Home Forums Fishing Saltwater Offshore Bottom Fishing South Carolina

Going on vacation this year to SC at the end of summer and plan on going out on a party boat offshore for grouper, trigger fish etc. I would like to use my own rod since a lot of the ones on the boats have been through the ringer. I have a Shimano Trevala rod TVS66MH that is rated 50-100lbs for the line and I was going to set up my Shimano Bait Runner 4500 with 65lb of Power Pro. Do you think this set up will be adequate for the fish I am pursuing?

that sounds about right to bottom fish for red snapper and such and still have enough power for the heaver grouper or maybe a shark.

Ask the skipper of the party boat. Some have very strong opinions regarding the line, and even the length of your leader, as it can affect the rest of his group.

I called the marina a couple of weeks ago and the only rules they gave me were one rod per person and no more than two hooks. When I questioned them about the braided line the guy said they did not care either way. I did not question the leader but I guess I will so that there are no issues.

Thanks for the reply and things to think about.

The rigs that I purchased for the trip have 10/0 Mustad 39960 circle hooks on them. Are they going to be too big for grouper and vermilion snapper? I am thinking for trigger fish they will be too big.

No opinions?

I would think 10's are a little big for triggers and beelines. 5/0 or 6/0 would be my choice.

Braided line is great on its own but it is pure hell when it gets tangled up with other guys using mono..
For that reason alone I'll never use it on a party boat where tangles are a certainty.

I can't imagine bottom fishing with anything but braid.

To me, that sounds like they don't really give a damn about the fishing aspect of the trip...I would expect a charter boat company or the captain himself to have fairly specific guidelines re tackle and equipment ect

Also, what about bait? In many ways, the choice of bait, its size and intended presentation will govern hook sizes and rigs ect...

Bait is going to be cut squid soaked in Pine Sol unless thing have changed since I mated out of Murrells Inlet 35 yrs. ago.

Pine-Sol as in the cleaning product?

If so, never heard of that being used before..Is it specific to grouper or does it attract other fish as well?

That's right, it would put off a slick.

I am going to bring cigar minnows, mullet and some squid for me an my fishing partners. Hopefully good weather will abound so that we can at least get out! Last year the weather was so bad out in the ocean we got cancelled on three times.