks, however I do wonder if that is on the small side for blues? Has anyone else ever tried out this rig before? I've heard good things about it but I'm mostly worried if the hooks are too small. Thanks.

[IrishAyes]

That looks like a rig that would work for small snapper blues and not the adult ones. The hooks are wayyyyy too small for adult blues. I would go a minimum of 5/0 hooks with wire leader for adult blues.

[Salty Dog]

The float size is determined by the bait weight that you need to keep off the bottom,away from the crabs .The hooks size is determined by your quarry .

[Hotrod]

Hi Pierman...  

[nmigliore]

No prob, Pierman.

Hey guys, I picked up a few wire pre-snelled 6/0 O'Shaughnessy hooks for blues. They had some small leaders but I opted for the larger wire leader, which looks roughly less than a foot. They come attached to a barrel swivel. Can I fish these using a fish finder rig? Basically taking one of my spare snap-sliders, putting it on my main line, and then tying that to the barrel swivel? Or is there a special way people rig them?

[ped579]

When it comes to blues, they don't care what you use as long as there is food at the end if the leader.  The hook size would be at least a 6/0 and up for sure.  I use nothing but circle hooks for a sure hook up, especially in the surf.


Happy Catching

Paul