BluewaterTops

Fellow Swordfisherman:
I'm including some Squid rigging photos which I modified from a FS article late last year. It's a "no-stitch" squid rig.
Step 1- A 9/0 owner hook is crimped on to a 250lb mono leader. A second crimp is placed above the hook with a bead and small float inserted onto the leader.


Step2- A sharpened 1/8" brass rod is inserted under the mantle through the apex


Step 3- The mono leader is threaded through the brass rod.


Step 4- The brass rod is removed leaving the leader threaded through the squid


Step 5 - The float rig in pulled through the squid until it reaches the apex


Despite this method I've had 3 squids that were hit and "bunched up" on the hook. I added a second hook (see prior post) to help avoid the bunching problem. I didn't realize that there was a controversy regarding the use of a "stinger hook". The only time in the past that I have used a stinger hook is kingfishing when the strikes were consistently "short". The main reason I used a second hook near the squid apex was to prevent the squid from "bunching up". I don't believe a second hook will increase the mortality of released swords.

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ubettcha13

A method I learned to prevent the bunching is snelling a #1 or smaller hook on the leader This will slide to where you want it for the top of the mantle to also help from bunching in the event of a "playful slap or 2"

chainsaw42

hey rich, glad to see you found this site...look down the threads a little and you just might find a picture or two of yourself!

MakoMike

You can tie the tip of the mantle to the leader with floss to keep it from "bunching up" you need to pull the squid from the tip of the mantle. Also you don't need the tube to do it, you can easily pull the leader through the mantle with a rigging needle. every wordfish sharpie I know insists on stitching the head to the mantle, if the squid get slapped and head seperates, the fish won't eat the hook.

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====MakoMike====
Http://www.Makomania.net

ubettcha13

MakoMike
You can put some rigging wire in the crimp when making the rig at home to do both tie the head and pinch the mantle to the main line. The copper will easily go through squid that isn't frozen solid

MakoMike

Crimp? what crimp?

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====MakoMike====
Http://www.Makomania.net

ubettcha13

Where the hook is crimped to the leader put a peice of rigging wire in the top crimp centered so you can do both If the leaders are already made you can haywire the copper on just above the crimp works almost as well

Bryan A.

Nice tutorial, good to see the pics..

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2003 Parker 2530 "El Mar".......click the pic
1973 Seacraft 20SF

Flukinoff

I bet if you down size the hook that set-up could catch some fluke !

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You can respect the sea or she can take the respect from you.

Bryan A.

Yeah, and a better presentation than the double hook rig I tie. If you downsized the float also that would keep it just off the bottom in the strike zone for doormats. I'll have to try it.

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2003 Parker 2530 "El Mar".......click the pic
1973 Seacraft 20SF