I have always been a “trolling only” guy but want to start looking into bottom fishing a little bit. I have really never done it seriously or fished on a boat that really knew what to do other than dropping down squid or verticle jigs. I am more interested in targeting grouper and snapper (and releasing) other than BSB and B-liners and will do most of my fishing out deep at or near the ledge after a day of trolling.
(1) What is the best bait targeting grouper/snapper? I am guessing you can catch them on a chicken rig with squid, but what do you do to really target them? Jig up live baits (and if so, where)? Any frozen baits worth buying?
(2) What type of rig do you use for grouper? Do you use a single hook rig with a big egg sinker above the bait or a multiple-hook chicken rig with the weight below the bait? What lb test?
(3) Is fluorocarbon a must or is a mono leader okay too? What about for triggerfish - chicken rig with fluoro or mono? I’m assuming fluoro is better, but my question basically is whether grouper/snapper/triggers will hit mono just as well. I will typically have a couple “non-fishers” dropping down squid for action and was wondering if they still have a decent chance at something good with a mono leader as opposed to fluoro.
(4) Are verticle jigs any good for grouper/snapper? I have messed around with them a little bit and caught a couple groupers in the past (and tons of AJs) and a big hogfish recently, but are they worth using to target them?
(5) Do you fish on the bottom or off the bottom? I see the triggerfish post talking about how they are often 10-20 ft off the bottom, what about for grouper/snapper? Fish right on the bottom or off?
I understand all the variables involved with fishing and how there is no set answer for any of my questions above, but any advice would be great.
Thanks
