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Post by parkpass on Jul 18, 2018 16:45:14 GMT -5
This method is the most boring, annoying,tiring, unproductive approach to fishing that I've tried. I can swim 10 pinfish across the rockpiles and there's a 99% chance none of them Will go down, they just stay on the surface and flutter. Drives me crazy
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Post by havetofish on Jul 18, 2018 17:18:12 GMT -5
Couple of points.
Are you hooking them by the anal fin?
This is where the thinner the line the better, hence braid.
Always best at the turn of the tide on a slow outgoing.
The more line that is out the more resistance to the current and the harder it is.
Bigger Pinfish help.
Gotta pull them back a little once in awhile and open bail so there is loose line to allow them to dive.
But your right, not an easy task, takes practice.
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Post by parkpass on Jul 18, 2018 17:34:15 GMT -5
Some good points havetofish, an average tide works best for me. I'm just not a finesse fisherman, guess I'm just a ripper. I watched Scooter many nights and never truly understood what he was doing
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Post by havetofish on Jul 18, 2018 18:09:43 GMT -5
Average tide is all relative. But you usually have about an hour when the tide turns on a 4 tide day.
If you watched Scooter, then you watched the Grand Master. You saw some twitching and maneuvers of all kinds.
If its not your kind of game then just use enough weight to keep him down and try to fish next to the rock piles not in them.
Or you could try a balloon rig, but some of the same techniques still apply.
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Post by Mackerelman on Jul 18, 2018 20:52:21 GMT -5
The only thing about a Balloon Rig is that You have to have the wind behind You. The Balloon Rig has worked for Me in Years past. Plus, You also know when something has got Your Bait when the Balloon starts moving. Don't Jerk but Reel like Hell ! Keep that Fish out of the rocks.   |
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Post by parkpass on Jul 19, 2018 15:57:12 GMT -5
Mackman, with that technique do you use circle hooks and what size?
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Post by havetofish on Jul 19, 2018 17:02:38 GMT -5
Mackman, with that technique do you use circle hooks and what size? Targeting Gags you are required to use circle hooks. I use 8/0, but you can go down a little if you want. They got big mouths |
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Post by parkpass on Jul 19, 2018 17:11:04 GMT -5
I just recently started using circle hooks for mangos, slowly gettin the feel for it. FWC doesn't enforce it though.
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Post by Mackerelman on Jul 19, 2018 18:09:02 GMT -5
When Fishing with a Balloon Rig for Gags, I use a #5 or #6 Circle Hook with a Live Pinfish, Squirrelfish or Grunt.
I also hook the Pinfish behind the Anal Fin so the Pinfish will dive down in the water.
Then about 6 - 7 feet from the Hook, I tie a Balloon to the Main Line.
Then I let the current take it over the Rocks.
Then I will move from one Rock Pile to the next.
Keep in mind, the Water is only between 10' to 13' deep at the Piers unless You are at the end of the Piers.
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Post by Mackerelman on Jul 19, 2018 18:11:31 GMT -5
I just recently started using circle hooks for mangos, slowly gettin the feel for it. FWC doesn't enforce it though. I always use a Circle Hook for Mangos. This way the Hook is much easier to get out of the Fish rather than the Fish swallowing the J-Hook. |
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Post by SkyJay on Jul 19, 2018 19:16:35 GMT -5
hook should match your bait size...
6/0-10/0 Gamakatsu Octopus 02420
bigger bait-bigger hook...
current- fresh bait every drop.
balloons ? very helpful for many reasons.
measure distance from water to top
of gaurdrail by dropping your unbaited
hook/line till it touches the top of
the water.
Attach balloon with a good firm tight
double overhand knot.
You want it tight enough as to not allow
slippage from water resistance/current
but not so tight you cant reel your line
in through it when upon retrieval.
Most bites will come on the "fall" or
"drift" out.
A good fresh bait will stay down only
so long when you stop the drift.
