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Random Quote: I'm not always right, but I am rarely wrong!!!!
you need light 15-20# fluorocarbon leader in clean water. in gulf waters, all bait has to be on a circle hook; they sell jigs down there w/ circle hooks. If you are in Key West talk to Capt. Rob at Conchy Joe's bait and tackle
I like to fish with 70lbs spider wire then 7-8ft of 40,50,and even 60lbs fluorocarbon with a nice size J or circle hook and live bait... obviously put a heavy weight on the spider wire side with a bead. Attach the two lines using a barrel swivel... Thats plenty good for shark and grouper. I also like frozen ballyhoo... cut it into two chunks... hook it on its back and smash the bait with the back of your fillet knife. Perfect for Grouper and fat Muttons. Maybe I sound like i don't know anything but it work on my boat.
__________________ 22' Chris Craft Cutlass
That's Some Bull
I never did much bottom fishing, almost entirely trolled while i lived there. If i was anchored it was for yellowtail. I would always have a spare rod available, and the first bait sized grunt i caught would be just that.... Most bait/tackle guys will be happy to help you from what i noticed. Good luck and save some for me when I move back!
__________________ 2001 Pro Line 23 WA/225 Mercury
All I use is cheap mono...usually only 30-40# Ande, Penn premium, Berkley..4 - 6 oz slip sinker and 50# fluoro for a leader, about 4' long. Eagle red plated 7/0 circle hook.
Start fishing with some smaller gear, using squid for bait. As the bite picks up move over to the rig mentioned above.
A neat trick on the bottom fishing rigs for grouper is to butterfly your bait fish. Grunts are really good for this, but other 5" - 10" baits will work as well. Filet from tail to the head on both sides. Leave the sides attached at the head. Cut down thru the backbone removing the spine and ribcage. Leaves the head and two flaps. Hook thru the lips. Or thru the eyes. Play out some slack, feel for the pick-up.. Good luck!
__________________
America - we're different, by design. Big Al
Last edited by triumphrick; 12-18-2009 at 12:13 PM.
Yeah, make your bait nasty! Smash the eye balls! Careful not to poke your eye out when your smashing bait with the fillet knife! That butterflying the bait work awesome! The only part i dont like about bottom fishing is the nurse shark.... boring.... my wife brought up a monster 150lbs... but it was like bringing up a 150lbs block of concrete.... no fight.
__________________ 22' Chris Craft Cutlass
That's Some Bull
I have a follow up question about this as well. Most of my fishing has been trolling and I am going to the Keys in Mid-May of 2010. I thought I had read that Snapper and Grouper were closed for fishing from early January - the middle of June, 2010. If this is true then I don't need to spend any time learning how to rig to catch these? Can anyone direct me to where I can find the answer to this?
http://myfwc.com/RULESANDREGS/Saltwa...ns_Grouper.htm
Check this site out. The closed season ends April... But Snapper will remain open throughout. Can someone chime in...? Snapper-Grouper is a species from what I understand, not Snapper AND Grouper will be closed.... that would suck.
__________________ 22' Chris Craft Cutlass
That's Some Bull
On the Gulf side, snapper is still closed..not sure when it will open back up. Grouper closed last year in Feb. and March, with plans to do the same again this year. Best bet is to check with the local bait shops when you are down there. On a good note, it was just released that the Red Snapper fishery is on a rebound and will not be as restricted as in the past. Any one that fishes this species regularly could have told those idiots that....
Thanks for the link that talks about Grouper. It is consistent with what the next person said. But, if you do a search in THT with the words "stop bottom fishing" you will see comments that both Snapper and Grouper are closed. I copied and pasted some of the comments below since I don't know how to put the link in here;
its gonna suck ! they just closed red snapper...groupers done, what else is there to fish for ? trigger fish? sea bass? __________________
31 Contender , Twin Zuke 250's
I have seen some comment that maybe snapper is closed from 3.45 miles out. I guess maybe there is a different set of rules for State vs Federal waters? It seemed that way in your Grouper link you sent. Maybe the best way is to hire a guide for a day when down there to fully understand everything before going solo on my boat.
Hi, thanks for the post,
Depending on where you launching, the reef is only 2-3 miles out. Red snapper is not the only fish to catch... There's tons of other delicious fish and lots of variety of snapper to catch anchored at a reef. Depending on what you wanna spend, i'd say just go on a party boat to fish... they're always helpful. Bud n' Marie's or Robbie's.
__________________ 22' Chris Craft Cutlass
That's Some Bull
Keys bottom fishing set-ups... 
