Fishing the piles

[phishead]

Since I consider my self a rookie at best, I have a simple question. Why don’t people use floats more often over the rock piles. When fishing the piles, Fisher finder rig gets hung up, knocker rig as well but less, I try skyjay suggestion and use shrimp jighead, but I have a hard time knowing if I’m floating just above the rocks or just below the surface. Not to mention the current is often strong so a large jighead is needed, thus too large. So what is wrong with slip float, float stopper set at about 10-12’ and a small split shot to keep the shrimp closer to the bottom. Is it the stigma of floats are for beginners or am I missing something.

[tears143]

Aug 18, 2019 11:28:09 GMT -5 phishead said:

Since I consider my self a rookie at best, I have a simple question. Why don’t people use floats more often over the rock piles. When fishing the piles, Fisher finder rig gets hung up, knocker rig as well but less, I try skyjay suggestion and use shrimp jighead, but I have a hard time knowing if I’m floating just above the rocks or just below the surface. Not to mention the current is often strong so a large jighead is needed, thus too large. So what is wrong with slip float, float stopper set at about 10-12’ and a small split shot to keep the shrimp closer to the bottom. Is it the stigma of floats are for beginners or am I missing something.

works really well for sheephead with pass crab. For snapper I think it will work, the issue with floats is that you have excess line that you need to clear before setting the hook. Snapper are really fast at stealing bait and don't mouth it as much and they run into rocks often. So give it a try, maybe you will find the right tide and stuff to use this trick.

This is how I find different trick while at skyway and a few of them works like a charm that I limit out every single time I go with the right condition and place. Keep up at it!

[justfishin2]

I have tried that very thing, it will work only during slack tides. The current during other times will bring your bait up into the water column away from the targeted species of fish that you are after. The amount a lead needed even during low tidal flow is too much for a normal slip bobber to handle.
This is all based upon my own trials, as I generally come from a region of slip bobber fishing for walleyes.
Your success may differ from mine. 😃🥴😩

[parkpass]

If you're gonna float it away from the pier you better have a big bobber or you'll lose sight of it in the waves. We used this method years ago off the Gandy catwalk at night for snook and reds but we threw out away from the bridge and let it come back with the current. Strikes came just before bobber disappeared in shadow line and we were'nt using split shot, we used 1oz weights

[phishead]

I thinking either outgoing tide from the pier or when I’m right over the piles on my yak. I understand the extra slack issue but I’m hoping circle hooks will help the fish set itself, and I guess 1 oz egg rather then multiple split shots to keep over the rocks in heavier current. I will try since I’m getting bummed out loosing so many rigs. Between nice hooks, weights and leader you are talking about a buck or two. Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it. It seems like a good info tread is worth about 20 outings.

[phishead]

I tried trolling for grouper using a deep diving plastic but couldn’t accomplish much. Kept snagging old lines. After that idea, fished using knocker rig and snagged old lines 3 more times. I don’t even want to see how the piles look underwater with miles of old line everywhere.

[saltybass]

Aug 21, 2019 7:17:27 GMT -5 phishead said:

I tried trolling for grouper using a deep diving plastic but couldn’t accomplish much. Kept snagging old lines. After that idea, fished using knocker rig and snagged old lines 3 more times. I don’t even want to see how the piles look underwater with miles of old line everywhere.

It seems like it has gotten worse this year.  I'm rarely snagging the structure but seem to be snagging lines on almost every pile. 

Check this out for another way to use a bobber for grouper/snapper or just use a small balloon fixed at your depth and drift it all the way out.
 bobber idea

[flbandit]

I've tried the bobber a few times as well, but quickly lost sight of it, so was never sure where I was fishing. I've been meaning to bring my binoculars to try again on a grouper day. I even considered a rangefinder so I would know how far out I was.

[phishead]

I didn’t have a hard time see the float. I’m talking about a large foam float. Not your typical bobber. The neon green of yellow you can easily 50 yards and beyond. The problem can be the slack in the line.