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The First Mistake!
One misconception that I often overhear is that you have to
fish Bahamian waters if you want to load up on tasty bottom dwellers. Granted,
I, too, have fished there on many occasions and can honestly say, “Yes, solid
numbers of grouper and snapper are fairly easy to locate on the steep sloping
edges adjacent to most of the islands.” However, that doesn’t mean that you
have to unplug your reels when you return home especially since the Bahamian
government changed their fishing regulations and have practically put an end to
deep-dropping in Bahamian territory. There is however, talk of amendments to
the new regulations, but for now, the law is the law. Factor in high fuel
prices and the situation has caused many Florida
anglers to reconsider crossing the 'Stream. With that said, there is no better
time to dust off your electric reels and sharpen your boat handling skills If
you don’t already own electric fishing equipment, it’s time to add a new piece
of fish-catching equipment to your arsenal because right here in our very own
backyard – Key Largo to Key West -
exciting deep-dropping awaits anglers willing to refine their skills.
 Home Sweet Home
What's great about fishing the Keys, especially during the
summer months is that you can pursue dolphin or yellowtail snapper in the
morning and then make the switch to deep-dropping in the afternoon. Among the
species that I have enjoyed hauling up from the depths are vermillion, yellow
eye and queen snapper, along with a healthy mix of snowy grouper, red grouper
and speckled hinds. These are only a few of the many crowd pleasers that you
may encounter during any single trip. Another advantage for visiting the Keys
is that once you return to port, you have all of the comforts of home without
any of the inconveniences of traveling abroad.
Do Your Homework!
Contrary to what some believe, you do need to have a plan in
play for pinpointing the structure that most deep water species call home.
Preparation begins long before you ever step foot on the boat. First, get your
hands on the most detailed Florida Keys chart
you can, and then spend time carefully dissecting it. Note any sharp drop-offs
or ledges that may hold fish. I've found action on spots ranging from the mid
300s to over a thousand feet. The key is structure. Hills, ridges, plateaus and
depressions will all attract life. Many of the latest charts reveal the actual
bottom composition, so pay close attention to that as well. While jagged rocks
and coral will likely hold snapper, muddy sloping edges shouldn't be overlooked.
Don't be afraid to ask a few locals for advice. Most tend to
be very tight-lipped when it comes to divulging precise coordinates, but will
usually be happy to point you in the right direction and general depth.
Once you have found potential honey holes, it is time to put
them to the test. It is not unusual to have to invest some time investigating
an area before you can reap its rewards. Typically, if you got an “A” on your
homework, you'll see strikes within minutes of your baits hitting the bottom. If
you don't, spend a few extra minutes experiment with different baits before
moving on. And I will tell you what; if you only capture a single fish at any
given spot, save the coordinates for a return trip when conditions may be
different. You'll find that different depths tend to be more productive during
certain times of the year.
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