Outdoors

Be prepared to go longer and deeper to follow the migration

By STEVE PAPEN, Times Correspondent
Published June 8, 2007

Increase your chances of having a banner day of bottom fishing this time of year by making longer runs offshore.

The month of June traditionally marks the start of the grouper migration west to the deeper waters off our coastline. In an effort to stay in temperate waters, the main concentrations of both gag and red grouper will be found in depths of 120 feet or more, feeding under giant towers of sardines and vermillion snapper schools on the gulf floor.

Long, deepwater trips take a great deal of planning and preparation. Weather, fuel, bait (both live and frozen), vessel maintenance and safety gear are just a few things to consider before taking a trip of 50 or more miles.

LOCATION: Running offshore in search for grouper and snapper is the easy part of this equation, finding fish in these depths is much more difficult. The key to staying productive in any depth of water is looking for these fish in the proper areas. Grouper live on areas of limestone and coral, basically anything that will attract a source of food for them.

TACTICS: One technique that might help ease the fatigue of staring at a bottom machine all day is trolling. This allows you cover areas of bottom looking for structure while the rest of the crew is focusing on the lures skipping in the prop wash. When a spot is located, quickly mark it on the GPS. As you are turning around, the crew should bring in the lures and get ready for a test drop to the bottom. Using this method in the past has produced many new fishing spots and many different pelagic species, such as dolphin, kingfish, blackfin tuna, and some wahoo.

TACKLE: Fishing pressure is limited in many areas in these depths, so tackle can and should be larger than that used in the shallower areas closer to shore. I use a minimum of 80 pounds and have many outfits in the 100- to 125-pound class also.

Fluorocarbon leaders in the 80- to 100-pound class are a good idea because of their abrasion resistance. It is not uncommon to catch grouper in these depths in the 30- to 40-pound class, so make sure to tackle up accordingly.

Lead is also important with this style of fishing. I have made long trips offshore to depths of 150 feet or more just to have the tide running so hard that it is almost impossible to get a bait to the bottom with 8 ounces of lead. I always carry a large assortment of leads from 2 to 16 ounces. It is important to use as small of a lead as possible, but sometimes you can't help it.

BAIT: It is also important to have a variety of baits on board. Live baits such as pinfish and threadfin herring are a good bet, along with frozen sardines. Bait can be usually be found along the shipping channel and captured using a Sabiki rig. Make sure to take the time to get the best baits possible because I am a firm believer that the success at the end of the day has a lot to do with the baits you are using.

[Last modified June 8, 2007, 01:42:54]