I have been fortunate to have fished with some of best captains for trophy sized fish both inshore and offshore for many years. I have spent hundreds of days fishing the east coast and countless destinations in South America. When it comes to tying fishing knots I have learned a lot but I have also been humbled way too many times. Hopefully my painful lessons can help others be better fishermen!
Humbled in Louisiana
Mitch and Steve with two solid Yellowfins
Two fishing buddies (Steve Palmo and Mitch Wergiles) and I were fishing with Capt Scott Sullivan (Mexican Gulf Fishing Charters) for big yellowfin tuna behind the shrimp boats in Louisiana. We had found the fish and had them all to ourselves (click here to see the whole story and watch an amazing underwater video). The only problem was that they were mixed in with sharks and other toothy fish that were forcing us to constantly re-tie. When Scott was moving the boat to get behind another shrimper, I took the time to tie new hooks onto several rods. I carefully tied the reverse-snell I have used successfully for years. A few minutes later Mitch hand-fed a 100lb+ yellowfin at the boat, hooked up, and then broke-off moments later. When we examined the leader, it was clear that my knot had failed. Without saying a word, Capt Scott cut off ALL the hooks I had snelled and re-tied them while I apologized.
Lesson 1 – Just because you tied a certain knot in the past and had full confidence in it, there is a really good chance that a fellow angler who is more familiar with the line and hook you’re using that day can tie a better one. Pay attention!
Frustrated in Cape May
Big Drum – Cape May, NJ
Capt Rich and I were filming a Black Drum show in Cape May, New Jersey with the crew from Stalker Charters. We had traveled a long way, the trip was already going poorly, and we desperately needed a couple of fish to make the show. We finally got into a bite and the connection between the 30lb fluorocarbon leader and the 50lb braid pulled on three straight fish. We ended up with nothing on that trip, but came back a few weeks later and shot an amazing show (click here to watch a highlight from that show). I had used that exact some knot to connect 80lb leader to 60lb braid weeks earlier and successfully landed several 250lb+ striped marlin on pitch baits in the Galapagos. However, the knots needed to be tied slightly differently for the smaller diameter braid.
Lesson 2 – A fishing knot that performs perfectly for a specific line/leader may need to be tied differently when using a different line/leader. Even the same line strength produced by different manufacturers may perform differently. This is especially true for the Albright knot (a critical knot for connection leader and main line).
Careless in Galapagos
Tarin Keith with a yellowfin caught with 30lb tackle on a popper
We were in the midst of an incredible yellowfin tuna bite on poppers fishing off a San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. I had just released a 50lb class fish after a brief fight with 80% drag pressure when I hooked a much larger fish (click here to see the action). Only a few moments into the fight the connection between the leader and the snap-swivel failed. The intense drag pressure during the prior fight had weakened the knot which eventually failed. It should have been inspected and re-tied.
Lesson 3 – Check your connections AFTER you have landed a fish (especially a big fish). All connections will eventually fail and usually while fighting “the right” fish. Be prepared to re-tie even though the connection worked properly on the prior fish.
Embarrassed on Block Island
Chris Cuomo with a 50lb+ Striper
I was fishing for trophy stripers with good friend and CNN host Chris Cuomo and trying to impress him with my skills as a charter captain. I located a huge body of fish, quickly put together some very simple live eel rigs (6ft 30lb leaders connected to 30lb braid with a small swivel), baited his rig and had him drop it back to the fish. His eel was picked up in a few moments, but the connection between the braid and the swivel failed immediately. The knot was poorly tied and the braid simply slipped. If I had tested the connection after I had tied it that never would have happened. Fortunately, there were plenty of big fish caught the day.
Lesson 4 – Do the best you can to test all your connections. Be creative (tie to cleats, trees, etc., and apply slowly increasing pressure). You will be surprised how often a knot will fail during testing. I have learned more spending a few hours testing fishing knots at home that most other fishermen will ever know.
Shut Up and Listen
Really good anglers know how to find big fish, catch big fish, and tell others how to catch big fish. Great anglers know when to shut up and learn from others by listening to what they say and watching what they do.
Fishing knots can fail due to improper tying techniques, using the wrong knot for a specific line or leader, line damage from prior fights, and not testing connections before use. Factors such as line diameter, manufacturer differences, and wear from previous catches can impact knot strength and reliability.
Knots that work well for one line or leader might not perform the same with another due to differences in diameter, material, or manufacturer. For example, the Albright knot may require adjustments when used with different braid or fluorocarbon lines to ensure a secure connection.
Testing knots before fishing is crucial as it reveals weak connections that might fail under pressure. Techniques include tying the knot to secure objects and slowly applying increasing tension to ensure the knot holds, preventing break-offs during critical moments on the water.
After landing a big fish, anglers should carefully inspect all knots and connections, especially those bearing high stress, because intense pressure can weaken or damage the line and knots. Retying or replacing any suspect connection helps avoid losing the next catch.
Experienced captains emphasize the importance of humility, attention to detail, and willingness to learn and adapt knot-tying techniques. They recommend paying attention to specific line and hook combinations and listening to knowledgeable anglers to improve knot strength and fishing success.
Fishing in areas with toothy fish and mixed species often requires frequent reties because aggressive fish can cause abrasion or sudden tension spikes that weaken or break knots. Vigilance and proper knot selection are essential to handle these challenging environments.