Hi All,

I'm after some information on methods for fishing deep water marks (200m-300m) with rod and line. I beleive this is a type of fishing that is practiced in Norway quite extensively and so I'm looking for some tips.

Basically we are looking at big predators like Cod or groupers, of 20 lbs-60 lbs weight bracket. I was looking at using 65lb braid (Berkley Whiplash) and eeither bait or lures. I wouldn't think there was a lt of light down there for using lures only.

Any info or tips would be gratefully received. These marks have never been fished as the locals don't have the know how or the interest in investing in expensive equipment to find out. I however happen to have a 50lb class rod and an Abu 7500 leverdrag lying around and my time is cheap when it comes to fishing!!

Thanks,
FB

This is actually pretty simple. Use big circle hooks and cut squid for bait. I would actually use heavier gear than what you describe, but you can give it a shot with what you've got.

Double your spectra, then tie it to a heavy swivel and then to a 5 - 8 foot 80 lb mono leader. Create 2 or 3 dropper loops in your leader and attach Mustad 39960 10/0 - 12/0 circle hooks (or similar). Tie as little weight as you can get away with to the bottom; that will probably be at least 2 lbs, maybe as much as 5 lbs.

http://www.oeexpress.com/fishing-rigs.html
http://www.charkbait.com

Good luck.

Also, buy either fishing gloves or finger tape. 65 lb spectra will cut you faster than you can imagine; the 50 lb stuff is deadly.

Excellent source of supplies from Britain:

http://www.leadertec.com/

use these angles, and you cant avoid getting a lot of fish.


(use the red or green)

Two more hints.

If you snag on the bottom, it's most likely to be your weight. Breaking off 65 lb spectra can be problematic, so tie your weight to your leader with lighter line than your main line (30-40 lb line). If you have to break off a snag, you'll only lose your weight (most of the time).

The Vike jigs (the metal one posted above) are deadly and work on almost any rockfish. But it's a TON of work to deep water jig. If you're energetic enough to use them, they work like a charm, but it's much easier to use cut squid.

Hint: fish attack jigs on the drop, not on the retrieve.

Hallo!!its not normal to fish cod in 200-300 meters mostly we fish cod at 40-100 meters its the leng and lumb (also in family with the cod)that we fish from 100-500 meters
theck out my homepage http://fiskesafari.raumainfo.no john

Hi!
I would also use something stronger than the 7500 reel. I use a Penn Senator 3.0 with a dacron line for all deepwater fishing(0-250m). The advantage of penn is the good break and ball bearings, which the abu lacks. In the vintage abu ambassadeurs there are brass and steel, while in the newer ones there are only soft plastic, not nearly enough to break a 50 lbs line if you are stuck. Some advice of bait that works well in northern norway for all species are the common sea snails/slugs you harvest from the cliffs at low tide, crush them and put 5 of them through the meaty mouth section on the hooks and you are done. Blue mussel (mytilus edulis) that you make clam soup from is also excellent but hard to attach to the hooks, therefore you have to use a small net to keep it attached. Buy the cheapest nylon lady hoses in the shop, cut it up and tie bags that you fill with the crushed clams. The more the fish bites, the more taste are spread in the water...
That is the main dish of the Catfish/steinbit that dwells on those depths. Also the Uer/small kingfish that looks like a red perch dwell deeply. I also would think that an occasional halibut could roam there, and if you do get her hooked, you will need all the reel you can have.

With a solid line you can feel if it is a mud/clay bottom or if it is stones. At that depth mud is more likely, and then you can use the above lure with 4 baited single hooks in the line above. To aboid getting caught in stones or possible vegetation the first time, go without hooks on the lure that takes you down to the bottom until you have made a "map" over the bottom with the feelings of the bottom impacts in your hand.

Weight of the lure on that depth would be around 1kg and you have to have a totaly rigid line like dacron or fireline. Nylon is just rubbish on lenghts over 50 m, it is too flexible to give any bait movements at all. It is just like a rubber band. You jerk it 1,5 m at the surface, but 200 m below the bait drags the bottom without you feeling it...

Sincerely
Daniel