I am not a salt water angler. My father in law just moved his rig from Maine to Rockport and we are headed there Oct,. 8th
he knows the area well and has operated all kinds of boats all his life but he is a sailor- not a fisherman
His plan is to take us to some offshore rigs for fishing
So- live (or fresh dead bait __________ (shrimp or other)
I plan to rig sinker on bottom and hook with dropper loop
do you drop the bait to the bottom by default and keep working up? He does not have a fish finder
Line weight? will be fishing heavy duty rods with ambassador reels
again- fish a lot at lake tawakoni and limited salt water experience

You're most likely going to catch red snapper at the rigs. Abus will work fine spooled with 20 lb. on a double drop rig, weight on bottom.

Best learn the difference in IDing the various snappers though. Red snap season is over. You can keep mangrove and lane snapper though.

You can also target gray trigger fish. They're good eating too. A little tough to clean. Use a razor knife/box cutter to get through their tough hide. They'll be suspended on the up current side of the rig usually. Use frozen sardine and squid for bait.

For kingfish you might try a king fish rig with a frozen ribbon fish and drift it off the stern of the boat. Let it out with current. Put a 1 oz egg sinker above the wire leader with an octopus or squid skirt over the sinker.

Trolling for kings is always productive around the rigs.

hey LP Mike I've never fished the rigs here, but could he get into some Blackfin or AJ's or Wahoo doing some Vertical Jigging on the Rigs around there? Also would the Cobia still be hanging around the rigs at the time he's planning on heading out?........................ Rob

The AJ's are going to be in water 200+ feet generally. That's about 40 miles out. Blackfin might move in that close if the water cools down a bit. Wahoo are generally in deeper, blue water. A ling (cobia) is always possible.

His post made it sound as if he was staying closer to shore and it doesn't sound like he's got the tackle for AJ's, tuna or 'hoos. Big AJ's will make a man out of ya'.

thanks LP
I appreciate the tips
getting some by PM as well