Florida Keys Deep Drop Fishing
Modern fishing techniques such as trolling, chumming and even conventional bottom fishing
barely scratch the ocean’s surface. Deep-drop fishing has been a loosely kept secret among a few
private-boat fishermen willing to invest in the electric reels required to do it. Recent entries to the
marketplace such as the XL Series Krystal Fishing Reels have helped bring these fishing tools
within reach of a wider range of anglers, and interest in deep-drop fishing has been growing as a
result.

Deep-drop fishing is like exploring a new frontier, and frequently requires a field guide to help
identify the fish you dredge up. Numerous species of snapper and grouper, plus other, more exotic
fish, are caught via this simple technique. The challenge of locating productive structure and the
reward of fine dining that accompanies a few hours of successful fishing are other attractions.

The first step is investing in a quality 12-volt electric reel. Reels should be chosen to
accommodate the maximum water depth you plan to fish. Kristal’s smallest model, the XL601, can
be loaded with 80- or 100-pound super-braid line. It is a fine choice for everything from wreck
fishing for cod and sea bass in the Northeast to targeting rockfish off the West Coast, or anywhere
water depth rarely exceeds 500 feet and the fish generally don’t weigh more than 50 or 60 pounds.

The smaller XL Series Krystal Fishing Reels easily mount on a stand-up rod and can be held
during operation. For fishing off the east coast of Florida or along the reef drop-offs in the
Bahamas, the larger XL621 and XL651 are a good choice, as they offer additional line capacity,
more powerful motors and faster retrieve rates.

How To Get The Fish...

The most productive and easiest-to-obtain deep-drop bait is squid, and it catches just about
everything. Pick up a couple boxes and cut the squid into small pieces. You don’t have to cover the
hook; just have something edible hanging off it. You can also use chunks of most any fish, even
pieces from the racks of the ones you cleaned the day before. Barracuda also makes an excellent
bait, as do mackerel and sardines.

And since light penetration at extreme depths is at a minimum, flashing strobes are clipped to the
rig to provide some additional fish-attracting capability. The captains I’ve talked to have a little
saying that goes, “No lights, no bites!”

Bottom fish are attracted to structure, whether natural or manmade. If you picture the ocean bottom
as a flat, open plane, structure is anything that breaks up the continuity, and finding these
anomalies makes deep-drop fishing a breeze. Two common pieces of electronics that will make
the job easier are a chart plotter and a powerful, high-quality depthsounder. These are your eyes
into the underwater world.

Once you’ve located a likely spot, position the boat directly over it and mark the location on your
plotter. Drop the screen size down to 1/8 mile and determine which direction the wind and current
will push the boat. Move back over the structure and position the stern so it’s facing against the
direction of the drift and use the engine(s) to hold your position. The goal is to keep your lines as
close to vertical as possible. Keep the weight just touching the bottom and the line taut, and you
will be surprised by how easy it is to detect a bite. Snapper will usually make the rod tip dance,
while grouper will simply pull it down and keep it down. With smaller bottom species, don’t be too
quick to bring them to the surface. After the initial hook-up, lower the rig back down to try for two or
three more fish, depending on how many hooks you have on the rig.

For Captain Dave's deep drop fishing facts click here.
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