How to Deep Drop Fish: A Complete Guide to Gear, Rigs, and Technique

Your rig disappears over the gunwale and the line counter starts spinning. 200 feet. 400 feet. 600 feet. At 800 feet, the weight finally hits bottom, and you feel the faintest tap through 130lb braid stretched across a quarter mile of water column. That tap is a golden tilefish picking up your squid - and now the real fun starts.

Deep dropping is one of the most rewarding techniques in saltwater fishing. It takes patience, the right gear, and a willingness to fish water that most anglers never see on their depth finder. But the payoff is incredible table fare and species you simply cannot catch any other way.

What Is Deep Dropping?

Deep dropping is bottom fishing in water deeper than 300 feet - and it often means fishing 600 to 1,500 feet or more. The technique targets species that live on or near the bottom in deep continental shelf and slope habitat. We're talking tilefish, snowy grouper, barrelfish, queen snapper, and in some fisheries, swordfish.

The basic concept is simple: lower a weighted, baited rig straight to the bottom in deep water, hold it there, and wait for a bite. The execution is where things get interesting, because everything changes when you're fishing hundreds of feet below the surface. Current pushes your line. The weight required to hold bottom can exceed 5 pounds. And cranking a fish up from 800 feet by hand will ruin your day - and probably your back.

Deep dropping has exploded in popularity over the last decade as electric reels became more affordable and fishermen realized the quality of fish living in deep water. Golden tilefish, in particular, are some of the best eating fish in the ocean. Once you taste one, you'll understand why guys are willing to fish 800 feet of water to catch them.

Gear for Deep Dropping

You cannot deep drop with conventional bottom fishing gear. The depths involved demand specialized equipment, and cutting corners here means lost rigs, sore arms, and frustration.

Electric reels are the centerpiece of any deep drop setup. Brands like Daiwa (Tanacom series), Shimano (Beastmaster and Forcemaster), and Banax (Kaigen) are the most popular options. You need a reel that holds at least 800 yards of 80-100lb braided line and has the power to crank 3-5 pounds of lead plus a fish up from depth. Most deep droppers run reels in the 1000-3000 size class. A good electric reel runs $400-$1,200, but it pays for itself in saved energy and fishing time.

Rods for deep dropping are typically 5'6" to 6'6", heavy or extra-heavy power, with a moderate or slow action tip. You want enough backbone to lift heavy weight but enough give in the tip to detect bites at extreme depth. A parabolic action rod transmits bottom contact better than a fast-action stick when you're fishing 600+ feet down.

Line is non-negotiable: 80-130lb braided line, period. Braid's thin diameter cuts through current better than mono ever could, and the zero stretch lets you feel what's happening hundreds of feet below. Most guys run 80lb braid for tilefish and bump up to 100-130lb for snowy grouper or swordfish applications. If you want to understand how sinker weight relates to depth and current, our weight guide breaks it all down.

Weights are where deep dropping gets expensive if you're not careful. You need deep drop weights in the 3 to 5 pound range for most applications. In lighter current, 2 pounds might hold. In ripping current at 1,000 feet, you might need 6 pounds or more. Bank sinkers work in a pinch for shallower deep drops (300-500 feet), but purpose-built torpedo or sash weights track better in current. For a deeper dive on weight materials and performance, check out our lead vs tungsten sinker comparison.

Deep Drop Rigs

The two most common deep drop rigs are the chicken rig and the stiff rig. Both work, but they serve slightly different purposes.

A chicken rig (also called a gangion rig) is a multi-hook setup with 3-5 hooks spaced 18-24 inches apart on dropper loops above the weight. It's the workhorse rig for tilefish and other deep drop species. The R&R Tackle Deep Drop Rigs come pre-tied and ready to fish - they save a ton of time and the components are solid. If you prefer tying your own, use 150-200lb mono for the main leader, Gamakatsu Octopus circle hooks in 8/0-10/0, and ball bearing snap swivels at the top for easy connection to your main line.

A stiff rig uses rigid leader material - typically heavy mono or wire - to hold the hooks away from the main leader and prevent tangles during the long drop and retrieve. Stiff rig hooksets are particularly effective for snowy grouper and other species that hang tight to structure, because the stiff arms keep your baits presented horizontally rather than hanging limp against the leader. Build them with piano wire and double crimp sleeves for maximum durability at depth.

