Question

Big EZ Lineman · 03-22-2007, 10:03 PM

I am going on the Capt. John next weekend! I really want to catch a big grouper! Some of the water is 3000 feet +. Will the groupers be on the bottom at these depths? I was wondering about catching trout the day before for bait. Is this a good idea? Is it legal? Just looking for some professional advice on how to catch them big groupers.

Big EZ Lineman

Minnow · 03-22-2007, 10:21 PM

Welcome aboard.

I am not an expert, so here is my take on deep drop.
3000 ft is way too deep for deep drop, at this depth fish species are different than most of us have seen. Tile fish, oil fish, shark, pomfret etc are common deep water catch.

I don't think is a good idea to drop down to 3000 ft, unless you have an electric reel.
I have use bonito chunk, blackfin tuna chunk, squid and live hard tail for deep drop up to 700-1000ft deep. It's not fun if you have to change your bait on conventional reel.

I would not recommend you to drop more than 1000ft with manual reel.

Is it legal? Sorry, I am not sure about this.

All these are just my personal opinion.

Good luck on your quest to catch giant grouper, please let us know how it goes.

SkeeterRonnie · 03-22-2007, 10:25 PM

i would be more apt to drop with a green light on a sword setup if they are tied to the rig.

CAP · 03-22-2007, 11:15 PM

You can do it with manual reel but not to 3000 foot depths. (unless you have and reel and has more than a mile of line on it, 10--15 lb lead weights, and biceps the size of small children).

I could not reach 1400 foot depths with 2100 feet of line and 8 lb weight. What really sucked about the entire experience is a small shark bit off my 6 hook leader (300lb mono), my deep drop light, and 8 lb of weight 10 feet from the boat. This was after more than 20 minutes of reeling to get all my line back on the reel. If I was going to get bitten off, do it before all that friggin work!!!

I like to think that the shark got tangled in the leader and eventually died a horendously painful death as he was uncontrollably dragged down to the bottom of the ocean by my lead weight. But in all actuality I think he came after my light and inadvertently shreaded my leader.

-CP

Ragman · 03-22-2007, 11:28 PM

Hey EZ Lineman!

Are you going with Okie Lineman?

You should go after your big grouper when the CaptJohn stops at the rigs during the trip's bottom fishing, anywhere from 65' to 125'. That will be your best chance at your grouper.

Remember, you can't put too big of a live bait down!

It's illegal to use a sport fish -speckled trout- as bait.

The 3000' depth you talking about will be when the boat ties up to one of the rigs for the overnight tuna bite.

Get your strongest rig set up with a big non-offset circle hook, 3-5 pounds of weight, nose or butt hook a big live bait, hardtail or chub, and send her down.

Lock the drag all the way down and get ready for the best tug of war you've ever experienced!

Big EZ Lineman · 03-23-2007, 09:39 AM

Okie Lineman and 2 other operators from our crew are going with me. I've been going to Galveston for the past 20 years. My Dad took me down there every year to fish when I was a kid. I've only been on the snapper trips though. Caught a few ling on them trips. I really like catching those Bull Reds off of Galveston Fishing Pier. Not sure if the Bulls will be there next weekend, this is the earliest I've ever been. Plan on going to Florida in June! If I don't catch my grouper next weekend, my odds are higher in Florida. Is live bait necessary for grouper?

Big EZ Lineman

SkeeterRonnie · 03-23-2007, 09:51 AM

i have seen people use the whole side (fillets) of fish instead of live bait for grouper... something REALLY oily.. bonita, or a blackfin slab

dewman27 · 03-23-2007, 05:59 PM

The depth ranges you are speaking of are from the depths of Boomvang Or Nansen, we can not tie up to these rigs just the mooring balls. We drift fish these rigs, however if we tie up to tequilla, cervesa, etc. then yes absolutely bottom fish save some smaller sized blue runners to send back down. I will be there to help you get rigged up for some nice fish if we get to make the stops for them.

Ben
1st Mate Capt. John
Williams Party Boats

Drifter · 03-23-2007, 08:11 PM

Ben,

A couple of members recently stated Capt John's didn't target YFT on their 36 hr trips. If this is true, are you at liberty to provide the details that led to this decision?

I'm gearing up for my first Capt John 36 hr trip scheduled 6 -7. It would be helpful to know our intended targets.

Thanks!

dewman27 · 03-23-2007, 10:26 PM

We target tuna when we go on the 36 hour trips. I have gaffed a few yellow fin tuna, we go out to catch fish. There are a few things to consider, when the yft are at the deep spar rigs we do anything we can to catch them, however it is not as easy as it looks. Fish feed when they are hungry, they have been there a few times and just flat out would not bite. If the weather is rough then we go to rigs and tie up, in the history of Williams Party Boats Tuna Safaris (1990) YFT have not been at those rigs( tequila cerveza etc.). So to answer your question we go out to catch fish and target the BFT if the YFT are there that is and added bonus.

