Bottom fishing set up

[Rickysa]

Other than drifting for flounder/spots etc., we have done zero bottom fishing, everything on the troll....

I'd like to try some bottom fishing...snapper/grouper. I've been given a bunch of good numbers to try, but don't know that I have the gear...

It would be in 50-75' of water...all my stuff is Tiagra 50's and up...do we really need electric reels?

Sorry for a stupid question, but I figured it wouldn't hurt (too much) to ask :)

Rick

[Capt. Mike Holmes]

Ricky, I wouldn't go to electric reels unless fishing DEEP water. For snapper, grouper, and such, I use 30# gear in 50 - 100 feet of water, go to 50# line if obstructions or big AJ's might be around. In 50', for anything other than big fish, 20# gear will work, and be more fun. To stay with Shimanos, the smaller TLD series reels, like the TLD25, are good. I use a bunch of the Penn graphite levelwinds for customers, but the Senator series are still good choices. Deeper water, or bigger fish, might justify the 30 or 50 two speeds.

[Rickysa]

Mike,

Great info....thanks....I've got several TLD 25s we use for dink baits, so I'll give them a shot.

Rick