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Impeccable equipment
The first thing you need when stalking these trophy fish is the right equipment, not only to fish efficiently but also to fight big fish.
A power 8 rod is well suited, with a reel fitted with an impeccable drag. Because even if bass don't take off like rockets, as bonefish do, and their rushes are short, they can be powerful and take you by surprise.
A progressive and regular drag will dampen the explosive starts that big fish can make once hooked. Adjusting your drag before catching one of these big fish will also help you get off to a good start and win the fight!
There are also various points to check before and during any fishing trip:
- Check the condition of your reel, especially the brake system
- Tie your knots properly and check them from time to time. Use sturdy knots known to all good fishermen.
- Run your fingers over your tip to make sure that the wire is not damaged (which happens frequently) or that there are no casting knots, which considerably reduce the strength of your wire.
- Re-tying your knots after catching a big fish or several fish only takes a few seconds, and will also save you from unpleasant surprises.
Knowledge of industry hazards
Big bass live in different environments, but there are often obstacles or other hazards nearby that can cause you to lose your fish.
This is particularly the case when fishing in estuaries, where there are often sharp rocks, oysters on the bottom, stillbodies or other structures where big bass can leave to try and distract you.
By identifying them, you'll be able to know how to react, where to place yourself, and always know in advance how and where you'll be able to get your fish out and into the landing net or curb. Having foresight keeps you one step ahead of your fish.
It's also important to choose your tip diameter carefully. This means fishing fine (22° to 25°) when necessary, especially in clear, shallow water with no apparent danger, or if the fish are wary. It's perfectly possible to catch bass weighing over 4 kg with a 22° to 25° tip. I do it regularly.
Use a stronger tip in the case of structures where you need to extract your fish by force, as is always the case on oyster beds, but it can also be in rocky areas, or close to submerged trees, etc... In these areas, you mustn't skimp and use 32° to 35° or you won't be able to win the fight most of the time.
Of course, sometimes you don't know the fishing spot you're going to for the first time, or there's a potential danger. In this case, use a slightly stronger leader when in doubt. If you're getting rejections (whether sight fishing or streamer fishing with tracking), it may be possible to adapt your tip accordingly if that's the reason. This may be due to your landing, your presentation, your fly or its animation.
Fighting and restraining fish
Fighting big fish, like anything else, is a learning process. With experience, you learn how to use your rod, how to adjust and use your drag, and how to play with the resistance of your line. It's all about knowing how to put pressure on a fish when necessary to get it out, either as quickly as possible or to prevent it from going into a dangerous area. I recommend that you fight big bass with the reel and not the line, as the drag can tire the fish out. This will also prevent you from stepping on your line, or getting it caught on rocks, seaweed or anything else.
Sea rods often have a fast to very fast tip action, which means you can put a lot of pressure on a fish. Be careful, however, with the size of your tip so as not to break a fish by bridling it too much, or rip the fly out of its mouth. You need to know your equipment (rod, reel and tippet) to know how to optimize it.
Use a brand of leader that you are used to using and with which you have no problems of breakage. This also lets you know how much pressure you can put on it. Personally, I use Nitlon DFC fluorocarbon, which I trust completely.
You can disorientate a bass by constantly changing the angle of your rod and pointing it in the opposite direction to the fish. So, by moving your rod to the right when the bass goes to the left and vice-versa, you can get the upper hand on a beautiful fish that won't know where to go!
A landing net is undoubtedly an invaluable tool when fishing for big fish, as it often shortens the fight and allows you to dry a sea bass more quickly than if you didn't have one.
It's important to bring the fish to the surface and let it breathe a little air to "drown" it before slipping it into your landing net. Sometimes anglers are in too much of a hurry to get them in and lose the fish that way. There's a time for everything, and with experience you'll know when it's the right time.
My fixtures for big bass
In floating line for sight bar, I use a Rio Striper knotless rat tail in 7 feet that ends in 14 or 16 lbs. It is connected to my line by a loop-in-loop knot. This leader is sold with a perfect loop or perfect Loop which allows this set-up.
I add a 2 mm micro ring at the end, to which I attach, with a hangman's knot, my flurocarbon tip 1.20 to 2 m long, depending on water clarity, fish wariness, wind, etc... Moisten the knot well before tightening to help it slide and avoid overheating. The advantage of the micro-ring is that it allows you to tie nylon to fluorocarbon, as otherwise the fluorocarbon cuts the nylon. I paid the price several times before using this flawless assembly. No breakage since!
In intermediate silk for prospecting fishing, I make a leader with 4 tapering strands (including my tip) which are joined by a surgeon's knot making 3 turns.
