Articles

Snaps: Your Link to Fishing
by Eric Peterson

One of the most overlooked pieces of terminal tackle is one with a great importance… the snap. Terminal tackle is often the weakest link between your line and that trophy fish. When using a snap in conjunction with your lure, it gives your lure an unhindered swimming action. If your snap and swivel are too large, they can alter the action of your lure. Of all the reasons to use a snap, there is one that tops the list. A snap permits you to quickly change a lure with confidence, especially at night, without the loss of valuable fishing time. Snaps come in three basic styles for our use at the Jersey shore. The Duo-lock, Cross-lok, and my favorite the Coast-lock snap. As with other tackle, I recommend that you spend the extra money to purchase quality snaps and swivels from recognized companies like Rosco, Sampo and Berkley. You can save money by buying your terminal tackle in bulk.

The preferred snap, of most of the jetty jocks, out of the three is the Duo-lock snap. With its wide bend, it gives ample room for a lure to swim unrestricted. The way it is intended to swim. The Duo-lock is especially easy to connect to a lure. The three popular sizes of the Duo-lock snap are #53 with a 40-pound test, #54 with a 50-pound test and #55 with an 85-pound test. The #56 snap is to large to use with lures, but it makes an excellent snap when used with a fish-finder rig as a sinker snap or other rigs using sinkers.

The Cross-lok snap has earned its reputation from some of the local surf "sharpies". This snap locks in a crossing pattern, which gives its strength and its name. It is also the most difficult to open, close and attach lures that have a small eyelet. The two sizes used in our area are the #3 with a 75-pound test and the #6 with a 100-pound test.

Last but not least is the powerhouse of the three, the Coast-lock snap. The Coast-lock snap is the strongest snap for its size. I have found this snap to be the simplest to use out of all the other snaps. The Coast-lock snap has only one opening end to connect your lure too, where the other snaps have two opening ends so you can add a swivel. The Coast-lock snap is also a favorite of the offshore fisherman because its size to strength ratio. This snap can be bought plain or in combination with a swivel. The sizes used for our waters are the #33 with a 75-pound test, #34 with a 150-pound test, and the 35 with a 200-pound test.

I strongly recommend that when using terminal tackle that you use ones with a black coating. This will give you that extra edge in stealth approach when going after those skittish fish. Also, if you are going to use a barrel swivel, which I highly recommend, use one that is comparable to the snaps test strength.

Now that you have a better knowledge of the snaps used in our region, go and check out some of the different types and sizes and choose your favorite snap.

Sampo Inc.
PO Box 328
Barneveld, NY 13304
315-896-2606

Rosco Inc.
PO Box 109
Rome, NY 13442
800-794-8357
www.Roscoinc.com

Berkley Inc. Outdoor Technologies Group
1900 18th Street
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
800-BERKLEY
www.Berkley-fishing.com

Eric Peterson is the owner of Peterson Custom Rod & Tackle and High Tide Guide Service. He can be reached at (732) 280-5045 or at Petcustrod@aol.com for information and reservations.