Newbie Tile Question

[JohnC]

I am new to this forum and to deep dropping. There seems to be a lot of good info here.
As a newbie I have a few questions about dropping off of Broward.
I recently picked up a 6/0 with a 620 XP. I realize it isn't the premeir deep drop reel but I'm thinking it will get the job done.
I want to target tiles and I have a few questions. Any help would be appreciated.

I looked at the Broward sword chart and it marks the "tile hole" at 900+ ft. I don't know if the tilefish know about that particular spot but is that about the right depth?
Light or no light for tile? I think the commercial guys don't use lights on tile (maybe they don't need to with 2-4 miles of gear).
What size hooks?

Thanks in advance.

[CaptKen]

At 900' your gona find 3-4 knt current making it almost impossible to hold bottom even with the boat in gear, Try in closer and try to hit a day with 1 1/2 knts or less, not always possible but hope.
as for hooks, every manufacturer in circles is differnt from the next, I use about the size of a quater for tiles.

[RiskTaker]

John C:

I tell you what.... I am just a newbie at the "art of deep dropping" but I seem to learn a few things just a little bit at a time: Meaning that I get ideas and principles before actually going down the road of hard knocks.

So if nobody is overly offended, ie. meaning 6 or more. I may share a few concepts with you. (based upon personal experience and a few pointers from educated/experienced fishermen.)

Your line should be paper thin: ( for lack-of elasticity and lack of drag)
There is a style for snapper fishing
Fishing for Tile fish involves a different style.
Lights are used
Sharks can and will eat your lunch "fish"
What should the lead weight configuaration be:


Detail discussio":


Your deep drop line should be paper thin: this translates to: Spectra line instead of mono, (wire is still nebulous to me). This provides "best in class" lreduction of line drag in a possible long column of salt water in motion.

Hint - A very big hint, mind you: Just last night I went over to a friend's place for a bit of family entertainment. Capt. "A" was very excited to show me his new deep drop rig. Similar to yours, a low end deep drop configuration. ... Man! I tell you what, he had some "hi-viz" hollow core spectra on that reel that I thought was 300# class or more. So now, a few boat drinks follow and some gentle disscusion on the "power supply" configuration follow along, etc. etc., good conversation..... Low and behold, I come to discover that the the hollow core line that he spooled onto this reel was only 60 Kg line. ( BTW - this was Magibraid 60 Kg, etc. , dimensions in metric, "BTWA- metric is good. )


So another lesson learned for me, BIG TIME; oh did I accentuate that enough: .... BIG TIME... There are definately different grades of spectra hollow core material. We did have a wonderful time, or should I say I had an easy time showing Capt. A. how to make a double line using the splicing methodology, with the Magi Braid.

The entire time I am thinking that this line isover-powerful for the deep dropping that he wants to do with this reel. Nevertheless, we practiced a few "spliced loops" for the terminal end.

Just as a sanity check, we decided to go to my house to show a few of the wind-on leaders I have built and to show the diameter of Jerry Brown Hollow core: 130#, 200#, 60# and some solid core 30#. The differnce was shocking: the JBHC seemed to be about 1/3 the size of the MagiBraid hollowcore.


................. I'm out of time now. I will continue this article later on. But go ahead and read the draft, pardon any typos or bad stuff. RT

[JohnC]

Thanks for the tips.
I have not had allot of time to try dropping since I posted this question. I went out two weeks ago and there was too much current to do anything real deep. I did drop on a wreck in a little less than 300' with conventional gear and came up with a scamp. Good Eats! Turned a few AJ's loose too.
I will try again this week.

[Boboe]

If it's 300' you're interested in, then a 6/0 spooled with 100# Ande gets you there just fine. If you have a 6/0 wide, you will tet there with even more to spare. A Penn 4/0 spooled with 100# Ande will make 330, but not much more.

Remember that your first 10-15 cranks don't even count in that depth of water. You're just stretching your line out and haven't even moved the fish one bit off of the bottom, where he's trying to take you. You've gotta haul ass winding when he bites, or you'll be left in the rocks!