Experiment with angles and walking your
bait up and down feeling for piling eddys.
Drift a bait out-retrieve.
Move down a little drift stop/ drift stop
retrieve-repeat.
Hit as many rockpiles as you can.
First 45 minutes to 1 hour each side of
tide change is peak fishing.
Slack tide- eat sandwich, take a nap,
rest up, or try to catch you a nice
Key West Grunt for when the current
gets stronger second hour of tide.
If the wind is behind you try to get
a balooned bait drifted out before the
tide starts to actually move back
out, because when that first trickle
starts to push out is when they fire
off and really start to feed.
A good fresh supply of large extra lively
bait is a must.
The whole game starts at your livewell,
and your ability to catch and maintain
a good supply of select baits.
Pinfish are g r e a t , but there are
days/ periods they'll turn their nose
up at em and show a preference
for the prevalent pelagic bait present
at the time.
Bluefish, Blue Runners, Cigar Minnows,
Spanish Sardines, Scaled Sardines/Pilchards
Threadfins, anything bigger than your hand
will get whacked.
I've caught some real Rogue Mogans
on small Ladyfish and Jack Crevalles
at the South Pier, and surpisingly close
to shore.
Sand Perch (AKA Squirellfish) are the
best.
And the legend that Bill ( Scooter)
once caught 2 keeper Gags at one time on
a 10 inch Key West Grunt is a true
story.
Stay moble, and move with the tide.
(hint hint)
walk that bait up and down. keep it movin
in- out up-down
cover as much area of the rockpile as you can.
Also, realize this...
The water is not as deep as most folks
seem to think.
The average depth at South Bridge is
13 ft.
People get all wrapped up in putting
that bait right in that holed up
Gags face on the bottom, but know this...
When them big girls go on the feed and
go into total predator mode they move
and move alot.
While I have never caught a Gag on
the surface at the Skyway, I have in Homassassa
and Crystal River.
I''ve even actually witnessed Gags offshore
schooling with the Amberjacks up in the
water column.
We tend to one track mind our fishing
sometimes, and think of Grouper as
a total bottom fish because thats where
they live, and thats where we've always
caught them and have been taught
to fish for them.
Simply not true.
Gag Grouper live a nomadic lifestyle
migrating throughout our area year
around.
I on more than one ocaision have witnessed
certain legal sized, mature, adult fish
feeding in the bait schools at daybreak
on the South Pier.
Even saw one crash the surface by
the baitshop on the South Pier in 1991.
There used to be a man who worked
there ( Curtis) who regularly landed
8-10 lb Gags by simply handlining
100 lb mono 10/0 hooks baited
with whatever. no bs.
Ive caught em right by the bridge
on the first drop, and 100 yards out.
All the way down and halfway up.
Ive had em chase down a butt hooked
bait on the retrieve, and come back
and hit the same baited hook
i just stuck em with.
Ive broke em off and caught en two hours
later with my hook
and leader hanging out of their mouth!
There simply is not a meaner or more
resilient fish than a Skyway Gag Grouper.
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Post by parkpass on Jul 23, 2018 14:26:14 GMT -5
Ha, I fished the old bridge as well, back when there was only 2000 vehicles that crossed it as opposed to the 50,000 now. Back then I was obsessed with Sheepshead, didn't fish for anything else.
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Post by SkyJay on Jul 23, 2018 14:40:15 GMT -5
understand the sheepshead obsession
completly lol
been there done that.
had to have a family intervention
to get me off of the freezing mudflats
collecting bait at daylight lol
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Post by parkpass on Jul 23, 2018 15:08:57 GMT -5
You got that right, freezing when you start and sweatin bullets when you stop digging.
