Thread: Head boat fishing???

Can you guys, perhaps Haywire, the former charter boat captain, can tell me if treble hooks would work better than the circle hooks while fishing off the head boat. We fish the head boat a lot during our Winter stay and I always bring my own rod, reel and circle hooks because their outfits are way to big for the little bee liners that we catch. I was thinking that maybe a treble hook would work be better, if so, what size? I seem to have a few swing and misses with a circle hook. Also, is there a better bait to use other than the squid that they have, like cigar minnows or whatever. What are your thoughts on this?

I'm not positive of the rule, but I think you have to use circle hooks when fishing for snapper. I'd just use a regular J-hook for beeliners and white snapper---they're great for triggerfish, but the season is closed on them, looks like forever.

Cigar minnows are great bait, but you will only get one bite, and if you miss it's wind up and do it again. I always liked cut bonito with skin on, but I was in a position to catch my own, and kept a bunch in the freezer. Spanish mackerel chunks would be great, too. Maybe if you used a smaller hook, 2/0, 3/0 and small pieces of squid, you'd do better. Squid is fairly tough and they won't get it in one nibble. Keep the bait small enough so that the fish can inhale it in one gulp and you'll have better catching.

You must use circle hooks for all reef fish.

In winter, on the two hook rigs, you're mainly targeting beeliners, lane snapper & porgies.
You might want to tie some of you own rigs with small light wire circle hooks. I am sure the deckhand wont mind changing them out. I used to use 40 or 50# mono for my two-hook dropper rigs.
Squid is good, try FishBites strips too. Or like Haywire noted, fish strips with the skin on.

Only thing else really open will be AJs and Grouper. Might want to try catching some small croakers to take with you in a bucket w/bubbler and drop them down on a large circle hook rig.

The freshness of the squid can really make a difference. It is a great bait - IF fresh. I always take at least some of my own bait. Getting out there and being given pinkish squid that has obviously been thawed too long is a real bummer.

Thanks guys, I had forgotten about the requirement of circle hooks when reef fishing. Last year we could keep trigger fish during a certain time period, NOT this year? I also used a red bead on the top of my hook, it really attracted fish but sometimes the fish would hit the bead and not the squid and then they cut my line and I would have to re-rig.

Nope, no triggerfish season for the rest of 2016 or in 2017.

Try red circle hooks, Owner or VMC makes them. Mustad & Eagle Claw might as well.

Maybe next time the keychains are chowing down, I'll cut some up and save them for bait chunks---salt them for a day or two before freezing to toughen them up.

Originally Posted by Haywire

Maybe next time the keychains are chowing down, I'll cut some up and save them for bait chunks---salt them for a day or two before freezing to toughen them up.

Hey!!! that would be GREAT!!!!!!! Thank you!! I'll have to put something in your refridge.

Originally Posted by CarlF

Nope, no triggerfish season for the rest of 2016 or in 2017.

Try red circle hooks, Owner or VMC makes them. Mustad & Eagle Claw might as well.

Good Idea!!! Thanks, Carl

Spanish mac belly strip would be good to.
Don't need huge gobs of bait, a 1/2x1" piece of bait is better than a big chunk for the reef "panfish".