Tie-at-home extras · Rock marks

Paternoster float rig

A float on top and a light weight below, with the bait on a dropper between. The float keeps the line upright, so the bait hangs just off the rock.

Mainline 15–20lbFixed floatlead just touches bottomLine held uprightDropper above leadbait hangs off the rockHook 1–2/0crab, rag or prawnWeak link 10lb1–2oz bomb
Targets
Wrasse, pollack, coalfish
Where
Rock marks and harbour walls into kelp

What you need

Mainline
15–20lb mono
Float
Fixed float, big enough to carry the weight
Dropper
Size 10 swivel with beads and crimps
Snood
20lb, about 15cm
Hook
1–2/0
Weight
1–2oz on a 10lb weak link

Build it

  1. Fix the float on the line.
  2. Set a dropper about 30cm above the end of the line.
  3. Tie a swivel at the end and add a 20cm weak link with the weight.
  4. Set the float so the weight just touches bottom.
On the beach

If the float lies flat, the weight is on the bottom. If it stands, the bait is hanging just off the rock where you want it.

Knots for this rig are in Knots. Line strengths, hook sizes and weights are starting points: scale them to your tackle, the ground and the tide. Diagrams are schematic and not to scale.