What's a shock leader for?
Visit shock leader is a leader which absorbs the powerful rushes of fish
This is either in fluorocarbon or nylon. Traditionally, lure anglers have used fluorocarbon .
For bluefin tuna lure fishing, a certain elasticity is required, especially for the lining stage.
It consists of holding the fish at the surface by gripping the leader so that a crew member can grab the fish by the mouth with a pair of pliers.
Fluorocarbon or nylon?
Visit fluorocarbon is renowned for its high resistance to abrasion and its refractive index, which is very close to that of water, making it virtually invisible. (1.42 for fluorocarbon and 1.33 for water). This material has no elasticity and provides an immediate feel for the touch, making striking more effective.
The second type of leader is nylon. This material is generally overlooked. Yet it offers some very interesting technical features. It is more elastic and flexible than fluorocarbon . Its elasticity enables it to better absorb fish rushes.
The constraints of bluefin tuna lure fishing
In this fishery, it's clear that the problem isn't touch sensitivity, but rather combat management.
One of the most critical stages is lining the fish. It consists of holding the fish at the surface, alongside the boat, while waiting for a crew member to come and grab it by the mouth with a pair of pliers in order to unhook and return it to the water in good condition.
At this point, there's no longer the nerve of the rod to absorb the rush. The angler is in direct contact with the fish and the pressure is exerted solely on the leader.
The fight leaves its mark on the leader. A tuna's mouth is equipped with small teeth which, over time, damage the leader. This is the main reason for line breakage.
This requires a large-diameter, abrasion-resistant leader.
My personal choice: Varivas Nylon Shock Leader
After trying different products, I ended up trusting the shock leader Varivas in Nylon.
It is available in a wide range of diameters and strengths and s he benefits are numerous.
Its flexibility makes it easy to tie very clean knots that won't slip. We all know that solid knots are the key to success in this type of fishing.
Its flexibility, superior to the fluorocarbon, is a huge asset when it comes to absorbing rushes. It's very rare for me to break during lineage or in combat.
It also has excellent abrasion resistance. During long fights, the tuna's teeth tend to damage the leader.
Thanks to its high resistance, this one is only slightly weakened. I can line fish with complete confidence.
Traditionally, the leader should have a lower resistance than the braid, but in the case of tuna fishing, the opposite is often true. I use 125 lb braid with 140, 170 or 200 lb leader lbs .
My personal selection focuses on these three resistances.
The 140 lbs for the day, when the fish are shy and of average size (around 80 kilos).
Visit 170 lbs is the one I use almost all the time.
Finally, 200 lbs is when I go to the tip of Brittany, where very large fish, in excess of 250 kilos, are on the prowl.
Shock Leader Varivas Nylon :
- Length: 50 m
- Diameter : 0.28 mm, 0.33 mm, 0.37 mm, 0.40 mm, 0.43 mm, 0.47 mm, 0.52 mm, 0.57 mm, 0.62 mm, 0.70 mm, 0.74 mm, 0.78 mm, 0.81 mm, 0.91 mm, 0.98 mm, 1.05 mm, 1.17 mm, 1.28 mm
- Resistance : 12 lb, 16 lb, 20 lb, 22 lb, 25 lb, 30 lb, 35 lb, 40 lb, 50 lb, 60 lb, 70 lb, 80 lb, 90 lb, 100 lb, 130 lb, 140 lb, 170 lb, 200 lb
- Color: translucent misty gray
- Price: from ?35 for tuna fishing models
