this will be my second trip out on the deep blue sea, and my second time on the big e with captain elliots party boats. I have read and researched many peoples opinions on the 12 hour trips. What i have been informed from most replies is the fact that the charter boats are in the business to make money and will not let you sit on there honey holes long and to utilixe the first 15 - 20 mintues while anchored. My first trip out i used there rods and reels/ setups. I have read in some other forums and on this board also that using there setup witch consists of a 20 ounce weight and double hook leader is the old school manner compared to the days of snappers not having limits and having a meat haul when you went out to venture for the snapper compared to the length limit now and that you want to increase your productivity to catch the tru pick o the crop( meaning the sow snapper) I recently have purchased my own rod a reel, a shimano tekota 700. it is currently rigged with 50 lb test. My major question is...instead of rigging my setup the same way they rig there setups on the big e, should i try to runa jig setup? snapper slappers opr another type? i see some people post that the jigs keep the smaller snapps from biting the lines and eating up your time. is this tru? and some saying to put a sardine or live bait on the end of the jig can increase your chance? can this jig setup also target amberjacks or kings? Basically im asking for help on how to rig my pole to have a blast of a time to catch legal limits on my next trip and to also increase my chances of different species. what size jig head? do i have to put a weight on the line with jig to help it sink? or brand jigs to buy to jig for snapper and amberjacks? should i run aleader witha jjg or just swivel? if so what pound test? if i jig can a i still catch grouper? I will be boarding my trip on monday the 26th of june. any information on this would greatly be aprecciated. Thank you guys and gals for taking the time to read this.

I know what you mean, Im going out on Tuesday the 27th. I would like to catch some kings & some good sized snapper. The last trip I ended up catching 100 undersized fish & it ate up all of my time. It is a little irritating when they jack around with anchoring for 30 minutes & then you fish for 15 or 20 after that & off to the next spot. I'll be interested in seeing if anybody posts up some ideas or comments.

Alright you two, I'll give it a stab since I fish quite often on Capt. Elliot's boats. I usually have 3 different type of set-ups when I go offshore. First thing, I tie on a GOOD snap swivel(Spro or Sampo) on the end of my line for quick changes.

Here are my set-ups:
1. 24-36" wire leader with a barrel swivel attached on one end and the other end attach a single offset hook at least a 5/0 for drifting a sardine/icefish/cigar minnow/silver eel or live bait for kingfish, ling or dolphin

2. Jig or Snapper Slapper (1-4oz.) tied to a mono or fluorcarbon leader and a barrel swivel attached at the other end. Tip it with a sardine, icefish, cigar minnow and let it drop SLOWLY toward the bottom...the larger snapper will almost always suspend well above the structure. If you get into spadefish or triggerfish, you may need to go with the next rig.

3. 4/0-5/0 offset hook or that size circle hook tied to a flurocarbon leader 25-40# test of at least 3-4 feet, a slip/egg sinker of about 8-10oz (enough to bring it to the bottom quickly avoiding the bait stealers)slipped on above the hook, crimp on a split shot a foot above the hook and in front of the egg sinker. Tie on a barrel swivel to the other end of the leader. This is similar to a Carolina rig or flounder rig which allows the fish to grab the bait and move off a ways before setting the hook.

These should work for either of you and a little tip on catching enough vermilion snapper to help out your 20 reef fish limit, use a VERY small piece of bait...they can take it off in seconds. No more than the size of your thumbnail!!

Amberjack...use a BIG live Piggy or Pigfish, Hardtail or Rainbow Runner 1-2lbs. in size...yes, that big! The AJs will do the rest once you get into them!!

For Grouper...on the bottom, use the slip sinker rig and a good size LIVE BAIT...piggy perch or pigfish...maybe even a large fillet off of a bonita if someone catches one.

Each time you move, make sure you change out your dead bait and put on a new one...same thing after catching a fish, change the bait.

Snapper tip - try out the Berkley Gulp "PEELER CRAB" bait...snapper love crab and it just might entice some of the larger ones!

Let me know how yall do...
Chris

Breambuster, you did very good! I have a couple of questions for you. For the AJ, when using big live bait (piggy, pigfish, etc), do we use the same flounder or carolina setup as the snapper setup? If yes, fish off bottom otherwise if not, generally how deep?

Also, if there is no livies available, can I use short vermillion snapper as a bait?

Sorry for taking so long to get to you T-rig - on the AJ's, you'll need a sinker set-up (carolina rig) for them, because you don't want your live bait to stay on the surface. When we used 2lb. hardtails, we just slipped a hook behind their dorsal and let them down...most of the AJ's will be suspended in the water and not on the bottom. Using a live large bait on the bottom gets those nice size Warsaw, scamp and red grouper's attention quick..not to mention 20+ lb. sow red snapper too!

How deep? The AJ's will come toward your offering with no problem...the boat captain/deckhands will let you know how deep they are.

On using vermilions for bait, you better check with the game wardens or National Marine Fisheries Service on that one since it's a regulated species and has a size/bag limit.

I was at Gander lastnight & I found some vertical jigs, are there any favorite color patterns or designs that anybody could recommend. Do I vertical jig just like I do in fresh water or is there a different technique? When U guys are drifting are u using any type of shock leader or just tying a 5/0 on & away they drift?

Thx for the info Breambuster, I will make a post after this trip.

Thanks breambuster for additional info!

JBH1979, I will be on the 6/27 trip as well. I'm going on a 60hrs with DD, and you?

How'd yall do on the offshore outing? Man, I've got to know...I think I'm having withdrawls since I haven't been offshore yet this year!!

Chris

For Snapper, this is what we did to absolutely slay them when the season was almost over and most people struggled.

Take the 6-10 OZ sinker and tie it directly to the hook. Do not worry about a leader. This is called a sow rig. Take a piece of 8 inch line and tie a second hook to the bend of the first hook.

(you can also use a snapper slapper or other hair jig in lue of the egg sinker)

Take a sardine and put the first hook through the bottom of its jaw, up thru the top of the head.

Then take the second hook and run it through the tail, about one inch in front of the tail fin.

That way it has a stinger hook on it.

If you get one short biting it, the stinger hook will catch it.

Some guys were using just jigs, some where using just sardines.

We caught our on Jigs with Sardines at the same time, and we ended up with a full limit of Reds and limits of B-Liners each day. Even caught a 20 lb Mangro on the last day.

We went out three days in a row, and with 8 of us in our group, we had three ice chests full of fish.

I did ok, we ended up taking the Capt Casey out intead of the Big E (lack of people) It would have been nice to take the Big E b/c we wouldnt have been shoulder to shoulder but they would have made less money. Anyway, I bought the snapper slapper lures up to 5 oz & it still wasnt heavy enough for fishing on the side of the boat. Apparently there were people in line from 3:45 waiting so they could get the back of the boat & they did & it paid off. I caught some nice snapper & v-liners but nothing out of the ordinary. People in the back caught one of the biggest kings I've ever seen, dolphin, & ling. There was a lot of quality fish caught but you had to be on the back of the boat. Next time I will camp out at 3:00 a.m. to get on the back.