OK Gang - one more opinion. When the water hits 68 degrees and until early october, I'll be their chasing the spanish mackerel. Personally, I think they're one of the most handsome fish that swims - and equally good on the table. Not to mention their tenacity. Man ! I nailed a 6(+) pounder off the end of the VB pier a few years ago...the fish left the water and hit the gotcha " from the top while airborne".
Now, personally, having used all kinds or lines, knots and rigs, favorite rig now always includes 30 - 40 lb shock leader of floro. I attach it to terminal line with a blood knot, or sometimes, triple surgeons loop (easier!, and quicker).
To tie on the gotcha (and clark spoons, by the way) I use a "loop knot", which gives the plug "one hell of a lot more action" than any form of tight knot - increasing my hook up percentage with far fewer "missed hook-ups" when they strike.
Mirro-lures have called it "mirro-lure knot", however, I've been tying it for 40 years. But that's OK...it's the same knot no matter whet its called.
Tie a simple overhand knot loop first - then slip the tag end through the lure eye - bringing the tag end through the overhand knot on the return. Slip it down to the desired loop size and put another double overhand knot behind it. (incidentally, today the overhand knot is also called a surgeons knot!....but I'm no surgeon. And in the scouts in the fifties, it was then - called an over-hand knot ?....Whatever ! Hah !
And guess what? The loop knot is one we don't even have to spit on !