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Post by montylfl on Jul 25, 2018 19:29:54 GMT -5
Average tide is all relative. But you usually have about an hour when the tide turns on a 4 tide day. If you watched Scooter, then you watched the Grand Master. You saw some twitching and maneuvers of all kinds. If its not your kind of game then just use enough weight to keep him down and try to fish next to the rock piles not in them. Or you could try a balloon rig, but some of the same techniques still apply. Good advise. Let me add to this 1) please use s biodegradable ballon 2) Tie it to your mainline using s peppermint ͏Li͏f͏e savers. In 10-12 mins the life saver will desolve and drop you bait right over the rock pile 3) a little helium in the balloon will help too. When the ͏Li͏f͏e savers desolve you will know as the balloon floats away. $1 at the dollar store. |
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Post by tears143 on Jul 26, 2018 9:12:18 GMT -5
Average tide is all relative. But you usually have about an hour when the tide turns on a 4 tide day. If you watched Scooter, then you watched the Grand Master. You saw some twitching and maneuvers of all kinds. If its not your kind of game then just use enough weight to keep him down and try to fish next to the rock piles not in them. Or you could try a balloon rig, but some of the same techniques still apply. Good advise. Let me add to this 1) please use s biodegradable ballon 2) Tie it to your mainline using s peppermint ͏Li͏f͏e savers. In 10-12 mins the life saver will desolve and drop you bait right over the rock pile 3) a little helium in the balloon will help too. When the ͏Li͏f͏e savers desolve you will know as the balloon floats away. $1 at the dollar store. Or pop the ballon when you are over the area you want to fish... or rig it like a anchor rig to pop off the line only. |
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Post by SkyJay on Jul 26, 2018 11:00:32 GMT -5
for fishing Gags, what I'm trying to tell
y'all is there is no real need to break
off the baloon.
Just set the balloon the distance from the
waterline to the top of gaurdrail or just a little
deeper. Float that baby out there with
the tide and move it around the rockpile
east west/ north south by walking
back and forth or retrieving and drifting
it back out.
Experiment and if yer not gettin bit
move!
To rebait retrieve baloon to tip of rod
and handline the rest of the way.
Be sure to buthook the bait and keep a good
fresh lively bait on at all times.
At the first sign of weakness- REBAIT!
The balloon will help you visualize exactly
where your bait is and allow you to
cover more area more precisely
with quicker recon.
Ive caught a bunch of keepers using this
method. So I know for a fact it works.
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Post by Mackerelman on Jul 26, 2018 12:27:38 GMT -5
There is really no need for Popping the Balloon out there. You need to be Mobile with Your Live Bait if You are Free-Lining Your Bait.
There are Dangers of Popping the Balloon over the so-called "Rock Piles":
1. You could pop the Balloon over the "Rock Piles" & get hung up as I have in the past. Most of the debris out there is not Just Rocks. That is a Bridge Concrete Dumping Area.
a. There is plenty of Rebar still contained in those "Rock Piles" otherwise known as "Debris Piles" from what I know and have seen from underwater videos taken out there.
b. The Demolition Contractors did not remove the Rebar from the Concrete.
c. I have even got hung up out there casting a Spoon and bringing in a small piece of rusty Rebar a couple of times
2. If You are using Braided Line, Kiss it Goodbye if you get hung up on the rebar or it gets dragged over the concrete
a. This is one reason that I switched over to Monofilament Line & Fluorocarbon Leader.
3. If You Fishing in a Boat out there, Do Not be Stupid and drop Your anchor in the Debris Piles like someone that I know did. He lost his Anchor & cracked his Bow Hull of the Boat trying to back up the Boat to pull up the Anchor when He got Hung. I know this for a fact because I was in the Boat when it happened. We were lucky to make it back to the dock with 8" of water in the Boat.
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Post by SkyJay on Jul 26, 2018 13:22:18 GMT -5
while I've heard of other folks having
problems with braided line and the structure
Ive been lucky over the years and never really
had a problem. Off course I run a 100 ft topshot
of 100 lb test mono to a 10 ft section of
Yozuri Pink florocarbon (fg knot from braid
to mono 100 lb swivel from mono to florocarbon
to reduce line twist)
Ive taken some flack for using such
heavy line in the past, and while I agree
its probably overkill, and is way heavier
even than I use offshore, it gives me
added ammo for pulling loose from
the miles of lines and leaders already
matted in the reefs.
