With the recent posts about everyone going offshore, I started thinking. So you guys usually target some sort of structure? Where do you get the information on where the reefs are? Are you fishing with live bait on the bottom or free lining live bait around the structure? Can I just get some sardines and paddle off the beach with them free lined?


Sorry about all the questions, it just seems so exciting to me to get out there into the blue and hook up with something.

Free lining cigar minnows will get you on mackerel. For the reef fish you'll want 3-6oz sinker depending on the wind and current.

As far as finding reefs -- you can either search around some local dive sites and find the info, or shoot me a message with you're email address and I'll save you the trouble ;)

PM sent!

Yes structure holds fish.. Freeline live bait use a circle hook, no need to set the hook just reel. Watch ur drag not too loose and def. not tight… nothing wants to bite ur live bait add a little weight so ur bait go down the water column. Without a fish finder it's hard to find structure.. Don't know if u ever trIed speed jiggen it's a great way to cover all the water colums.. U can check it out on u tube. Good luck and be safe.

Thanks I got the email, didn't know what to do with it at first but YakSushi made a map of it for me. Thanks again everyone!

When I fish offshore, I look not only for underwater structure and dropp-offs, but I look for temprature changes, opposing currents and floating debris. I keep an eye out for bird action and watch my sonar for schools of bait fish. Certain fish like certain depths too, like Wahoo. Around here I catch them in water 200'-275'deep. Free lining live bait works well on structue for reef fish, but for the pelagics I like to troll live or fresh dead bait.

It all comes down to where are you going to fish Fishinchix.. Unlike South Florida, we have to look for bait pods or birds working the surface because we have few reefs with in paddling distance from shore. I don't waste time bottom fishing from the Port Canaveral to South Melbourne but rather I troll or drift live baits or lip plugs like Rapala X-Rap on 20lb class set ups. Your main target fish here will be kingfish, bonita, tarpon, big jacks, Snook and cobia..
Give me a shout if you want some places to fish in my area...

As far as finding the reefs, I agree with Zach. Dive shops usually sell dive location books that provide you with GPS coordinates. If you don't have a fishfinder or GPS ask around for an older location book, because they usually have pictures of land marks. In areas like So Florida there are so many condos, water towers, and church steeples to use for landmarks, with a little practice you can hit the reefs triangulating off two good landmarks.