FISHING THE PACIFIC 



only use this size with 24-thread or heavier. For striped mar- 

 lin, Pacific sailfish or Allison tuna, I would use the same type 

 of stainless-steel cable leader referred to in the trade as No. 7, 

 testing 240 pounds. I have had marvelous results with this 

 wire, and I use it for all my 6- and 9-thread fishing. I used to 

 consider it too large for 6-thread, but I learned from experi- 

 ence that I was wrong. 



The two kinds described are the only two that meet my 

 requirements. My experience with any of the smaller sizes 

 or any of the braided type is that they always kink up when 

 slacking back to a billfish and usually they end up wound 

 around his bill. I have lost good fish with small cable leaders 

 and don't intend to suffer that agony again. You will have a 

 fish on for a run and then get the bait without a mark on it, 

 the leader showing eloquent evidence of one thing— that it 

 has been around the fish's bill. Under certain conditions 

 when trolling for big-eye tuna or AUison tuna I would use 

 No. 16 piano wire, and for the giant tuna fishing off Bimini 

 and Cat Cay many anglers double No. 16. Experience has 

 taught me that when trolling for big tuna the best results are 

 obtained from piano wire, but since it does not shine on the 

 water when drifting or net fishing a cable leader is the best 

 type. For striped marlin. Pacific sailfish, wahoo, and dolphin 

 I would use No. 10 piano wire, fifteen-foot length for the first 

 two species, ten-foot for the wahoo and four-foot for the dol- 

 phin or any of the smaller fish if you are after them exclu- 

 sively. The size of leader should always be governed by the 

 line you are using and the length of the fish you are going 

 after, but don't forget the rules of the International Game 

 Fish Association. 



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