need help with Grouper fishing off Bimini

[lhnewman]

I am taking some friends to Bimini December 3rd-7th. I have a 51ft Bertram Sportfish. I have had good success in the past fishing for Wahoo. But I have not done very well on the bottom. Granted, I've only tried twice. My friends and I love bottom fishing...particularly for Snapper and Grouper. I have a Daiwa 3000 deep-drop rig and two Precision hand held electric reel outfits ( these are good to about 300 ft.) Conventional tackle also. If anyone could give me general guidelines/areas to look for good structure I would greatly appreciate it or any general numbers where I can start looking for bottom.

Thanks

Capt Larry " The End of the Line " Stuart, Fl

[johnnywalker]

Check the current regs for US boats, the allowable LB's of meat fish are very restricted now. The depths for the best fishing is between 700-1500', deep dropping.
For most US boats it's not worth the time, effort or cost to go there just to bottom fish as one good drop and you have limited out, They keep their coast guard and local patrol boats close to the cross over from Bahama to US waters and stop and check many US boats crossing back, the fines and hassle are severe. There is a way around it, some people employ this option.

[WahooKing]

Best Bet:

High speed troll for Wahoo south from Bimini to Ocean Cay...The cubans call Ocean Cay: La Draga....Slow troll and/or jig on the bottom between 60-80' just north of the Ocean Cay channel for Gags and YF Grouper.....The channel is marked by a large buoy....Give the big groupers (50lb+) to the locals unless you have a cig. test kit....High speed troll back to Bimini...If interested, I can explain our slow trolling grouper tech.

Here is a pic of that exact plan some yrs ago.



If you plan on deep dropping, try the area between n. bimini and great isaachs...yellow eyes<700'.....queens 700'-1200'....mystics 800'-1500'...pomfrets,scombrops,alfonsino,wreckfish 1500'-2000'

Anthony
Ace Fishing Lures

[lhnewman]

Check the current regs for US boats, the allowable LB's of meat fish are very restricted now. The depths for the best fishing is between 700-1500', deep dropping.
For most US boats it's not worth the time, effort or cost to go there just to bottom fish as one good drop and you have limited out, They keep their coast guard and local patrol boats close to the cross over from Bahama to US waters and stop and check many US boats crossing back, the fines and hassle are severe. There is a way around it, some people employ this option.

Thanks for the heads up on legal limit...what if I take a local with me? I hired Robbie, the dockmaster once...but he didn't have any numbers

[lhnewman]

Best Bet:

High speed troll for Wahoo south from Bimini to Ocean Cay...The cubans call Ocean Cay: La Draga....Slow troll and/or jig on the bottom between 60-80' just north of the Ocean Cay channel for Gags and YF Grouper.....The channel is marked by a large buoy....Give the big groupers (50lb+) to the locals unless you have a cig. test kit....High speed troll back to Bimini...If interested, I can explain our slow trolling grouper tech.

Here is a pic of that exact plan some yrs ago.



If you plan on deep dropping, try the area between n. bimini and great isaachs...yellow eyes<700'.....queens 700'-1200'....mystics 800'-1500'...pomfrets,scombrops,alfonsino,wreckfish 1500'-2000'

Anthony
Ace Fishing Lures

Thanks Anthony.. valuable info...I usually use my homemade Wahoo lures...but may have to buy some "Kings"......yea I heard of LaDraga but wasn't sure where it was...thanks again...do you use any wire line outfits with your Wahoo Kings? and do you use Mann's Stretch lures for the Grouper?

[WahooKing]

Thanks Anthony.. valuable info...I usually use my homemade Wahoo lures...but may have to buy some "Kings"......yea I heard of LaDraga but wasn't sure where it was...thanks again...do you use any wire line outfits with your Wahoo Kings? and do you use Mann's Stretch lures for the Grouper?

Yes to the lures...We fish a 5 line spread on the high speed troll for wahoo...3lb trolling sinkers on the two shorts 130 wireline outfits...2lb trolling sinkers on the 2 longs 130 braid outfits...and 1.5-2lb trolling sinker on the shotgun 80 braid outfit.

Grouper...I use either my lures, heavy st8 runners and/or jap trolling feathers with fake bonita strips...We are using wire line outfits (no trolling sinkers) to keep them lures deep in the 60-80' range. The ratio we use on the wire is for every 10 ft of wire we let out, your lure (4-6 oz) will drop 1 ft in depth at 2 or 3 kts. Mark your lines according to the depth your fishin and keep your bait about 10' off the bottom...When the Grouper hit, we gun the boat off the ledge and jack them right up to the surface with the boat...Then, we reel them in like a big patch of seaweed on the surface.

[lhnewman]

Yes to the lures...We fish a 5 line spread on the high speed troll for wahoo...3lb trolling sinkers on the two shorts 130 wireline outfits...2lb trolling sinkers on the 2 longs 130 braid outfits...and 1.5-2lb trolling sinker on the shotgun 80 braid outfit.

Grouper...I use either my lures, heavy st8 runners and/or jap trolling feathers with fake bonita strips...We are using wire line outfits (no trolling sinkers) to keep them lures deep in the 60-80' range. The ratio we use on the wire is for every 10 ft of wire we let out, your lure (4-6 oz) will drop 1 ft in depth at 2 or 3 kts. Mark your lines according to the depth your fishin and keep your bait about 10' off the bottom...When the Grouper hit, we gun the boat off the ledge and jack them right up to the surface with the boat...Then, we reel them in like a big patch of seaweed on the surface.

Thanks again...good information...looking for 2 used wire-line outfits...50 Wides...if you
know of any let me know

Capt Larry lhnewman52@gmail.com

[reel fishy]

I am taking some friends to Bimini December 3rd-7th. I have a 51ft Bertram Sportfish. I have had good success in the past fishing for Wahoo. But I have not done very well on the bottom. Granted, I've only tried twice. My friends and I love bottom fishing...particularly for Snapper and Grouper. I have a Daiwa 3000 deep-drop rig and two Precision hand held electric reel outfits ( these are good to about 300 ft.) Conventional tackle also. If anyone could give me general guidelines/areas to look for good structure I would greatly appreciate it or any general numbers where I can start looking for bottom.

Thanks

Capt Larry " The End of the Line " Stuart, Fl

Run north, WAY NORTH, up to the end of the bank. Much better bottom fishing up there. Less pressure from the local substance and commercial fishermen. For yellowtail snapper and muttons fish the 30'-100' areas. Big grouper in the 100'-250' range. Use big live baits, yellowtails or grunts are my preference. Prepare for lots of big jacks and cudas in the mix. As stated above trolling for grouper works extremely well in the winter.