Best set up to catch big grovers from pier?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[fixed80]

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.

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.

[mmcauliffe]

What's a knocker rig?

[PhishingPhanatic]

What's a knocker rig?

Where your egg sinker slides all the way down to your hook.

[mmcauliffe]

What's a knocker rig?

Where your egg sinker slides all the way down to your hook.

Ahhh...thanks!

[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?

[bolo]

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?

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.

[cotton]

trust me: these guys are spot on 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!

[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.

[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?

[fixed80]

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

[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?

[fishnfool73]

I have found that snapper for the most part will eat bluefish. It is not a choice bait for me though.

[fishyfingas]

Thanks again for all the great info.

[JSG2891]

yeah bluefish is an excellent cut bait just like ladyfish

[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.)

[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.

[bolo]

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.

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?

[james380]

Apparently i'm out of practice on my typing. A lot of the hooks use decimals on the packaging ya jackbag.

[bolo]

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.

[CubanExpress]

They use forward slash to determine hook size like 1/0 and larger. # symbol for hooks smaller then 1/0 not 1.0.

James GPA on fishing advice is a solid 1.0

[fishnfool73]

Be nice BOLO they don't exactly make a computer keyboard for circus freak missing links like JAMES.

[james380]

fahqinhell!

[CubanExpress]

?

[bolo]

Be nice BOLO they don't exactly make a computer keyboard for circus freak missing links like JAMES.

[james380]

Sound it out Denny..

Oh how i missed this place.

[fishnfool73]

Say the word and Ill stop.

[CubanExpress]

Say the word and Ill stop.

too late I think he already contacted a moderator...