Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

fishyfingas
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Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by fishyfingas »

Hey guys,

What's the best set up to catch monster grovers from the local piers?

I'm interested in finding out rigs, for instance, sliding egg sinkers with one
hook or chicken rig with multipe hooks, maybe a personal invention, etc.
What type of hook? For instance, circle hooks or short shank bait hooks, etc.
Lastly, best bait and what time of the year for the really serious fish.
:reeling:

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PhishingPhanatic
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by PhishingPhanatic »

Catching a big grover (20" +) from the piers isn't very common, you have a much better chance on the bridges in the Keys IMO. My favorite rigs down there are either knocker rigs, standard fish finder rigs or just a freelined trollrite. Top baits are live pinfish, big shrimp, live or fresh dead pilchards, and ballyhoo.
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bolo
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by bolo »

For the piers I recommend using a knocker rig and pitch the bait under the pier. You can catch any big fish that hangs under the pier. You can also catch grovers out on the reef. I use fish finder rig for that. Best bait is usually local bait at the pier. Cut bait like gogs, ballyhoo, or pilchards are great bait.
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by fixed80 »

fishyfingas wrote:Hey guys,

What's the best set up to catch monster grovers from the local piers?

I'm interested in finding out rigs, for instance, sliding egg sinkers with one
hook or chicken rig with multipe hooks, maybe a personal invention, etc.
What type of hook? For instance, circle hooks or short shank bait hooks, etc.
Lastly, best bait and what time of the year for the really serious fish.
:reeling:
like B said....... under the pier as a lot of people don't realize it.
I guess night would be a plus to since i hear that quite often in that area.
as for the hook, small circle like a 2/0. leader 40lb if its at night time. or if its during the day....... 20lb.
swivels for line to leader or use the uni knot(i believe its called that).
bait....... cut pilchards, blue runners, etc.
im not sure whats the best year for them but my guess would be summer months the hottest.

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mmcauliffe
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by mmcauliffe »

What's a knocker rig?
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by PhishingPhanatic »

mmcauliffe wrote:What's a knocker rig?
Where your egg sinker slides all the way down to your hook.
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by mmcauliffe »

PhishingPhanatic wrote:
mmcauliffe wrote:What's a knocker rig?
Where your egg sinker slides all the way down to your hook.
Ahhh...thanks!
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fishyfingas
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by fishyfingas »

Man, this is great info guys. That knocker rig suggestion is a winnner. I'm familiar
with that rig for kingfish from the local boats. Will try it as Bolo suggested.
Any advantage between a circle hook, an octupus, or any other hook.

The summer sounds right for best time of year, any other toughts about that?
:reeling:

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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by bolo »

fishyfingas wrote:Any advantage between a circle hook, an octupus, or any other hook.

The summer sounds right for best time of year, any other toughts about that?
:reeling:
I like using circle hooks. All you have to do is wind in and hook is set. If you keep missing fish then the fish is too small to catch. Bottom line use what you are comfortable with. You can catch big grovers in the winter season. But during the spring, summer, and fall they are much more plentiful.
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by cotton »

trust me: these guys are spot on :cheers: with their advice!

I asked for the same advice this summer and was able to catch a 16" off our (Gulf Shores, AL) pier; plus I caught a fair share of keeper fish (12"rs) using their tactics. Scroll through the "helpfull" topics for more tips. Thanks again to all here for their advice and I am looking forward to next summer...can't wait to try out some night tactics!!! Happy holidays!

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JSG2891
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by JSG2891 »

Bridges would probably be better, as someone already mentioned. Anything in the sea will eat a cut piece of ladyfish or mullet, I think that would be the way to go if you want a bigger one. I like using 2/0 or 3/0 eagle claw sea circles for smaller stuff, they are very sharp, cheap, and do all the work for you.

As for rigging technique the knocker rig is good. I use a variation of that, the weight doesn't slide all the way down to the hook. I'll have a double line connected to the leader, and the weight is above the knot on the 1-2 foot piece of leader. This gives the bait some range of motion...this way if I'm using a live bait like pilchards and not getting any bites by letting it sit, I will reel it in along the bottom extremely slow and that usually gets some strikes. In fact, I usually get a lot more strikes when I reel it in very slow with the weight on the bottom and the bait just a little bit off the bottom. It works great for jacks, snook, ladyfish, redfish and stuff so I'm sure it would work for snapper.
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by fishyfingas »

What about cut blue fish? Plenty of them around at times. Is there a difference
between the in line circle and the offset circle hook? Does one really outfish the other?

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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by fixed80 »

the non offset circle hook is better than the offset circle hook. its suppose to have less gut or throat hook ups.

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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by fishyfingas »

Just to clarify my prior question. I meant to ask about using cut bluefish as bait for the grovers.
I know they work for catching more bluefish, but are they usefull for grovers or even muttons?

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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by fishnfool73 »

I have found that snapper for the most part will eat bluefish. It is not a choice bait for me though.
Dreaming the dream that one day I can be as good as some of the boatless pros and catch some 12 inch mangrove snapper.

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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by fishyfingas »

Thanks again for all the great info.
:salut:

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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by JSG2891 »

yeah bluefish is an excellent cut bait just like ladyfish
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by Ryan71 »

If you are ever really having problems with pest fish you can also try some guts.
This will usually slow the pest fish and give snapper a chance.(I usually use mackeral or
Kigfish guts.)
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by james380 »

The only time I caught a big grover (off a pier) it was caught under the pier using a 3.0 or 4.0 circle (can't remember which) using a fish finder rig and 40 pound mono leader. Used cut frozen pilchard that was that was soaked in the mustard Activate. Fish was caught in March @ Anglins.
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

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james380 wrote:The only time I have ever caught a big grover (off a pier) it was caught under the pier using a 3.0 or 4.0 circle (can't remember which because I am such a googan.) using a fish finder rig and 40 pound mono leader. Used cut frozen pilchard that was that was soaked in the mustard Activate. Fish was caught in March @ Anglins.
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Hey retard, since when do they size hooks using decimal? Also, I didn't know soaking your bait in mustard works. Did you use yellow or Dijon mustard? :D
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by james380 »

:uplol: Apparently i'm out of practice on my typing. A lot of the hooks use decimals on the packaging ya jackbag.
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by bolo »

james380 wrote::uplol: Apparently i'm out of practice on my typing. A lot of the hooks use decimals on the packaging ya jackbag.
They use forward slash to determine hook size like 1/0 and larger. # symbol for hooks smaller then 1/0 not 1.0. :D
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by CubanExpress »

bolo wrote:They use forward slash to determine hook size like 1/0 and larger. # symbol for hooks smaller then 1/0 not 1.0. :D
James GPA on fishing advice is a solid 1.0 8)

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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by fishnfool73 »

Be nice BOLO they don't exactly make a computer keyboard for circus freak missing links like JAMES.
Dreaming the dream that one day I can be as good as some of the boatless pros and catch some 12 inch mangrove snapper.

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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by james380 »

fahqinhell!
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

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?

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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by bolo »

fishnfool73 wrote:Be nice BOLO they don't exactly make a computer keyboard for circus freak missing links like JAMES.
:biglaugh:
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by james380 »

Sound it out Denny..

Oh how i missed this place. :roll:
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fishnfool73
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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by fishnfool73 »

Say the word and Ill stop.
Dreaming the dream that one day I can be as good as some of the boatless pros and catch some 12 inch mangrove snapper.

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Re: Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

Post by CubanExpress »

fishnfool73 wrote:Say the word and Ill stop.
too late I think he already contacted a moderator...

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