FISHING DEEP DROPS AS

Summer is easily the best time to go fishing offshore, no matter where your fishery is. Calmer seas are more frequent, and the pelagics are plentiful.

This time of year, you can usually point your boat offshore and eventually run into the mecca. However, these sought-after pelagic species are moving around through their migrations and finding them isn’t always guaranteed. Sometimes you just get unlucky running and gunning all day, on the hunt for birds, debris and weed lines. Whether you are out there with no signs of life or just can’t seem to get away from schools of undersized fish, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan to save the day and make the fuel bill worth it. Having a deep-drop rig ready to go can save a day of offshore fishing. Swordfishing can be an epic day saver, but it takes quite a bit of time, gear and involvement to have a good chance. There are a lot of opportunities for fishing the bottom between the reef and the sword grounds.

With a set-up that can handle fishing between 500 and 1,000 feet, you will have what you need to quickly pepper in some drops during your day, without spending too much time setting it up and packing it away. There are a variety of edible aliens that can be targeted, or even snagged as bycatch, when fishing in the deep, but pretty much all of them that come up from those cooler waters produce higher quality fillets.

Ensure that you have a few extra weights onboard, in case you get hung on the bottom, or adjustments need to be made due to the current. Having the right weight is important, and it is pretty easy to tell after a drop if you have put on too much or too little. I would recommend having 6-, 8- and 10-pound weights to make your adjustments with. These leads can be extremely pricey, so look into some DIY methods if this is something you plan to get into.

Depending on what you want to target, there are a few variations you will want for your rigs. Utilizing 300-pound mono and sleeve swivels, space out up to five hooks along the leader, making the drop-down leaders short enough that they won’t tangle with each other. Play around with different size hooks and spacing between them. If you aren’t sure what might be living on a newfound bottom spot, drop a rig with varied hook sizes, having the biggest on the bottom. It is also a good idea to affix a 6-inch, 50-pound breakaway leader to the lead to save the rest of your gear when you inevitably get hung up.

Searching for new bottom spots can be one of the most exciting parts about this type of fishing. You might see ledges full of life on your machine, or you might see nothing at all, and still find fish. You can even look for changes in the waves on the surface that indicate depth fluctuations on the bottom. Mark your spots whenever you get a bite, and start your own collection of offshore honey holes.

Sweet E’nuf Charters’ two-boat fleet specializes in deep-dropping out of Marathon, Florida Keys. Call them at (504) 920-6342 to book your trip this summer. Follow Capt. Quinlyn on social media @captainquinlyn.

Fleet

From A Pro

TYLER WOOLCOTT