I treat bottom fishing like I’m going (organic) grocery shopping. The best groceries come from different places on the bottom and from different depths.

POST HIGHLIGHTS

  • This is the time of year to size down and go for the snappers and using light line for any other pelagics swimming by.
  • Beeliners and triggerfish have one thing in common: the largest ones of the school stay higher in the water column.
  • i use a two-hook “chicken rig” – especially effective on large triggers, swap out treble hooks and j hooks with small circle hooks tipped with squid.

With grouper season over, it’s time to switch gears and concentrate on other species. This is the time of year to size down and go for the snappers. Depending on water temps, it’s also a good idea to keep a light line out for any pelagics that swim by.

The best groceries come from different places on the bottom and from different depths.

I like yellowtail and mangrove snappers, but I really love jolt heads, triggerfish, pinkies, black seabass, and hog snapper.

I treat bottom fishing like I’m going (organic) grocery shopping. First and foremost, I only shop on some of the grocery store’s aisles. Then, I go down the aisles that contain only the items I want.

I use a two-hook “chicken rig” made of 50-pound fluoro with small circle hooks and a 3-ounce bank sinker. I bait it with small pieces of squid.

A small 2- or 3-ounce jig works with the same tackle as the weight instead of a bank sinker. This rig is especially effective on large triggers. Just replace the treble hooks or single J hooks on the back of the jig with small circle hooks and tip it with a small piece of squid.

Black Seabass January 2023

Small amberjacks are one of the most important aspects of my bottom-fishing strategy. My other weapon of choice is taking a couple of boxes of squid on every trip. I start every new post-up on a ledge or live bottom area, with everyone firing down the whole squid every drop. I don’t care what they are catching. It’s usually grunts, pinkies, or seabass, but what is happening on the bottom; is the squid is getting ripped to shreds, and small pieces are swirling around and creating a chum slick. After several volleys of whole squid, I change it to live pinfish, grass grunts, or other live baits on a jig.

I could go on and on about this style of fishing. The limits are pretty good, and the reward comes at the table.

It is a good time of year to take youngsters out because this style of fishing produces lots of action, and it’s not heavy-duty grouper fishing. Also, little ones love a trip to the “organic grocery store.”

SALTWATER TACKLE YOU MAY WANT TO TRY:

7/0 and 11/0 J-Hook Chin Weights: Target fish include Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi or Common Dolphin, King Mackerel, Wahoo, and more. Easy to rig!

4 oz. Crab Decoy Jig: Target fish for Striped Bass, nearshore Drum, Snook, Grouper, west coast bottom fish, and more.

4 oz. Tuna Squid Decoy Jig: From the eastern, western, Alaskan, and gulf coasts, target fish include: Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo, Fluke, Flounder, Striped Bass, Seabass, Amberjack (east coast), Yellow Tail (west coast), California White Sea Bass (west coast), Grouper, Snapper, Halibut, Ling cod, and all Alaskan bottom fish.

8 oz. - 12 oz. 10/0 Squid Decoy Jig: Catch BIG Grouper, Amberjack, Giant Stripers, and more.