carabiner clips
When kite fishing from larger boats, you commonly use both outriggers to spread the two kites (and the baits) far apart to help eliminate tangles. You usually do this by adding stainless-steel rings to each of the outrigger halyards with snap swivels, and then running the kite lines through the rings. This allows you to control the kites and also keeps the kite clips within reach.
Recently, I have replaced the stainless-steel rings with medium-size carabiner (Pelican) clips. These carabiner clips are large enough to allow the kite clips to pass through them but small enough to hold the kite clips close to the boat when deploying the kites. And the carabiner clips allow you to get the kite lines out of the clip easily, which reduces friction on the kite line when you start to retrieve the kite. Also, the ability to detach the kite lines from the outriggers allows you to move the kite rod and reel around the cockpit while the kite is in the air or while fighting a fish.
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Capt. Jason “Tiny” Walcott
West Palm Beach, Florida_
