Deep Dropping Fishing |
Deep Dropping 101 Over the past several years deep dropping has transformed itself from a commercial style fishery to thriving sport. Many manufacturers have introduced reels specifically designed for use on smaller production boats. Some anglers argue that using an electric reel to pull fish up from the depths is unsportsmanlike conduct. It’s easy to understand how it may seem that way to the untrained eye. What these critics fail to realize is that deep dropping is more like hunting than fishing. Countless hours must be spent seeking productive spots and studying detailed charts. Skippers must be proficient in proper boat handling if they are to remain over productive areas long enough to drop their multi hook rigs into the strike zone. Fish also have a bad habit of moving around and spots can go from red hot to ice cold in an instant. Another obstacle faced by captains fishing these deep spots is the ever present wind and current constantly pushing the boat off the honey hole. Now that we know a little bit more let’s move on to what you will need to know to prepare yourself and your vessel for a deep drop adventure. BOAT The size of the boat is not as important as the weather conditions. Make sure that your boat can handle the offshore waters and conditions found in your area. Another important issue when using electric reels is to have an adequate charging system the will not drain your boat batteries. I personally use two fixed outlets that I can plug the reels into without the use of battery clamps or alligator clips. Setting up your boat is really a matter of preference and you will find what works for you. ELECTRONICS After deep dropping for several years I can honestly say that this is the one area you should not skimp on. Get the most powerful fish finder you can afford. I would not recommend anything less that 1KW RMS. Make sure you’re using a good quality thru-hull transducer with a 200/50 frequency. Spend a lot of time getting to know your bottom machine so that you can fine tune it to get the best signal possible. Another key piece of equipment is a good chart plotter separate of the fish finder. Combination units are very popular, but I find that having a separate GPS and bottom sounder helps me see both simultaneously without having to scroll back and forth and wasting time. REELS Most of the reels on the market seem to do the job but I would recommend doing a little research before making a choice. Some of the reels offer removable spools that can be changed in seconds on the boat making it easy to go from braided line to wire. Features like this are good because you can troll with wire for wahoo or kingfish and switch to the user friendly braid when deep dropping. Some of the reels also allow you to preset the drag which comes in very handy when battling large fish. Another consideration when choosing a reel will be its current draw. Make sure that your boat’s charging system is compatible. BAIT Bait has to be the easiest part of deep dropping. The most common bait used is squid however it may not be the best. Depending on where you are fishing other baits such as fresh bonito, barracuda, goggle eyes, speedos, and even tinker mackerel work exceptionally well. The key here is to experiment and find what works well in your particular areas as well as what is more available. Size of the bait chunks will again depend on where you are fishing and the size of the fish being pursued. RIGS Rigs used for deep dropping come in many different styles and sizes. Usually they consist of four two six circle hooks crimped onto a piece of heavy mono approximately six feet in length. The rig resembles a chicken rig made popular on a lot of the party boats. I prefer to tie my own rigs using my favorite components. If you are fishing on a budget it also helps to buy your supplies in bulk and make them yourself at home. Here again you will need to experiment in order to find the combination that works for your particular needs. Hopefully the information provided here has been useful in getting you started or perfecting your deep dropping skills. Like any other type of fishing the key is hard work way before you step on the boat. Catching trophy size fish in waters ranging from 300’-2000’ is not for the lazy fisherman. Depending on where you do your fishing the level of difficulty will vary. One thing that will not change is that you will be rewarded if you put in the time and effort. Tight Lines, Orlando Muniz |