Once, I even landed a full sized barnacle
encrusted beach umbrella full of Gotcha
plugs, Squid Spoons, and leaders with lead
attached. Just doin my part folks lol.
Ive been rocked up by a couple I coudnt
turn before, but I aint n v e v e r
been broke off by one. lol
lock down that drag!
crank dont yank gang!
Beeautifuull weekend comin up!
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Post by huntfish7909 on Jul 26, 2018 13:27:20 GMT -5
Just out of curiosity does anyone use the large slip bobbers(12") with a adjustable bobber stop. We use these up here on a regular basis. It also helps bring your line up and away from the bottom on the retrieve to help prevent snags as well.
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Post by SkyJay on Jul 26, 2018 13:35:34 GMT -5
i tried the bobber stop method and the
problem is, when you stop the bait from
it natural drift, the current pushes
the bobber right down the line, bringing
the bait to the top, due to the amount
of leverage invoved being that high
up above the water.
Through trial and error and many many
failed tries at diferent ideas, I came to
the conclusion the fixed baloon
works the best for me.
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Post by SkyJay on Jul 26, 2018 13:38:22 GMT -5
in this instance you want your bait to stay
down, at least close to bottom or dead on.
Snagging up is part if the game.
If you aint getting hung up ever now and then
yer fishin in the wrong place.
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Post by havetofish on Jul 27, 2018 22:47:56 GMT -5
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Post by montylfl on Aug 20, 2018 9:36:43 GMT -5
Good advise. Let me add to this 1) please use s biodegradable ballon 2) Tie it to your mainline using s peppermint ͏Li͏f͏e savers. In 10-12 mins the life saver will desolve and drop you bait right over the rock pile 3) a little helium in the balloon will help too. When the ͏Li͏f͏e savers desolve you will know as the balloon floats away. $1 at the dollar store. Or pop the ballon when you are over the area you want to fish... or rig it like a anchor rig to pop off the line only. That is why I use the ͏life saver. It desolved In 15 mins so no need to pop the ballon |
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Post by snapperx on Nov 13, 2018 0:54:43 GMT -5
Crazy grouper ballooners i've never seen them bring anything in except a stray catfish. You want about a 10ft. leader 80lb. tied to a 8/0. If the tide is moving fast you'll need an ounce sometimes 2 to keep medium pins down in the strike column, large pins and bluerunners will get there without the added weight which is what ur looking for.
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Post by Salty Scales on Jan 5, 2020 12:55:37 GMT -5
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Post by havetofish on Jan 6, 2020 2:51:56 GMT -5
Josh, Although you tips are appreciated, it its not appropriate to link to your e-commerce website. You could instead copy and paste the text of your tips and any links to your videos. If you have any questions PM me. |
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Post by Salty Scales on Jan 6, 2020 13:37:48 GMT -5
I was not linking to a product to sell lol. I linked to a blog post that would help your readers catch more fish from the Skyway pier. Copying and pasting a whole article is not ideal, especially when there are pictures and videos.
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Post by yankeeredneck on Oct 13, 2020 13:39:31 GMT -5
So honestly, why in the hell would someone bother freelining in Florida! I get it in Cuba or some 3rd world country but not at the bridge. I got more dam fishing poles than I could use in a lifetime, with Walmart right down the street a micky mouse rig could be had for $20. I don't get it.
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Post by fishingsodium on Oct 13, 2020 14:14:30 GMT -5
So honestly, why in the hell would someone bother freelining in Florida! I get it in Cuba or some 3rd world country but not at the bridge. I got more dam fishing poles than I could use in a lifetime, with Walmart right down the street a micky mouse rig could be had for $20. I don't get it. Freelining means no weight or float just the main line and a leader you are still using a pole . I think you are talking about hand lining |
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