Deep Drop Fishing
Are limits on snapper, gag grouper, and amberjack cutting into you bottom fishing season?
Deep Drop Fishing opens up a whole new world for anglers who are willing to try some new techniques and put in a little effort.
When and Where
Deep water bottom fishing is essentially a year round fishery. This is beacuse the water temps at depth are fairly stable and are not affected by extreme heat of summer of freezing cold of winter.
Most deep drop species are going to be caught over or near structure like hard bottom, rocks, reefs, ledges, edges, holes, and artificial reef structures like the pipe line.
Depths can range from 350-1800ft depending on targeted species. Most of the time, you are fishing 350-900ft. Only swordfish require depths of 700-1800ft.
Target Species
Rods, Reels, and Line
350-500ft
These depths can be fished with hand crank two speed rods and reels. A bent butt rod helps a lot or even better yet a rod with and Winthrop Adjustable butt so you can fish conventional style and once hooked up drop it in a rod holder and switch to the bent butt configuration.
A mid size electrical rod and reel combo would be even better. Choose a Banex 500 or Daiwa Tanacm 700.
500-2000ft
This is electric reel depth for sure. Most entry level reels that hold 700-900 yards of 80lb braid will do just fine for most species with the exception of swordfish. Good options are the Shimano Force Master, Banex 1000, or the Daiwa Tanacom 1000.
If you plan to do much sword fishing, use a more powerful reel like the Shimano Speedmaster, Banex 1500, or the Daiwa Seaborg 1200.
With the larger sizes spool them with Power Pro Braided Line 80-100lb. The lightest one could be spooled with 65lb.
Slow Pitch Jigging combos are very productive also. These need to be something like the Shimano Ocea 4000 Jigging Reel on a Trevala PX or Game Type Slow J rod. Spool with 30-65lb braid. For best results choose the lighter braid for extreme depths so the current does not effect the the action of the jig. Jigs need to be in the 300-700g sizes.
Rigs and Lights
Rigs normally come in 5 hook set ups, with and without skirted hooks.
All rigs work better with deep drop lights to attract fish.
Bait
Smaller whole bonita make excellent swordfish baits.
Cut the tails off northern mackerel, ballyhoo, and whole bonita to reduce spinning. All your baits need to swim freely in the water to reduce tangles.
Simple is best on your baits, but with a little research and you will find all sorts of fancy ways to sew baits.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- When deep dropping you are always drifting. Wind and current play a big part in the drift. The depth of the water and the speed of the current would be nearly impossible to anchor and hold a position. If the drift is too fast, you can use the motors of a drift anchor to slow the drift.
- Stop the boat and while you are getting everything ready and look at the track of your boat on the screen to get an idea of how you will be drifting. You need to start at the top end of the line you plan to drift and give your self as much down time as possible with each drift. Note the bottom structure and plan how deep to set your rigs.
- Make sure to set you lines down current to avoid tangles while dropping. Keep constant tension while dropping. A free wheel drop will tangle. Slow and steady is best.
- Most deep drop species are going to be caught over or near structure like hard bottom, rocks, reefs, ledges, edges, holes, artificial reef structures like the pipe line. See pipe line numbers in photos.
- Tilefish prefer mud bottom rather than hard bottom as the burrow in the mud in colonies. Much of the time this takes some searching to find them. You may need to check several areas to find them. If you catch one or two I would make more drifts over the same are because they do live in colonies.
- Swordfish will be found more so around the Destin Dome, Spur, around the Desoto Canyon walls and the fads. In all cases the presence of bait on the sonar is a good thing.
