Popping ~ the Most Exciting Form of Fishing

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Popping ~ the Most Exciting Form of Fishing

Popping is a highly physical form of angling which demands tough tackle and anglers.

Multiple castings and retrieving are needed to entice the fish to strike. And a strike is always an adrenaline-full sensation not found in any other form of fishing.

With the introduction of hi-tech spinning reels and super strong thin-diameter braid lines capable of withstanding the meanest sport-fish of the oceans and the extreme sea-conditions this kind of sport is getting very popular day by day.

Targeted Species

Mid and surface predators such as tuna, sailfish, marlin, queenfish and the awesome fighter, the great Giant Trevally, or GT its common name are some of the targeted fish.

Rods

You need a good strong rod which is specially designed for this purpose. Rods lengths are about 8-9 feet, slightly longer than average boat rods for casting into the distance. And they must be light and robust with strong backbone built from carbon fibers.

Reels

Big fixed-spool reels like the Shimano Stella and the Daiwa Saltiga series are the no. 1 choice of most anglers of this sport. These heavy-rated reels have big-line capacity which is needed when a fast-moving giant is hooked. They are also specially designed for heavy casting with fast-retrieve ratio. Choose high-tech tackle – this type of sport is not always easy on the equipment used.

Lines

Braid mainlines are usually the best choice – offering a greater strength-to-diameter ratio than mono. Furthermore, braided fishing line also reduces stretch and drag on the water which is certainly needed with this kind of sport to allow you to produce the correct movement of your lure. 50 – 80 lbs. breaking strain and about 300 meter of lines on the spool is needed. A length of 100 – 160 lbs. mono leader is needed. As a rule of thumb a 50 lbs mainline will require a 100 lbs. leader, just double it up as I often do.

Poppers

These are surface lures. A great number of these beautiful lures are available in the market, big and small. Choose a number of different sizes, weights, and colors to suit the waters and targeted species you are fishing.

These lures are usually come ready with inferior split rings and hooks. My advice is to replace them with hi-quality hardware to avoid losing fish.

Safety Measures

Popping sessions call for great discipline among anglers while flinging huge lures with sharp hooks on a usually rough sea. Stand firmly, comfortably and always look around you before you made your cast. Wear a butt pad, put on a hat, a pair of polarized sunglass, and leather casting gloves are a must.

Where to pop and techniques

Firstly, you need to spot them. Feeding frigate birds diving in and out of the water is one of them. Another of which to spot them is a school of bait-fish being chased up of the water by predators underneath. Continuous casting and retrieving to boulders is also one of them as these outcrops are good hiding places for bait-fishes. And when bait-fishes congregate, predators like the GT would be around.

A certain amount of work while retrieving is required to make your lure to imitate a fleeing and injured fish even you know the fish is there. Try different ways of retrieving your lure to fool the fish to strike. When you have a hook-up shout ‘fish-on’ so as to let other fellow anglers around you know to avoid tangles of lines.

Popping is simply the most exciting form of fishing. Often you can see clearly the fish hit your lure explosively before your naked eyes, follow on with blistering runs and shaking heads to rid off the hook. For me fishing is all about the thrill of the fight and this kind of sport has everything I need. Join me with the real thrill, buddies!

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