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Message: <blockquote data-quote="dtfisherman" data-source="post: 5437059" data-attributes="member: 187440">Hi Rob,Excellent questions and it is the details that make all the difference in a bite, especially when chasing the bluefin.Yes, #4 circle hooks not 4/0. I'm not a believer of the old school saying of matching the hook to the size of the bait. If the baitwell has 4", 6" or even 8" dines, I don't care as long as they've been cured and can run like Forest upwind. I am a believer in matching the hook size to the line size you're fishing. It is true that the larger 4/0 will get you a better hook-set than the #4 but if the blues are line shy, they're also hook shy. So if I'm fishing fluoro topshots from 20#-25#-30#-35#, I'm tying a #4 Owner Mutu with a laser welded stainless steel "o" ring or my favorite ringed Charlie Brown from Quick Rig 1/0's. Owners run big like some shoe brands so my 1/0 CB's are slightly bigger but are an hand forged alloy metal so they run lighter which allows the bait to run faster and longer. Same small detail as in horse racing where horses are handicapped by weights. If its a plunker bite and the bite zone is 100 yards from the rail, the first bait there is the one most times that's bit, running lighter is the reason unless your dine is related to Sea Biscuit, Secretariat or Winning Brew. If I'm next to you on the rail and I'm bent, now you know why. Mustad's Demon Offset Circles run small too as well as Gamakatsu's ringed Nautilus. If you read my post from May 11, Double a Vaccine "First Shot", there's a video attached in the response to a similar question as yours and ideas to adopt and absorb that may help you imho. When fishing in the dark, you're looking for strictly a reaction bite so 80#,100#, 130#, 200# aka rope will get bit. The key to landing a knife jig bite is to 1. pump with force and violence to secure the hook-set. Up to 10X is a good practice to adopt. If you just pump once and fight, there's a 80-90% chance you'll be unbuttoned. 2. Many times the KB bite is more like a bump or tap like a calico bass so it helps to always have your finger on the spool to feel the bite. Do not be shy about pushing your lever to strike and pumping. The worst thing that can happen is there's no bite. One of my good friends who fishes in tournaments complained that he couldn't get bit on his KB's fishing right next to me. During the day, I looked at his KB's and every single one had paint peeling and teeth marks on them. I won't mention his name but it starts with F. Everyone is built different so you should find a rhythm and technique that works for you. During the day though, I'd fish 60#-80# with the KB's. KB's work best without crimped leaders so tie good knots and pull hard!Hope this answers your questions.Ps Most powerful force in the universe is prayer. From my experience it doesn't always help when chasing the bluefin but it doesn't hurt either to let Him hear your heart...</blockquote>

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