no shock leader

[chipper2]

can someone advise please.Can you use braid without shockleader.What lb strain should it be.Its only for my dad,fishing from samphire hoe,which is snaggy from a pier height.And again its only for mackerel fishing.The trouble hes having is hes dropping into the snags[feathering] but he is 75 so hes not the quickest.I need somthing better than streight through 30lb mono[thats whats hes useing]but it slaughters the distance.

[codseeker]

30lb line is enough on any reel for macky if ya get a full string of them thats average around 5 -6lb on just 4 feather traces thats all ya need but reel in well before the snags to save your gear ,why do peeps use 6 string feathers theres plenty macky out there its just harder work getting them up

[peter.m]

Depends on what you're going to do on Samphire Hoe but if your bottom fishing I wouldn't be fishing braid. If you can't reel in fast you'll lose quite a bit of stuff on there. Need to hit them hard and get them off the bottom quick. I fished 40lb straight through cos you don't want to be going more than about 30-40 yards. Three hook flapper all above the lead with a long rotton bottom. This time of the year rag and mackerel and if it goes quiet go down the side. A lot of small pout etc if it's match fishing.

PM me if you want more details

[chipper2]

As said, Samphire Hoe in Kent can be a tough venue...but why are you going mackerel fishing there? There are many other places just a short drive further down the coast to catch mackerel, without the snags - and it doesn't cost you a fiver!

Samphire Hoe is a great mark for fishing over the side for wrasse, pollack, pout. You can spin very early in the morning for bass or fish a livebait.
If you are continually getting snagged a simple move of only 10yds can find you some cleaner ground, but as it's where the spoil was dumped when the Channel Tunnel was built, there's really no way to get away from boulders the size of buses!

Many anglers float fish there in the summer, certainly a better way to avoid losing tackle - and a lot more fun if it's mackerel you're after.

i plan on float down the wall,i caught some nice bass last year.Ive tried explaining,that hythe would be better[snags]but i think coz he caught is 1st mackerel at the hoe[dads gota lovem]i aggree there great fun on float,

[chipper2]

30lb line is enough on any reel for macky if ya get a full string of them thats average around 5 -6lb on just 4 feather traces thats all ya need but reel in well before the snags to save your gear ,why do peeps use 6 string feathers theres plenty macky out there its just harder work getting them up

the funny thing with him,he gets to excited when theirs more than one on.And forgets everything ive told him to do............lol! i only set him up with three feathers[thats enough!]

[chipper2]

cheers pete,so you recon 40lb braid for the hoe then,i,ll leave the snoods mono,