Ask Mark

[stoneman]

Dear Mark

when riging for sailfish what rig would you use for kite fishing and for drift fishing?

Thanks Stoneman

[marksosin]

Dear Stoneman:

There is very little difference in the rigs I use for kite fishing or drift fishing. Because of the need to keep the fish in front of the cameras as much as possible, I generally use a 30-pound outfit on the offshore grounds. At times, I have gone to 20-pound and even 12-pound test, but 30 is the standard.

I put a Bimini Twist in the end of the main line and then attach about 12 feet of 60--pound Momoi flurocarbon using a No Name Knot. I use circle hooks and attach them with a loop knot. On a kite rig, I will put some type of marker about 10-feet above the hook. It might be a removeable float with the fatter end pointing toward the hook or some bright colored ribbon.

When I'm drifting, I usually hook the live bait next to the pectoral fins near the belly. For kite fishing, I hook the bait right in front of the dorsal fin.

Mark Sosin

[stoneman]

Do you put a length of wire in while useing these rigs if so what size and lenght?

[marksosin]

Stoneman:

If my target is sailfish, I don't use wire. If I am looking for kingfish, wahoo, barracuda, sharks, etc., I'll use perhaps a foot of wire between the fluorocarbon and the hook. You can connect the fluorocarbon to the wire with an Albright Knot.

Mark Sosin