cod or conger

I was recently fishing off arbroath pier for cod and in a session caught 7 cod from 3lb to 7lb.
Several times but during this session I got wat i thought was a bite then when I lifed into the fish I was snagged and I got my hook back straighten out.
Now one of the time the same thing happened but the snagg came free and I had a conger eel at 4lb.
Why does this happen and how do I get the fish out the water before it gets into a crack as I presume the fish is doing.

[madcaravanner]

Originally Posted by fraserthefisherboy

I was recently fishing off arbroath pier for cod and in a session caught 7 cod from 3lb to 7lb.
Several times but during this session I got wat i thought was a bite then when I lifed into the fish I was snagged and I got my hook back straighten out.
Now one of the time the same thing happened but the snagg came free and I had a conger eel at 4lb.
Why does this happen and how do I get the fish out the water before it gets into a crack as I presume the fish is doing.

You have to lift into the fish as soon as you realise you have a bite and you need to go for stronger hooks (doesn't need to be bigger but it may help)
IF it was a big conger it has more than enough power to rip the rod out of your hand if it wanted to without tailing into a crack for leverage

I agree with Gray.
The best chances of getting bites from conger-eel and actually landing them - you need to take tackle specifically for them.
Use bigger and stronger lines, hooks etc.
It may also be useful for you to use whole mackerel rather then chopped up as bait.
As Gray said - reel it in as soon as you get a bite - but don't get TOO exited as they will most probably un-hook when you're reeling in TOO fast.

Thanks
I shall try that this weekend to be honest but a dont want to catch conger just the cod which there are plenty of at this moment in time but Iwant to land them to get ma gear back.

Well then - i'm afarid if they took your tackle that all you can try and do to stop the conger from biteing and braking your line - is stick to all of the baits that cod love and conger don't. Your not dumb so you you've probley already done that each time but stick to it to reduce your chances of conger.

[codlingsback]

Makeral heads are the best way to catch conger i find