Deep drop fishing means sending baits or jigs hundreds, sometimes more than a thousand, feet down to catch fish most anglers never see: queen snapper, yelloweye snapper, snowy and yellowedge grouper, golden and blueline tilefish, and barrelfish. It takes special gear and a lot of patience, but the payoff is some of the best-eating fish in the ocean. This guide explains how deep drop fishing works, the gear you need, the species you’ll catch and how to try it from Florida.
What Is Deep Drop Fishing?
Deep dropping is bottom fishing in very deep water, usually 300 to 1,500 feet. Because the depths are extreme, anglers use heavy weights to reach the bottom, strong braided line with little stretch, and electric or high-speed reels to bring fish up from far below. Captains drift over steep ledges, slopes and rock piles in deep water, and anglers drop when the captain gives the signal.
In Florida, deep dropping is a highlight of Gulf long range trips to places like Pulley Ridge, and it’s also done off the Keys and the southeast coast, where deep water is close to shore.
What You Can Catch Deep Dropping
| Species | Typical depth | Why anglers want it |
|---|---|---|
| Queen snapper | 450 to 1,000+ ft | Bright red, beautiful and excellent to eat |
| Yelloweye (silk) snapper | 300 to 800 ft | Pinkish-red with a bright yellow eye; a South Florida deep-water favorite |
| Snowy grouper | 300 to 1,000 ft | One of the most prized deep-water grouper |
| Yellowedge grouper | 400 to 900 ft | Firm, mild white fillets |
| Warsaw grouper | 250 to 1,000 ft | Can grow to several hundred pounds |
| Golden tilefish | 500 to 1,200 ft | Sweet, delicate meat often compared to lobster |
| Blueline tilefish | 250 to 750 ft | Common bonus fish on deep drops |
| Barrelfish | 600 to 1,500 ft | A rare, oily deep-water treat |
Depths vary by area and season, and limits and closures change often, so check the current rules or ask your crew before you keep anything.
Deep Drop Fishing Gear
Reels
Most deep droppers use electric reels such as the Daiwa Seaborg, Daiwa Tanacom or Shimano Beastmaster, powered by a 12-volt deep-cycle marine battery. Two-speed hand-crank reels work too, but reeling a fish up from 800 feet by hand is serious work.
Line
Braided line, usually around 50-lb test, is standard because it’s thin, strong and has almost no stretch, so you can feel bites far below. Some boats limit how heavy your braid can be, so check the rules first.
Rigs, hooks and weights
- Multi-hook “chicken rigs,” often limited to two hooks per line on long range boats
- Circle hooks in the 7/0 to 9/0 range
- Heavy sash weights or lead from 2 to 4 pounds, sometimes more in strong current
- Optional lights or glow beads above the hooks to attract fish in the dark
- Squid, cut fish or other durable baits that stay on the hook during the long drop
Many deep droppers now skip bait entirely and use slow-pitch jigs. See the next section for how it works.
Slow-Pitch Jigging: The Modern Way to Fish Deep Water
Slow-pitch jigging has changed deep-water fishing in Florida. Instead of sending down bait, anglers work a specially designed metal jig just above the bottom with short, rhythmic lifts of the rod, letting the jig flutter, tumble and glide on the fall. Fish see it as a stunned or injured baitfish, and deep-water predators find it hard to resist.
Born in Japan
Slow-pitch jigging was developed in Japan in the 2000s and is widely credited to Japanese angler Norihiro Sato. The story goes that Sato studied how predators attacked baitfish and noticed they targeted stunned, fluttering prey. He designed jigs with a slower, more erratic fall and a new rod technique to mimic that, a very different approach from the fast, high-energy speed jigging that came before it. The method spread across Asia and reached the United States in the 2010s.
Pompano Beach: A U.S. Hub for Slow-Pitch Jigging
If slow-pitch jigging has a home in the United States, many anglers would point to Pompano Beach and South Florida. Deep water is just a short run from the Hillsboro Inlet, so anglers can jig 300 to 900 feet of water for golden tilefish, yelloweye and queen snapper, grouper and blackfin tuna without traveling far. The local jigging community has also produced some of the sport’s best-known names:
- Johnny Jigs is a slow-pitch jigging tackle shop and brand based in Pompano Beach, founded in 2017 by anglers who switched from bait to jigs after seeing how well they worked offshore. The shop has become a go-to source for slow-pitch gear and know-how.
- Benny Ortiz, a South Florida-based angler, is widely considered one of the pioneers of slow-pitch jigging in the United States. He has caught more than 80 species on slow-pitch jigs, from shallow water to depths beyond 2,000 feet, and teaches the technique through seminars and articles. He works with some of the biggest names in jigging tackle: he has appeared as a Shimano pro in Shimano’s “Slow-Pitch Masters” series alongside Japanese instructor Hiroto Yamamoto, Temple Reef makes a Benny Ortiz edition of its Levitate Ti slow-pitch jigging rod, and he helped design AFTCO’s JigPro fishing gloves.
