Didn't want to post initially but I thought it best to share this info with those who thought these sinkers were meant to be sacrificed.
Source:
http://www.fishingmag.co.nz/Breakaway-sinker.htm
Breakaway Surfcasting Sinkers
The breakaway sinker, I believe, first originated in England . The idea was to produce a sinker that would cast a long way, and hold firm on the bottom using wires that would release when a fish hit or the angler decides to reel it in. It is a design that is much copied and often modified with slightly different shapes, longer tines, longer tail wires, and the addition of plastic over the wires to help them roll off the lead better.
A useful trick when you want a little extra grip from your breakaway style sinker is to wrap a rubber band around it to hold the wires in the set position for longer. It then requires more pressure to break the wires free.
The sinker shown above is a long tail version. This has better anchoring ability as the tail acts like an anchor chain forcing the wires to dig in better.
I must say the breakaway is my favourite surfcasting sinker. It has the two most important qualities needed: it flies well when cast, and it holds firm on the bottom.
For surfcasting it is most important that you use the correct weight of sinker for the rod blank you are fishing. This is usually stamped on the side of the rod. Usually there is a weight range something like 100 to 150g. It is best to use a sinker that is at the top of this range for maximum casting distance and bottom holding grip. In my opinion you need a rod designed to cast at least 200g for serious surfcasting. Any thing lighter is really only a toy!
Many will have tried surfcasting over the years with mixed results. Perhaps you caught a couple of small ones! Perhaps you got a dose of sunburn but didn’t even catch a single fish. While that guy just up the beach has been hauling them in all day! Don’t worry; we have all been there. Some anglers seem to catch good fish consistently while others appear to be wasting their time? The reason for this can be summed up in one word: knowledge!
As a member of several fished clubs I have enjoyed many club and inter-club surfcasting competitions stretching back several decades to beaches all over New Zealand’s South Island. One thing I've noticed is that many of these events are won by a surprisingly small and select group of anglers. Even if they don't win outright they often finish in the top ten! Why? Knowledge!
Why is it that given the large numbers taking part just a few fishermen can so often catch not only the most fish, but also the heaviest of the day as well? Believe me its true. I have seen it happen many times. It isn't just down to luck. These guys know what they are doing. They are using the knowledge they have gained over a lifetime spent fishing! Perhaps most importantly they are good at putting everything they know together to get the best results every time!.
