Bottom fishing

awthacker

awthacker

Junior Member
Whenever I bottom fish in the SE Atlantic, we typically use a triple swivel with an 8 oz bank or teardrop sinker on a 6-12" loop of 10-15 lb mono and a 5/0 circle hook on about 2-3' of 50 lb mono. It works pretty well, but last week while on a red snapper charter in the northern Gulf of Mexico, the mate had us fishing similar rod/reel combos, but with an 8 oz sliding egg sinker before a swivel and 3' of leader with a circle hook. I noticed that it had less propensity to spin and tangle on the way down.

We typically drop to the bottom, then crank back up a few feet and wait for the bite. He had us counting 10-15 mississippi then holding at that depth. I kept worrying that I wasn't far enough down, but the results were good. He suggested the bigger fish stay higher in the water column.

Just thought I'd share a recent experience fishing for snapper. Most that we caught were in the 10-15lb range and we had non-stop action until a storm ran us in early (saved us $300 and we still limited!).
 
Its called a Carolina Rig. That is really all I use for Snapper fishing. I always keep at least ten leaders of 25lb and 60lb in my tackle bag ready to be tied on. We went out yesterday and the 60 wasn't getting anything. So i switched down to the 25lb with a 6/0 Frenzy red hook and started hooking up. I use the pink flourocarbon and i honestly believe this stuff is worth the price i pay for it. The boat owner wasn't getting anything so i gave him a leader and then he started reeling them in. Its all about variety, what works one day may not work the next. Also we were fishing public numbers, natural bottom.

My snapper rod is a Shimano Trevala jigging rod with a Penn International Torque reel. Its super sensitive and you can feel those triggers pecking away at your bait on the way down. But, its got enough back bone to it so you can horse the big snapper away from the wreck.

When i drop down, i wait till i hit bottom then go one turn on the reel handle and wait (keep in mind i am using a 6:1 ratio reel). Once I feel the pecking lower the rod a little then BAM its on. Yesterday we ended up with two 24" snapper and two 18" snapper.
 
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The Carolina rig is my go to rig for most bottom fishing besides in the surf. Definitely less line twist.
 
i also use the sliding sinker rig for offshore. have you guys tried power pro for bottom fishing? i have been using it on one rod for about 3 years now & love it. we normally fish in water from 80' to 150'. i put about half the spool of mono for backing and the load the braid. i use a flourocarbon leader after the swivel. i use the diawa 4/0 sealines and love them(one i have had for 35 years). the biggest drawback i have found to the braid is if you get a tangle, your cutting line.
 
I use braid on all of my bottom fishing rods, it has many benefits. You can get away with less weight and hold more line to name a couple. As long as you control the speed in which you drop it to the bottom you can avoid most tangles.

I have 65lb power pro on my reels with no backing. The reels I use are either made for braid or I wrap the spools with some electrical tape. The braid goes to the swivel and under that I use a fluoro leader in various lengths and size depending on what I am fishing for.
 
I also have braid on all, no backing except a few turns of mono for the spool. I like being able to break or cut off without losing to much line to make the reel useless for the day. I use 65# Spiderwire
 
I always thought it was strange that bottom fishing here in Jersey we always use bank sinkers below the hooks whereas in South Florida everyone uses egg sinkers above the hook.
Now I can't imagine why a seabass in NJ and a yellowtail in Boca would be so picky but nobody ever bucks the system.
I was on my brothers boat in Pompano years ago and I asked why they don't use a basic hi-lo rig and my brother said, "you just don't":devil:
 
I hate the 2 hook rigs! everytime I need to get a fish off the other hook goes in the hand or something!!

As for egg sinkers, AI have had some good luck with them here off Cape Cod, Stripers like sand eels alot here, we use #2 Gammy hooks with about 16" of 20# test flro, and a sliding egg of about a once or so above the leader, catches big bass at times!! the hook that small hooks great, but you have to let them eat it!
 
The thing I like about using bank sinkers is I can make a loop at the bottom, allowing me take it off when running and gunning, then slip it back on when we get on the spot. Also allows you to easily switch weights when you need more/less weight. Carolina rig is great too.
 
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