As with any job, anglers need the right tools for bottom-fishing, especially when fish like amberjack and grouper are likely to bite. And on extended trips, where depths can reach the 600-foot range, you don’t want to be caught with undersized gear.
Stiff boat rods in 5 1/2- to 7-foot lengths, often called “pool cues” for their relatively short but stout proportions, are standard and are usually paired with large conventional reels like Penn Senators or Squalls, Canyon Reels that feature dual speeds, Daiwa Saltists, or Shimano Toriums or TLDs. Spinning reels like Canyon 6500s or Shimano Stella 8000s, are good choices, especially for jigging. One of the most important factors in choosing a reel for this type of fishing is line capacity. Most anglers spool 350-600 yards of line onto their reels.
Monofilament or braid in 50- to 100-pound test is par for the course; most fishermen use a good 60- to 120-pound fluorocarrbon leader as well as a shock-top leader in similar strength. Nos. 6 to 9 circle hooks are standard, and most anglers employ a rig with two single hooks and use a weight that ranges anywhere from 16 ounces up to four pounds, depending on the current. Anglers sometimes put two or more weights on a rig when the current is especially strong, and when that’s necessary, Joe Dowell, first mate on the Continental Shelf, suggests joining them together with black electrical tape.
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