Fishing in water 600 feet and deeper isn’t the same as dropping bait
over the side on a shallow reef in search of common snapper or grouper.
That’s a relatively easy task, but when you’re seeking fish that live in
total darkness and frigid temperatures a quarter-mile or more beneath
the surface, you need to be prepared.
Deep dropping for tilefish
and grouper is becoming more and more popular by the day. Faster boats
with longer range have now made fish like snowy grouper, yellowedge
grouper, longtail sea bass, barrel fish, tilefish and others easier
targets. The problem is, recently the government has placed parameters
and restrictions on certain species of fish that are harvested in the
deep drop venue. Such fish like Blueline Tilefish and Snowy Grouper have
been closed until the turn of the year. This may not seem like a huge
issue, you may think its easier to just fish for something
different...but you can’t pick and choose what eats your bait when it’s a
half mile deep! The problem arises when the fish surfaces. More often
than not, the fish blows up due to the sudden pressure change and then
if not vented properly (and sometimes even when vented properly) the
fish dies. I know that it is imperative that our fishing industry
preserves the sustainability of these fish but it sure is a bummer to
have to throw a dead fish back into the water!
There are various
deep drop techniques that will help you find these fish in 400–1,300
feet of water. At
Angers Answer Sport Fishing, we use the finest equipment and tackle that is sure to put meat on the deck! For more
information on future charters, contact us at
www.sportfishing.fish or
just call Captain Kevin at
239-877-7875
