The Fish Finder Rig is a bottom rig that is extremely popular with surf fishermen everywhere. I’ve had success with this rig with large Blues, Stripers and Drum and you’ll catch you’re share of sharks and skates with it as well.
I first came across the rig during my trips to the Avon and Buxton in the eighties where it is the preferred rig for big Red Drum. It’ allows the bait and hook to move freely through the slider when the fish picks it up allowing time for the fish to fully take the bait in before setting the hook.
The rig is made up of a hook connected to a barrel swivel which, after threading on a bead and slider sleeve (or a heavy barrel swivel), is attached to your shock leader. The length of line attaching the hook to the barrel swivel depends on you’re preference. I like to use a shorter length (around four inches) when fishing a heavy bait like a fish head and a little bit longer (around eight inches) with lighter cut baits or eels. Keeping the length of line between the terminal barrel swivel and the hook short helps reduce the opportunity for cartwheeling of the weight and the bait during casts.
Supplies
Swivel
Use 220 Pound barrel swivel to make sure you have enough strength to maintain the rig through the stresses of casting.
Bead
The bead keeps the sinker slide or sliding barrel swivel from riding over your connecting knots. Make sure to choose the 8 mm. size
Slider
Make sure to use a sinker slide made for surf fishing. Weaker ones are available that will break off when casting.
Snap
If using a barrel swivel as a sinker slide, you’ll need one of these to attach your sinker weight. Make sure to choose a snap rated for at least 150 pounds.
Once you’ve cast, allow the rig to settle onto the bottom, tighten your line to confirm your holding bottom, then release two or three feet of line to allow the bait to move away from the weight. Set your reel drag very low so that the fish can pick up the bait and run with it without feeling a lot of pull.
I use a Uni Snell on my hook (a circle hook) and Uni Knots on both sides of the barrel swivel though a Palomar knot on either side of the barrel swivel will work well.
I use a Uni Snell on my hook (a circle hook) and Uni Knots on both sides of the barrel swivel though a Palomar knot on either side of the barrel swivel will work well.
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