Creatures of the Deep
Some of the best-eating fish are typically known as "bottom fish" due to living their lives at or near the seabed. Here on the East Coast of Florida, we are in close proximity to very deep waters where odd bottom fish thrive. We generally target these species using large lead weights to counter the depths along with currents of the Gulf Stream utilizing electrical reels. The depths we use this tactic in varies from 350 feet deep all the way to 2,000 feet deep fishing either one single bait or a multi-bait rig depending on the specific species we're targeting. Fish such as deepwater groupers, snappers, and swordfish are found around bottom and structure while the tilefish species can be found in the soft mud like bottom.
Snowy Grouper - Caught on a shipwreck in 470 feet of water
Golden Tilefish - Caught in depths ranging from 800 - 1000 feet of water
Blackbelly Rosefish aka Rosies - Caught in depths ranging from 750-950 feet of water. These fish are also a member of the scorpionfish family and have a toxic venom in their spines.
Nice catches and great photos! Where along the east coast are you?
Thanks! I'm in the Ft Lauderdale/Miami area of Florida. Predominantly fishing the waters between Jupiter and North Key Largo.
Awesome! That's a beautiful area. I used to live in the Space Coast that's why I asked.