Another woods to water in 2 days

[Jared D]

Well, Marty (Apex Predator) gave me the invite to come with him for a last hunting trip before my life ends for 8 weeks as I pass my Series 7 exam. It was an awesome hunt. 5 minutes after Marty and I split up, I hear a pig sqeal... surely Marty didnt get one already. go here for the story.
Short pig hunt story!
I only saw two pigs, and busted them outta bed on the way out. Was in some really nasty thick stuff, and somehow managed to get in between both of them on the way out... heard one move 20 feet to my right. Froze and waited 2 minutes, and took one step to try to get eyes on. After my foot fell, immediately to my left, 20 feet away one busts off. Like I said, 20 feet from 2 pigs. Heres a pic of what I was hunting, though it was quite a bit thicker when I actually jumped em.

Oh, I was walking out, and heard some weird chirping noise. It sounded just like a baby gator. I went and tried to spot it in a little 10 foot wide ditch beside the road we walked in on, and finally did. I was going to take a pic, but as soon as I got to the shore line.... sploosh... mama hit the water and I could see the bubbles heading my way!
Yesterday I went offshore with another friend of mine, outta Fernandina Beach Fl. We were going to make a quick trip to hit some live bottom. Snapper have been on a tear the last week, so he wanted to resupply the freezer. We went out in a small craft advisory... apparently 6 foot swells spread 12 seconds apart is too nasty. Got bait quickly, and headed to some live bottom. From 8-10am, you could pretty well trade a minnow for a snapper. We caught a limit of 8 snapper, smaller than the past few trips, but I believe 6 of the 8 were over 24 inches.

We then concentrated on grouper. They have been hit or miss lately. Using big dead baits, we managed 3, two gags and one scamp. We had all our fish by 11am, and then tried to catch some more, but the current was absolutely ripping, and the bite shut off. I tried jigging with the butterfly jigs, and could only manage a few seabass.

Now I have to put away the fishing rods and bow, and put my nose in a book. PLEASE post lots of reports for the next 8 weeks.... no matter how bad a report, its gonna beat me studying 7 hours a day after a full work day.

[Robja]

Nice looking fish. Can't say as I would go tromping around in a swamp looking for pigs though.

[Jared D]

Nice looking fish. Can't say as I would go tromping around in a swamp looking for pigs though.

Its not so bad... though the mosquitos were so bad I had two thermacells going and they were still attacking me. I prefer hunting when its cooler though. It was hot. I forgot my bottle of water, so Marty gave me one of his... he looked like he was going to die when he made it back to the truck.

[SeaBiscuit]

Pretty work as usual Jared D! Looks like your 'fill the freezer" mission was accomplished. Surf & turf again!
I know you'll be busy for the next few weeks and good luck with the examination, but, when you get a chance, give us an idea as to how you guys bottomfish. Typical tackle, baits & so on. I'm sure it's similar to the way we do it, but there are always some tricks to learn from others.
cheers,
SeaBiscuit

[Jared D]

give us an idea as to how you guys bottomfish. Typical tackle, baits & so on. I'm sure it's similar to the way we do it, but there are always some tricks to learn from others.
cheers,
SeaBiscuit

Hey Biscuit,
I can tell you how I do it... (rig and stuff) but I do it differently than everyone else. Typically I bring 2 rods offshore, a heavy short custom built (by me) grouper stick thats light weight w penn 4/0. I rig it with a egg sinker, and a 5-6 foot leader of the same pound line (I dont fuss with fluro much). I snell all my j hooks. I use Mustad 6/0 Js for grouper (3 X strong). I prefer big nasty dead baits. Heres a few pics of the dead baits I will usually grab and fire down when going for Grouper. First is live blue runner (I rig all live baits same place, we often use b-liners, grunts, runners, cigar minnows, live bostons, spanish sardines.... and even use seabass (for whatever reason we catch more on seabass if we cut the dorsal and pelvis fins off), and I have heard (but would NEVER do it myself ) of people using small throwback snapper.
Next are my dead bait favorites. Bonita strip is #1

Grunt or Bliner head number 2 (though I never use circles)

And then any other fish head (blue fish and b-liners are great) butterflyed.


For Snapper (which is really the skill fish) I use 50# test and a long 7 foot rod and a penn 4/0 and go to a 5/0 J hook (same style just one size smaller). I have made a bunch of super high quality rods for snapper, but for whatever reason, the one I do best with is one I bought back in 1993 when I was a kid. Its a diawa sealine rod with a triange front grip (I think thats why I like it). Its WAY under @$$ed to grouper fish with, but I seem to always catch plenty grouper than anyone else. I always loose a big one or two, which is why I rarely break 20 pounds for Grouper... but for snapper which arent heading for the reef... its a God-send. I lost two bigger grouper yesterday on the 50# test... but then I caught all the grouper (biggest was 17 pounds) and two keeper snaps and 2 throwbacks. I get WAY more hits than anyone else, so for me, the light line is the cats meow. I only use dacron now. I put a 10-15 foot top shot of mono on it for stretch boatside, and to reduce line visibility of the dacron, but the dacron helps me feel hits like braids, yet stretches a little, AND doesnt knot up like braid if you get tangled.

Everyone else on board fishes with bank sinkers on threeways. I dont like them cuz its too much tackle in the water. I am planning on going for snapper on 30 pound test to prove to a buddy it can be done, during the summer. There are a few other little tricks, but the main thing is to keep big baits in the water for grouper. They rarely hit right away. The longer I can leave a big nasty piece of meat down there to be destroyed and pecked at by the "peckers" the more likely the grouper is at finding it. The biggest mistake I see is other anglers reeling up and down good bait. I let mine sit until all pecking ends, or until I know I lost it. I wish I could get some of the studs I see you catch! We have monster Gags here, but I always seem to bust them off on the 50# test. With 80, I could catch them, but I get tired of getting fewer bites, so I am my own worst enemy!

[weekender]

thanks for all the info shared in this thread, seriously appreciated

[WAHOONBOX]

WELL THIS THREAD STARTED OUT PURE AWESOME AND THEN IT JUST GOT BETTER.............

[HOLWACHAGOT]

WELL THIS THREAD STARTED OUT PURE AWESOME AND THEN IT JUST GOT BETTER.............

Took the letters right off my keyboard. Pure wood on this thread. I can tell Jared D knows how to roll for the Groupers ans Snappers...Pretty friggin work Jared. Thanks, and good luck with the studying/testing.
Holwachagot

[knock down]

Hey Jared D any Idea when your article will hit FLA. Sportsman Magazine? I've been waiting to read this one! way to go on the Bottom Critters! Thanks for the report!

[Jared D]

Hey Jared D any Idea when your article will hit FLA. Sportsman Magazine? I've been waiting to read this one! way to go on the Bottom Critters! Thanks for the report!

They told me this spring... so I am guessing May. I am sure that they will, as they already paid me for it. I have been contemplating making one about bottom fishing. Most of the bottom articles I read are more story less how too. Thats actually why I have the pics of the baits I use... I just never got around to writing it. I need to kick my butt in gear and write it. I have some of the best fishermen in the area as friends.... Marty and Brad (my pig hunting buddies) are both excellent fishermen, they are my shark fishing buddies.