What are your favorite bottom fishing rig setups?
Hook sizes? How many hooks? How much weight?
For black seabass, chicken rig, any size hook, and squares of old leather or tire rubber for bait.
For grouper, google search grouper rig.
Just about every thing else I use chicken rigs with small sturdy circle hooks (J hooks are frowned on) and good quality squid.
Buy squid from shrimp boats if you can.
26 Seahunt
Angler’s Dream
J hooks aren’t just frowned upon. They are illegal to use for most species in federal waters.
I’ve learned to make my own rigs from some folks around here. If you buy a spool of mono for leaders, and a mess of hooks, you’ll have countless rigs at the ready, in case you need some more.
I used 60 lb. mono to start. About 3 feet or so. I tie a perfection loop (bigger than it should be) on one end to loop the weights through. I make the perfection loop a bit large in case I need two or more weights. I then tie two alpine butterfly knots on the length to attach the hooks. I close off the end of the rig with another perfection loop (this time the right size) to attach it to the swivel end of your line.
I do this same set up with bigger 8/0 circle hooks when targeting bigger BSB’s, or things like that. Stick a whole filet from a fish, or a bigger chunk of bait than a regular cut squid piece, and use 80 lb. mono or better.
How much weight is going to depend on the current and your ability to keep the bait where you want it. I usually start out with 8 oz. on a rig. Add more if the rig is drifting too much and not settling on the bottom where you want it.
Grouper rigs are pretty easy to make as well. You are essentially making a heavy duty carolina rig. I use crimps to make my loops for these guys at each end of the rig. Like Jordan said, there are all kinds of great diagrams and tutorials on how to do them.
Another trick taught to me was to make sure you have a few J hook rigs at the ready, in case that stray dolphin or other pelagic species comes swimming by. You just swap your bottom rig for a rig with a J hook on it, and hook that game fish. J hooks are only illegal for the bottom fishing. If you use them to hook a dolphin, wahoo, etc., you’ll be fine.
quote:
Originally posted by SirecksI’ve learned to make my own rigs from some folks around here. If you buy a spool of mono for leaders, and a mess of hooks, you’ll have countless rigs at the ready, in case you need some more.
I used 60 lb. mono to start. About 3 feet or so. I tie a perfection loop (bigger than it should be) on one end to loop the weights through. I make the perfection loop a bit large in case I need two or more weights. I then tie two alpine butterfly knots on the length to attach the hooks. I close off the end of the rig with another perfection loop (this time the right size) to attach it to the swivel end of your line.
I do this same set up with bigger 8/0 circle hooks when targeting bigger BSB’s, or things like that. Stick a whole filet from a fish, or a bigger chunk of bait than a regular cut squid piece, and use 80 lb. mono or better.
How much weight is going to depend on the current and your ability to keep the bait where you want it. I usually start out with 8 oz. on a rig. Add more if the rig is drifting too much and not settling on the bottom where you want it.
Grouper rigs are pretty easy to make as well. You are essentially making a heavy duty carolina rig. I use crimps to make my loops for these guys at each end of the rig. Like Jordan said, there are all kinds of great diagrams and tutorials on how to do them.
Another trick taught to me was to make sure you have a few J hook rigs at the ready, in case that stray dolphin or other pelagic species comes swimming by. You just swap your bottom rig for a rig with a J hook on it, and hook that game fish. J hooks are only illegal for the bottom fishing. If you use them to hook a dolphin, wahoo, etc., you’ll be fine.
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To set the record straight real quick, I am in no way advocating that people just willy nilly keep any fish they bring over the rail for use as bait. Always be careful about what you keep and how much. There are rules and regs about this, and you should always follow the law. Don’t just keep anything and everything and use it.
Alpine Butterfly knot…WTF??? I tie Carolina rigs and dropper loops
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NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
Hey, don’t pick on me. LOL!!
Alpine who? I must really be old school,WTF-2???
http://www.animatedknots.com/alpinebutterfly/
I don’t know. When I was faced with “how to do I make the same rig those who have taken me bottom fishing make,” this is what I found when I was looking for loop knots to make in the middle of a line. It works pretty well for me, and I can tie them pretty quick.
quote:
Originally posted by sellsfishAlpine Butterfly knot…WTF???
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Isn’t that a position documented in the Kama Sutra?
I’ll have to go tie one and see how it holds and where it breaks at.Looks easy enough to tie.Thanks!
The Alpine Butterfly is a strong loop knot used in climbing and whatnot. I also prefer it over the “Double Overhand knot” as it won’t slip as easily when pressure is applied from the ends.
Rap to my rescue!! LOL!!