EQUIPMENT
1. 6-7' HEAVY ACTION ROD.
2. LEVEL WIND REEL WITH 50-6-# TEST MONAFILAMENT
LINE.
3. HEAVY DUTY SPINNING REEL WITH 40-50# TEST MONAFILAMENT
LINE.
4. DEPTH RECORDER/FISH FINDER. A COLOR MACHINE IS
BETTER BEACAUSE IT
WILL SHOW THE SOFTNESS OR THE HARDNESS OF THE BOTTOM
BETTER.
5. FOR BOTTOM FISHING, PUT YOUR LINE THROUGH
A 5-8 OUNCE SINKER AND THEN PUT ON A RED BEAD
AND TIE IT TO A HEAVY SWIVEL. THE RED BEAD STOPS
THE SINKERFROM BEATING AGAINST THE SWIVEL.
6.
NEXT, TIE ON A 2 1/2-3FT. OF 80# MONAFILAMENT LINE
AND ATTACH IT TO A 7/0 OR 8/0 HOOK USING AN IMPROVED
CLINCH KNOT OR A UNI-TO-UNI KNOT.
CLICK HERE FOR KNOTS
TROLLING EQUIPMENT + HARWARE
1. USE THE SAME ROD AND REELS AS BOTTOM FISHING.
2. FOR TROLLING, TIE YOUR LINE TO A HEAVY DUTY SWIVEL
AND CONNECT IT DIRECTLY TO THE PLANER. FROM THE
PLANER, TIE 10-12 FT. 0F 50# TEST MONAFILAMENT LEADER
TIED DIRECTLY
TO YOU LURE USING A UNI-KNOT OR IMPROVED CLINCH
KNOT.
3. #2 PLANER FOR DEPTHS OF 20 FT.
#3 PLANER FOR DEPTHS OF 30. FT.
#4 PLANER FOR DEPTHS OF TO 40 FT.
4. MANUFACTURE'S DOWN RIGGER OR POOR
MAN'S DOWNRIGGER.
AREAS
TO FISH
1. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, THE WATER HEATS UP
AND MOST OF THE GROUPER WILL MOVE TO FIND COOLER
WATER. (20-25 MILES).
2. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, WHEN THE WATER IS
IN THE GULF COOLS DOWN,
THE FISH WILL MOVE INSHORE. LOTS OF TIMES YOU
CAN FIND GROUPER IN 20-25 FT. OF WATER.
3. FISH ALONG THE EDGES OF THE SKYWAY CHANNEL
AND THE EGMONT CHANNEL. DON'T FISH THE IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE CHANNELS, ALWAYS FISH THE EDGES
AND DROP OFFS.
4. LOOK FOR HARD BOTTOM OR AREAS THAT HAVE A CHANGE
IN DENSITY OF THE BOTTOM.
PICK AREAS THAT SHOW A DEFINATE ROCKY BOTTOM OR
LEDGES.
5. WORK THE ARTIFICAIL REEFS LOCATED ON YOUR LOCAL
MAPS OR LOOK ON OUR SITE
TO GET THE LORAN NUMBERS .
DEAD BAITS
1. WHEN USING DEAD BAITS, CUT THE BAITS IN HALF
AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THIS ATRRACTS FISH.
2. AFTER YOU CATCH A FEW FISH WITH DEAD BAITS,
THEN SWITCH OVER TO LIVE BAITS. THE SMELL FROM
THE DEAD BAITS ATTRACTS BIGGER FISH AND WILL GET
THEM INTO THE FEEDING MODE.
FROZEN WHITE BAITS
FROZEN SQUID
FROZEN SARDINES
LIVE BAITS
1. HOOK THE BAIT IN THE BACK NEAR THE DORSAL FIN.
2. LOWER THE BAIT TO THE BOTTOM AND REEL UP ABOUT
3 TURNS ON THE REEL.
3. WHEN THE GROUPER GRABS YOUR BAIT, HE WILL TRY
TO HEAD FOR HIS DEN IN THE ROCKS. RED GROUPER
HAVE A MORE SUBTLE BITE, IT'S MORE LIKE A TUG.
GAG GROUPER WILL SLAM IT LIKE A RUNAWAY FREIGHT
TRAIN.
4. THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD DO IS CRANK THE
REEL AND LIFT THE POLE WITH THE TIP TOWARD THE
SKY IF YOU CAN.
5. DON'T GIVE UP. JUST REMEBER HOW GOOD THESE
FISH TASTE WHEN YOU GET THEM TO THE TABLE.
1. WHEN
USING ARTIFICIAL BAITS, YOU MUST FIRST CHOOSE IF
YOU ARE GOING TO USE A DOWNRIGGER, A PLANER, OR
JUST A BAIT THAT HAS A DEEP DIVING LIP ON IT.
2. YOU MAY WANT TO USE TWO POLES WHILE TROLLING.
3. PUT THE LINE THAT YOU WILL USE FOR YOUR DOWNRIGGER
OUT APPROXIMATELY 150 FT,
THEN ATTACH IT TO THE DOWNRIGGER. LOWER THE DOWNRIGGER
BALL TO A DEPTH 2-3 FT. FROM THE BOTTOM. PUT OUT
YOUR NEXT LINE APPROXIMATELY 25 FT. THEN ATTACH
IT TO A DOWNRIGGER.
4. IF YOU ARE USING PLANERS, CHOOSE THE PLANER THAT
WILL TAKE THE ARTIFICIAL BAIT TO HALF OF THE DEPTH
YOU ARE TROLLING.
5. START TROLLING AT 1500 RPM'S.THIS IS APPROXIMATELY
4-5 MPH. IF NOTHING HAPPENS, THEN TRY SLOWING DOWN
OR SPEEDING UP.
6.
ONCE A FISH HITS, THE PRESSURE OF THE FISH WILL
TRIP PLANER AND THE FISH WILL
COME TO THE SURFACE. JUST SLOW THE BOAT DOWN AND
REEL THE FISH IN.
7. IF YOU ARE USING A DOWNRIIIGER OR A POOR MAN'S
DOWNRIGGER, THE LINE WILL POP OUT OF THE RELEASE
CLIP AND YOU'RE IN FOR A FIGHT.
8.
SLOW THE BOAT DOWN. YOU WILL BE IN A TUG OF WAR
FOR A WHILE.
THE FISH WON'T COME TO THE SURFACE LIKE IT DID WITH
THE PLANERS.
9.
MAKE SURE YOUR GROUPER IS LEGAL.
10. IF IT IS NOT LEGAL, PLEASE RELEASE IT TOPRESERVE
THE GROUPER FISHERY.