Read more about fishing the area in our Pompano Beach fishing guide.
Slow-Pitch Jigging Gear
- Rod: a short, parabolic slow-pitch rod, usually around 6 to 7 feet, that loads and springs the jig upward
- Reel: a compact conventional reel with a high gear ratio and plenty of line capacity
- Line: thin braid, often 20 to 30-lb test, with a fluorocarbon top shot of about 40 to 50 lb
- Jigs: 150 to 500 grams depending on depth and current; long, narrow jigs sink fastest, while leaf-shaped center-weighted jigs flutter more
- Hooks: assist hooks on one or both ends of the jig
How to Slow-Pitch Jig
- Drop the jig to the bottom and reel up a few turns so it’s just off the bottom.
- Lift the rod tip, then drop it while taking a quarter or half crank on the reel. The pause lets the jig flutter.
- Repeat the rhythm, working the bottom 10 to 30 feet of water where most deep-water fish feed.
- Mix up your rhythm and the length of your lifts until you find what the fish want.
- When a fish hits, keep steady pressure and let the rod do the work.
Slow-pitch jigging is allowed on many Florida long range trips, including Pulley Ridge trips, but always check your boat’s tackle rules first. See our guide to Pulley Ridge fishing.
How to Deep Drop: Step by Step
- Wait for the signal. The captain positions the drift and calls the drop so everyone’s line goes down together and tangles are less likely.
- Free-spool to the bottom. Keep light thumb pressure on the spool to prevent backlashes.
- Engage and lift. Once you hit bottom, reel up a few turns so the weight is just off the bottom.
- Feel for bites. Deep-water bites can be subtle. With circle hooks, steady pressure usually sets the hook.
- Let the reel work. On an electric reel, use a steady, moderate speed and keep the rod tip up.
- Handle fish carefully. Deep-water fish often suffer from barotrauma. If you’re releasing one, use a descending device to return it to depth.
Where to Go Deep Drop Fishing in Florida
The easiest way to try deep dropping is on a long range trip, where the boat, crew and rental tackle are already set up for it.
| Boat | Port | Deep drop trips |
|---|---|---|
| Yankee Capts | Key West | Multi-day deep drop trips to Pulley Ridge, Rankin Ridge and Howell’s Hook |
| American Patriot | Marco Island | Pulley Ridge trips with daytime deep dropping |
| American Hunter | Marco Island | Pulley Ridge trips limited to 12 anglers |
| Gulfstar Fishing | Tarpon Springs | 4-day deep drop and slow-pitch jigging trips |
Read our guide to Pulley Ridge fishing, compare all Florida long range fishing charters, and use our long range packing checklist to get ready.
Deep Drop Fishing Tips
- Rent before you buy. Electric reels and batteries are expensive, so try the boat’s rental gear on your first trip.
- Bring backups. Spare power cords, extra rigs, hooks and weights, because you’ll lose tackle on deep rocky bottom.
- Charge your battery. Start every trip with a fully charged deep-cycle battery.
- Use durable bait. Squid holds up well on the long trip down.
- Follow the crew. Drops are coordinated, so listen for the captain’s calls.
Deep Drop Fishing FAQ
How deep is deep drop fishing?
Usually 300 to 1,500 feet, depending on the species and location.
Do you need an electric reel to deep drop?
Not always, but it helps. Two-speed hand-crank reels work, but electric reels make deep drops much easier, especially on multi-day trips.
What fish do you catch deep dropping in Florida?
Queen snapper, yelloweye (silk) snapper, snowy grouper, yellowedge grouper, Warsaw grouper, golden and blueline tilefish, and barrelfish are the main targets.
What line is best for deep drop fishing?
Braided line around 50-lb test is the most common choice because it’s thin, strong and sensitive.
Can beginners try deep drop fishing?
Yes. Long range boats offer rental tackle and the crew helps first-timers, so it’s a great way to learn.
What is slow-pitch jigging?
Slow-pitch jigging is a Japanese-born technique that uses short rod lifts and pauses to make a metal jig flutter like an injured baitfish near the bottom. It’s very effective for deep-water snapper, grouper and tilefish.
Where is the best place to learn slow-pitch jigging in Florida?
Pompano Beach and the rest of South Florida are among the best places to learn, thanks to deep water close to shore, local jigging tackle shops like Johnny Jigs and an active jigging community.
What is a yelloweye snapper?
Yelloweye snapper is a common name for the silk snapper, a pinkish-red deep-water snapper with a bright yellow eye. It’s most common off South Florida over deep rocky ledges.
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