With excellent catches of grouper, snapper, and Black Sea Bass, it is that time of year to run out to your favorite numbers and drop anchor for some prime bottom fishing. Granted the first time you anchor you may not be on the fish, but simply haul in that that 15 to 25-pound anchor, that 15-pounds of chain and that 150-feet of rope and move to another set of numbers and drop again. Okay so you still are not catching fish, simply pull anchor and try another spot. You know what they say, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. I do not know about you, but I find pulling anchor by hand offshore more that one or two times in a day is down right exhausting. When I am out fishing, I am out to relax and expend all my energy fighting fish, not the anchor. Bottom fishing days are the days when a windlass is worth its weight in gold. But have you priced a windlass lately? You might think it was made of gold!
If you plan on doing some bottom fishing, and you do not want to make a trip to the back pain specialist afterwards, and at the same time you do not want to fork over some serious cash for a windlass, then I personally recommend setting up an anchor ball retriever system. This system is simple to put together, works great and all together will cost less than $75.
Anchor balls are tear drop shaped inflatable balls constructed typically of blaze orange vinyl. These devices are manufactured by both Taylor Made? and Polyform? and are available in most marine supply stores. These balls do come in a variety of sizes and therefore you will need to check with your marine supplier on what size ball will be required to float your anchor and chain. At the apex of the tear on an anchor ball is a an eyelet; begin assembling your retrieval system by attaching a 3-foot length of three strand nylon rope comparable in size to your anchor line to the eyelet. I prefer to braid the rope through the eyelet, but a bowline knot will also work. At the tag end of this rope a heavy duty stainless snap should be atta