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Started By
Message
Shopping list for bottom fishing key west. Help me saltwater masters of the OB
Posted on 12/13/16 at 9:56 pm
Posted on 12/13/16 at 9:56 pm
Kinda last minute but I'm meeting family in key west this weekend for a week of fishing (family member bringing his boat) All trolling gear taken care of.
im supposed to take care of all of the bottom fishing gear minus rods and reels. Hooks, weights, swivels, jigs, whatever. Tell me specifically what to go buy - have a cabelas, bps, and several others close by. This is foreign territory for me
im supposed to take care of all of the bottom fishing gear minus rods and reels. Hooks, weights, swivels, jigs, whatever. Tell me specifically what to go buy - have a cabelas, bps, and several others close by. This is foreign territory for me
5
Posted on 12/13/16 at 11:15 pm to AubieALUMdvm
I am going to be of no help other than to say don't go bottom fishing in Key West.
Get out in the backcountry flats.
Get out in the backcountry flats.
Posted on 12/14/16 at 7:21 am to TigerDeacon
Ok that will have to be another trip. This boat is not meant for flats (hence all the trolling gear)
Posted on 12/14/16 at 7:29 am to AubieALUMdvm
Thats a hell of a shopping list. Depending on how deep you're fishing and what you're fishing for depends on what you need.
Others can answer better than me, but I would start off with
egg sinkers of various weights...maybe 1-4 oz
A couple packs of flouro leader 60-100lb
Few packs of Gamakatsu circle hooks in different sizes.
Some spro swivels
Live bait? Maybe some sabiki rigs.
Others can answer better than me, but I would start off with
egg sinkers of various weights...maybe 1-4 oz
A couple packs of flouro leader 60-100lb
Few packs of Gamakatsu circle hooks in different sizes.
Some spro swivels
Live bait? Maybe some sabiki rigs.
Posted on 12/14/16 at 7:37 am to DownSouthDave
quote:
egg sinkers of various weights...maybe 1-4 oz
A couple packs of flouro leader 60-100lb
Few packs of Gamakatsu circle hooks in different sizes.
Some spro swivels
Live bait? Maybe some sabiki rigs.
That's a good start. I would get egg weights all the way up to 8 or 12oz and some heavy duty mono leaders in the 300# range. As far as hooks, smaller snapper need some pretty small #1 or #2 khale or even j-hooks but if you want to tangle with AJs you'll need some big hooks in the 7/0-9/0 range. So I would get 3 sizes: #1 or #2 for smaller snapper (there are a lot of small snapper in the keys), 4/0 or 5/0 for normal snapper and grouper, and some 7/0 or larger for AJs and big grouper.
And definitely 3 or 4 sabiki rigs and the right weights for those (I prefer disc weights personally).
And whatever you buy, buy more than you think you could ever possibly use. You'll be surprised how many times you break off.
Posted on 12/14/16 at 7:38 am to AubieALUMdvm
Never bottom fished in Key West, but I've heard the only thing worth dropping for down there is jewfish
Posted on 12/14/16 at 7:42 am to AubieALUMdvm
Down here right now, Cudjoe Key
Weather has been good, supposed to pick up wind again this coming weekend.
What others have said for bottom fishing is all good advice. I might even suggest a bit lighter leader, depending on which reef/hump/rock top you focus on.
We have been out a couple of days in a row and had mixed results, albeit we are not fishing off KW. Tides/current have been big, thanks full moon.
In some instances you will need heavy eggs to get to the bottom. Have been catching some nice grouper, nothing huge. Monday evening caught a good mess of yellowtail and muttons.
good luck, hope the weather holds.
Weather has been good, supposed to pick up wind again this coming weekend.
What others have said for bottom fishing is all good advice. I might even suggest a bit lighter leader, depending on which reef/hump/rock top you focus on.
We have been out a couple of days in a row and had mixed results, albeit we are not fishing off KW. Tides/current have been big, thanks full moon.
In some instances you will need heavy eggs to get to the bottom. Have been catching some nice grouper, nothing huge. Monday evening caught a good mess of yellowtail and muttons.
good luck, hope the weather holds.
Posted on 12/14/16 at 8:29 am to SouthboundTiger
quote:
Never bottom fished in Key West, but I've heard the only thing worth dropping for down there is jewfish
Not true at all. Fished several times on the bottom in and around Key West. If Yellow tail are in the area that will be great.
Bottom fishing over there is not like bottom fishing here, you can find mangrove snapper and such at 15-20 feet in places.
Chumming is pretty effective especially on yellow tail. Also Grunt snapper are every where, easy to clean and great to eat.
Variety of egg weights, circle hooks, swivels and leader material should be good for you. A chum bag also if the boat doesn't already have one
Posted on 12/14/16 at 8:42 am to AubieALUMdvm
If you really want to be nice have a bunch of these rigged up. I've never bottom fished in KW but I would imagine you're dropping for grouper and random species of snapper. There are many variations to this rig so how heavy you make it and what size circles will be up to you and the captain, this particular link is for 500-1200 feet and heavy weight. I've dropped closer in with just circles knotted to a 60lb mainline. Regardless of how beefy you make it, having these ready to go will save you a ton of time and hassle on the water. What size weight you plan on using will determine what size the rig should be, and obviously you'll need to get some of those too.
How to build a deep drop rig
How to build a deep drop rig
Posted on 12/14/16 at 8:46 am to The Last Coco
quote:
As far as hooks, smaller snapper need some pretty small #1 or #2 khale or even j-hooks
Anything other than circles is a no-no for reef fish.
Posted on 12/14/16 at 10:10 am to AubieALUMdvm
You need to find out in general what kind of bottom fishing you're looking at. If you want to get into small snapper and grouper that's one thing. If you need to also include gear for deep dropping or trying to catch large reef fish like AJs you are going to need additional gear. This stuff ain't cheap tho so id do my best to find out what you're targeting before you go drop $200 on stuff you'll never use.
Posted on 12/14/16 at 10:12 am to gorillacoco
Also important is how deep the water is probably going to be. If you are going to be fishing in 250' of water you'll need larger weights to get to the bottom without the current pulling the bait away from your intended target (reef or wreck). Moreso if you're in even deeper water. If you're only fishing 50-75' of water tho you can get away with smaller weights.
Posted on 12/14/16 at 10:14 am to gorillacoco
I thought bottom fishing in KW is fishing mostly artificial reefs, or that's what I usually see on TV. If that's the case, you're not catching anything terribly big, mostly muttons, yellowtails, and a few other various small snappers and groupers.
Posted on 12/14/16 at 10:20 am to Throbinhood
quote:
Bottom fishing over there is not like bottom fishing here, you can find mangrove snapper and such at 15-20 feet in places.
Chumming is pretty effective especially on yellow tail. Also Grunt snapper are every where, easy to clean and great to eat.
Variety of egg weights, circle hooks, swivels and leader material should be good for you. A chum bag also if the boat doesn't already have one
This is what I was thinking is a more common target. If this is your game, #1 circle hooks like this are perfect.
You would also want some 6-8oz egg sinkers and some fluoro for your leader. Leaders should be 4-6' long.
If you want larger fish, use larger hooks and heavier line. If you want to fish deeper use heavier weight.
Posted on 12/14/16 at 1:06 pm to The Last Coco
quote:
snapper
quote:
khale or even j-hooks
Careful now.
Posted on 12/14/16 at 2:10 pm to Jester
quote:
snapper
quote:
khale or even j-hooks
Careful now.
Depends on where you're fishing. If you're fishing the atlantic side of the keys, you don't need to follow the circle hook regs. Gulf side federal waters do require circle hooks:
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