tope from the shore, again!

[Diabolos]

Thanks for that Newt. I’ll acquire and check out some of these alternative wires when I eventually get round to ordering up my annual parcel of other bits and bobs from the states.

 

Cheers - Steve

[Kieran Hanrahan]

Hi Steve/Diabolos et al

 

Fantastic advice, thanks again

 

I found this diagram of the up and over pulley rig and wonder if this is what you use: -

 

http://home.wanadoo.nl/escort/RigsNL/Gemini/lyn078.htm

 

Obviously the b/s on all the components and line will have to increase to account for a tope but you mentioned fixing the top clip and another poster mentioned using an inverted clip on top... Is the diagram accurate in this regard?

 

Where can you buy a tope version of this rig online? Veals and Birdstackle both no shows... now trying some US online tackle shops. Normally I build my own rigs but a template from the professionals always speed things up.

 

PS thanks HA in advance for the photo of the rig you use...

 

Thanks again

[Diabolos]

Hi Kieran

 

You are on the right lines but the linked rig is a fixed pulley version of an ‘up & over’. For template purposes, the Gemini ‘up & over pulley’ version is quite different, and as you rightly say, you’ll have to make adjustments for tope. Give me your address and I’ll knock up and send on a couple of examples for you. Email on way.

 

Steve

[Diabolos]

Sorry Kieran - ain't got your email address.

 

Steve

[Newt]

Diabolos - go to his post and click on the little envelope at the top line. It will set up to send him an email. You still won't have the addy unless he answers but it should get to him unless he's been a bad lad and changed email addresses without updating his profile.

[Socksy Squirrel]

Any hints on the best ground to fish for tope if you are starting to fish for them for the first time in an area where they are not usually fished for from the shore. Tope have been taken from the shore where I live but they are not a regular capture.

[Kieran Hanrahan]

This I can answer... having done my homework!

 

Ideally start over sand. A deep gully or channel running parallel to the shore, preferably close in, with a decent tidal movement and perferably with some eddy currents to stir up the bottom and corral bait fish and food into a small area.

 

Tope are migratory and will appear off the shore in numbers from around April onwards for pupping - they give birth to live fish. It is often a short window of opportunity, no more than a few weeks.. after which you have to wait until mid summer for more fish. The bigger fish are always female and often heavily pregnant... they arrive later, the first fish to arrive are usually pack tope which are all male and around 25-40 lbs...