Have Your Ground Tackle Ready for the Job

The reef bite has been slow so I tried to fish the Hawk Channel rock piles to get the eating fish. Only one problem with that plan, both the Danforth and the rock anchors were tweaked. If you can't hold anchor where you want you are not going to catch the fish you want. Many private boat guides like myself have a variety of anchors and anchoring methods to get the job done. They only work if your gear is in working order. So here are a few tips for anchoring in the Keys.

Make sure you have the right Danforth. Yachting is one thing, but for fishing you want an anchor over-sized for your boat. Yep, it is a bit of a pain to pull in, but you want something that will hold in high winds and not break loose in confused seas. The Danforth is for sandy and grassy bottom only. So that means that it is for fishing the Bay and Hawk Channel. The Danforth we had was the right size, but had been tweaked on a previous trip so it could not get a good bite.

Depending on the conditions you want plenty of scope. In twenty plus knot winds 10 to one scope is not uncommon. Scope by the way in the amount of line out for the depth of water. So that means you need plenty of anchor line.

On the reef you want a grappling hook also known as a rock anchor. Preferably one with a break away so you can retrieve your ground tackle from a rocky coral hook-up. Today the rock anchor had four of its five hooks bent.

In really strong winds I have to resort to using both anchors on the same line just to hold. By tagging the Danforth to the back of the rock anchor you can hold in the Bay in nearly any wind you are silly enough to fish.

Normally, I check this stuff before I head out, but I was fishing with a friend that normally has top notch stuff. So I got a not so subtle reminder to never assume. Always make sure your ground tackle is up to the task and never forget to bring a back-up.

Marathon in the Florida Keys should be your next fishing vacation destination. Join us for charter fishing, fishing guide trips or our fishing 101 so you can fish on your own with better success.

Tight lines,

Capt. Dallas