Ben
1st Mate Capt. John
www.galvestonfishingboats.com

03-22-2007, 10:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Big EZ Lineman Junior member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 5	Question I am going on the Capt. John next weekend! I really want to catch a big grouper! Some of the water is 3000 feet +. Will the groupers be on the bottom at these depths? I was wondering about catching trout the day before for bait. Is this a good idea? Is it legal? Just looking for some professional advice on how to catch them big groupers. Big EZ Lineman

03-22-2007, 10:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
SkeeterRonnie Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,236	i would be more apt to drop with a green light on a sword setup if they are tied to the rig. __________________ www.navionics.com (prostaff)

03-22-2007, 11:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
CAP Junior member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 24	deep dropping You can do it with manual reel but not to 3000 foot depths. (unless you have and reel and has more than a mile of line on it, 10--15 lb lead weights, and biceps the size of small children). I could not reach 1400 foot depths with 2100 feet of line and 8 lb weight. What really sucked about the entire experience is a small shark bit off my 6 hook leader (300lb mono), my deep drop light, and 8 lb of weight 10 feet from the boat. This was after more than 20 minutes of reeling to get all my line back on the reel. If I was going to get bitten off, do it before all that friggin work!!! I like to think that the shark got tangled in the leader and eventually died a horendously painful death as he was uncontrollably dragged down to the bottom of the ocean by my lead weight. But in all actuality I think he came after my light and inadvertently shreaded my leader. -CP

03-22-2007, 11:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ragman Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 924	Hey EZ Lineman! Are you going with Okie Lineman? You should go after your big grouper when the CaptJohn stops at the rigs during the trip's bottom fishing, anywhere from 65' to 125'. That will be your best chance at your grouper. Remember, you can't put too big of a live bait down! It's illegal to use a sport fish -speckled trout- as bait. The 3000' depth you talking about will be when the boat ties up to one of the rigs for the overnight tuna bite. Get your strongest rig set up with a big non-offset circle hook, 3-5 pounds of weight, nose or butt hook a big live bait, hardtail or chub, and send her down. Lock the drag all the way down and get ready for the best tug of war you've ever experienced! __________________ Tom www.oceantackle.net *Go Hard or Go Home!*

03-23-2007, 09:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
SkeeterRonnie Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,236	i have seen people use the whole side (fillets) of fish instead of live bait for grouper... something REALLY oily.. bonita, or a blackfin slab __________________ www.navionics.com (prostaff)

03-22-2007, 10:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Minnow Administrator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Richardson Posts: 1,168	Welcome aboard. I am not an expert, so here is my take on deep drop. 3000 ft is way too deep for deep drop, at this depth fish species are different than most of us have seen. Tile fish, oil fish, shark, pomfret etc are common deep water catch. I don't think is a good idea to drop down to 3000 ft, unless you have an electric reel. I have use bonito chunk, blackfin tuna chunk, squid and live hard tail for deep drop up to 700-1000ft deep. It's not fun if you have to change your bait on conventional reel. I would not recommend you to drop more than 1000ft with manual reel. Is it legal? Sorry, I am not sure about this. All these are just my personal opinion. Good luck on your quest to catch giant grouper, please let us know how it goes.

03-23-2007, 09:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
Big EZ Lineman Junior member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 5	Okie Lineman and 2 other operators from our crew are going with me. I've been going to Galveston for the past 20 years. My Dad took me down there every year to fish when I was a kid. I've only been on the snapper trips though. Caught a few ling on them trips. I really like catching those Bull Reds off of Galveston Fishing Pier. Not sure if the Bulls will be there next weekend, this is the earliest I've ever been. Plan on going to Florida in June! If I don't catch my grouper next weekend, my odds are higher in Florida. Is live bait necessary for grouper? Big EZ Lineman

03-23-2007, 05:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
dewman27 Junior member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 9	The depth ranges you are speaking of are from the depths of Boomvang Or Nansen, we can not tie up to these rigs just the mooring balls. We drift fish these rigs, however if we tie up to tequilla, cervesa, etc. then yes absolutely bottom fish save some smaller sized blue runners to send back down. I will be there to help you get rigged up for some nice fish if we get to make the stops for them. Ben 1st Mate Capt. John Williams Party Boats

03-23-2007, 08:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
Drifter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 102	Ben, A couple of members recently stated Capt John's didn't target YFT on their 36 hr trips. If this is true, are you at liberty to provide the details that led to this decision? I'm gearing up for my first Capt John 36 hr trip scheduled 6 -7. It would be helpful to know our intended targets. Thanks!

03-23-2007, 10:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
dewman27 Junior member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 9	We target tuna when we go on the 36 hour trips. I have gaffed a few yellow fin tuna, we go out to catch fish. There are a few things to consider, when the yft are at the deep spar rigs we do anything we can to catch them, however it is not as easy as it looks. Fish feed when they are hungry, they have been there a few times and just flat out would not bite. If the weather is rough then we go to rigs and tie up, in the history of Williams Party Boats Tuna Safaris (1990) YFT have not been at those rigs( tequila cerveza etc.). So to answer your question we go out to catch fish and target the BFT if the YFT are there that is and added bonus. Ben 1st Mate Capt. John www.galvestonfishingboats.com

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