Deep Dropping for Tilefish
When the offshore canyon troll bite is virtually nonexistent during the hottest portion of the summer, often times many anglers will spend the entire day waiting for that one bite that may never happen. When the bite is tough and sun is up in the sky, deep dropping can frequently be a day saver to ensure you and your crew is coming home with some high quality table fare. Both golden tilefish and blueline tilefish can be found from north of Massachusetts to the Florida Keys and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Depth and bottom composition are key as bluelines can be found in shallower water starting around 250ft and more, while the golden tilefish is often found around 600ft in soft mud bottom.
While tilefishing may not be as glamorous as deploying a tuna or white marlin spread, it can be ultra effective. Both electric and hand crank options are used with electrics being the norm these days. The most popular option for an electric reel is the Daiwa Tanacom 1000, which will hold more than enough 65-100lb braid to reach golden tilefish that can burrow in soft mud before the canyon wall drops off into the deep. Shimano's Beastmaster and Forcemaster are also solid 12v options that will get the job done with ease.
If you plan on ditching the electrics and opting to use a conventional reel, you will want one with a gear ratio around 4.5:1 to 5:1. This may sound counterintuitive, however too high of a gear ratio and you will have a difficult time bringing up the weight plus the weight of a fish or multiple fish without wearing out your arm after the first drop. High gear ratio is great for shallower water bottom fishing, but the compromise of torque and speed in a mid-level gear ratio is ideal. While current industry options are limited to fit this requirement, a few options include the Accurate Boss Valiant BV-600P, Penn Torque TRQ30LD2, Avet HXJ 5/2, and Maxel Ocean Max Reels.
Rods to match these electric deep drop reels are usually left in the rod holder, and are designed with a bent butt and a swivel roller tip. The Daiwa Saltiga Dendoh Rods and the all new Tanacom series of rods is the perfect match for any of these electrics ranging from 5'6" to 6'6". For hand cranking or using the electrics off of a party boat, lengths of 7'6" to 8' or more are best to facilitate a proper hookset and bounce your weight in the mud to entice a cautious tile.
Solid braid is just about the only option for deep drop tilefishing, with the best braids ranging from less than 50lbs up to 100lbs and options are available from Power Pro, Sufix, Momoi, Daiwa, and more. The lighter you can get away with the better, as it will cut through the water and drop quicker the lower you go. Color is not a huge deal, however a hi vis color may help you to quickly sort out tangles if they occur.
Dropping down a "chicken rig" or jigging can both be effective for putting together a solid catch of tilefish. A bait rig usually consists of multiple circle hooks on a single leg of monofilament leader, with branch arms that allow the tile to grab the bait and move away thus setting the circle hook in the corner of the mouth more often than not. R&R Tackle and ErraMarrine Deep Drop Rigs are very popular, allowing you to simply tie on the rig rather than piecing it together yourself. A water activated strobe light like the Lindgren Pitman Duralite Diamonds and Erramarine Diamond Lights are a great tough to add to the snap swivel before the rig to draw even more attention. Bait from squid, bluefish, mackerel, sardines, and dolphin belly are all reliable baits to use, with some anglers even opting to soak their squid in shedder oil to take the bait's attraction to the next level. When the current is not too heavy for jigging,the Blue Water Candy Rosco Jigs, OTI Jager Jigs, and S&S Deep Drop Rattlers are perfect for getting down deep quick. Often best to add a piece of squid to the assist hooks to add some scent.