mutton snapper rigs

[lcosta02]

how do you guys set up your mutton rigs?

[GT Fish]

15-30 ft of 30lb flourocarbon for me..NickC will say 90ft...

[lcosta02]

I also say 90 ft, but a heavier leader.

[weekley rehab]

do you use braid to mono to fluro carbon ?

[Marauder1]

braid to mono, looong leaders.

[lcosta02]

I'm using leaders ranging between 70-100ft in length.

How heavy of a leader you guys using?

[Marauder1]

Similar length..40-60lb

[Another Grand]

How you fish for mutton depends on how you are fishing for muttons and the condition when you fish for mutton and what you are using for bait

Albeit, almost as important as the rig is your choice of bait. How you prepare your bait and hook your bait, your terminal tackle, and understand where and how the fish feeds are factors in mutton fishing.

The difference between Mono and Braid and different sizes of each can have a drastic effect on the presentation.

Johnny

[Disco Lady]

I fish them with lite tackle . I use 50-60 feet of 125 lb leader 7/0 extra strong mustad hooks three way swivel and 2-5 pound leads on 80 international reels with a top shot of 80 lbs braid.I fish on deep wrecks on the hook, and it works for me that way always. But then again I am one crazy cuban COÑO!!!!!!!!!!! Live big pilchards, for me or goggle eyes, and fresh ballyhoo, plugs.

DL,

[Ivan11]

ive caughtem on 5ft leader to 15ft leaders, 40lb fluro to 100lb mono, light egg sinker to 3lbs cause current is ripping. everyone has different techniques and its all situational.

[Capt. JJ]

Around here I like to fish mono. I think fluoro is overkill. 40-60lb leaders, 12-15ft in length with an egg sinker above the swivel. I use as light a weight as possible. Circle hook. Dead sardine or a grunt head. This is a drift rig, and you're waiting for the runoff in freespool, so I just use mono. Braid will tear the fingerprints off your thumb.

[lcosta02]

I've always used a 50-80# mono leader of at least 70ft. in length tied to a swivel. Weight goes on a long-line clip on a short piece of light mono tied to the swivel. I've used Circle Hooks between 7/0-9/0.

[Max'd Out]

I used a 30 ft. leader, 7/0 short shank J hook and just enough weight to hold bottom. Bait of choice is small king fish cut in big chunks. I place the hook on one of the corners.

[Blackout]

I use an AB Biller 54

Seriously though, I've never targeted muttons, I just get them randomly on reefs using grouper rig. What's the deal with 70-100 feet of floro? It seems like overkill. Is that long of a leader absolutely necessary?

[Captain Juan]

As folks have said, it all depends on what type of mutton fishing and where. 99 percent of the time, I deepjig for muttons using 3 to 6 oz. jigs double or triple hooked with ballyhoo or squid. This is a classic Keys deep jigging approach I use over ledges and wrecks. I use reels with stout drags such as Penn Torques and/or accurate Bosses. I fish 80 lb. braid to a double line of of the same braid to an 8 to 10' 80 or 100 lb. mono leader all connected with Uni knots.

Now, for the Bimini Mutton run (I am sure this is why the issue is being raised), I fish a totally different set up. I use my 50 and 80 lb. sword rods in the gunnel (they mostly have 80 or 100 lb. braided line, tied to a double line, tied to an extra heavy duty snap swivel with Uni knots.). I am not a fan of those extra long leaders. For this fishing, I use 10 to 15' leaders of 100 lb. mono. I use big short-shank J hooks with a horse ballyhoo cigar, whole goggle eye, or spanish sardine. I attached a bank sinker to the swivel using a rubber band and use anywhere from 16 oz. up to 5 lbs. depending on how much the current is ripping. I also switch to scotch in this approach instead of rum. I use a similar approach for Cuberas in the August and September.

High tides and tight lines. Can't wait for May 7 - 9.

Juani

[Disco Lady]

COÑO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Scotch... I like Jack D and a good cohiba.. and my 80s with bent butts and 80lb Power Pro top shot. love that anchored, fishing Juani, love that jigging old school of your too.

DL,