I’ve been reading on this site for a while and have used the search function a lot, now I have to start asking questions. We went out Saturday to the south end of the Edisto banks area for the second time this year. We caught a four man limit of red porgys (or porgies?) both times but haven’t caught much of the other bottom dwellers. We get a couple of vermillion and triggers but nothing consistenly. I quess the main question is if we are catching red porgies are we in the right area or should be looking around more. We are also looking to catch our first grouper but that hasnt happened yet. We love bottom fishing but need to speed up the learning curve. Thanks guys.
Sea Fox 257cc
Yes, if you are catching vermilion, triggers and red porgies, then you are on good bottom. The problem is that red porgies are super aggressive eaters and will take small baits before anything else gets a chance to look at them. In general, with all fishing, if you are not catching what you want, move around a bit. You can always come back and the ledge will still be there when you get back.
You should switch to larger live baits for the grouper. While they will certainly eat squid and cigar minnows, like skinneej said, the porgys and sea bass are so aggressive that the grouper never have a chance to get to the bait. The smaller fish won’t mess with live bait much. Pinfish about hand size are my favorite grouper bait.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Right now small creeks with plenty of shells are loaded with pinfish. Use a small hook, like a bream hook, small split shot weight and very small piece of shrimp. I fish a lot in FL and there it’s legal to trap them and all the bait shops sell them. Can’t do that here (legally) Never caught any on a sabiki, but use them for other live baits offshore.
Smaller fish that you bring up from the bottom work great too, not much better bait than a little butterflied live B-Liner (Vermillion), but remember that fish used for bait should be legal size.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
We stopped at the Edisto 60 on way out and caught some nice pinfish around the bouy. We used the sabiki tipped with small pieces of squid fished on the bottom. But with the wind and waves Saturday it was hard to stay near the buoy. At least I think they were pinfish or small grunts. When we got to the ledge the amberjack where hitting our baits hard. Fun day either way.
Sea Fox 257cc
Thanks guys, I usually catch plenty of menhadden, cigars on the reefs, or finger mullet in the creeks, but I hear good things about these pinfish for catching ARS. Haven’t caught one yet, but I’m gonna try hard these upcoming weekend openings.
Key West 196;150 Yammie
Life Is Good…Gotta Love It!!!