Hook size matters. For tilefish, 7/0-9/0 circle hooks are standard. For snowy grouper, bump up to 10/0-12/0. Always use circle hooks - they improve hookup ratios dramatically when you're fishing hundreds of feet below the boat, because you can't set a J-hook effectively at those depths. The circle does the work for you.

Bait for Deep Dropping

Squid is the universal deep drop bait. Whole squid or large squid strips stay on the hook through the long drop, hold up well in current, and produce a scent trail that deep water species respond to. Cut the squid into strips about 6-8 inches long and thread them onto the hook so they flutter naturally.

Other productive baits include cut bonito, cut mackerel, sardine, and belly strips from just about any oily fish. Some guys tip their squid with a strip of bonito for extra scent. For golden tilefish specifically, I've found that squid outperforms everything else about 80% of the time. Snowy grouper seem to prefer larger bait offerings - whole squid or big bonito chunks work well.

Thread your bait securely. A bait that falls off on the way down means 10-15 minutes wasted on the drop and retrieve for nothing. Double-hook your baits when possible, or use stiff rig hooksets that hold bait in place.

Technique: Finding Fish and Working the Bottom

Deep dropping is not blind fishing. You need to find the right bottom and the right depth contour before you ever drop a rig. Start with your chart plotter and identify areas where the bottom transitions from flat to sloped, or where you can see irregular contour lines indicating ridges, ledges, or canyons. Tilefish, for example, live in mud and clay bottoms along the continental shelf edge, typically in 500-1,000 feet. Snowy grouper prefer hard bottom and rocky ledges in 300-700 feet.

Your bottom machine is everything. Run your sounder in high-frequency mode (200kHz or higher if your unit supports it) and watch for bottom composition changes, structure, and bait marks. When you see irregular bottom with good hard-to-soft transitions, mark it and set up your drift or anchor.

Most deep dropping is done while drifting. You want a slow drift - under 1 knot is ideal. Anything faster and your line angle gets too severe, you lose bottom contact, and your weight won't hold. Sea anchors or drift socks help control your speed in wind or current. Some guys anchor in shallower deep drop spots (300-500 feet), but anchoring in 800+ feet requires serious ground tackle and commitment.

Lower your rig at a controlled speed. Free-spooling too fast creates tangles. Most electric reels have a controlled drop feature - use it. When the weight hits bottom, engage the reel and take up slack until you feel the weight on the bottom. Then lift the rod tip 2-3 feet and hold. You want your baits just above the bottom, not laying in the mud.

Bites feel like subtle taps or a steady pull. At 800 feet, you're not going to feel a dramatic thump. Watch your rod tip and your line counter. When you get a bite, reel tight and let the circle hook do its job. Do not try to set the hook with a big sweep - you'll pull the bait right out of their mouth at that distance.

Deep Drop Lights

LED deep drop lights are one of the biggest difference-makers in this fishery. These battery-powered or water-activated lights attach to your rig and emit bright green, blue, or white light that attracts baitfish and draws predators to your hooks. In the pitch-black environment at 600+ feet, a light source is like ringing the dinner bell.

Mount the light above your top hook or just below the snap swivel connecting your rig to the main line. Green lights tend to produce best in most conditions, but blue and white both have their days. Some anglers run a light above each hook on multi-hook rigs - overkill for tilefish, but it can make a difference for snowy grouper and queen snapper.

The data is pretty clear: deep drop lights increase catch rates. Some charter captains report 30-50% more bites on rigs with lights versus rigs without them in side-by-side tests. At $8-$15 per light, they're the cheapest upgrade you can make to your deep drop game.

Target Species

Golden tilefish are the bread and butter of deep dropping on the Atlantic coast. They live in mud burrows along the continental shelf edge in 500-1,000 feet, and they're one of the best eating fish in the ocean - sweet, mild, lobster-like flesh. Look for them from Virginia to Florida, with the best fisheries off the Carolinas, Georgia, and northeast Florida.

Blueline tilefish live shallower than goldens - typically 250-500 feet - on hard bottom. They're smaller (2-7 pounds average) but excellent eating and often more cooperative biters. A great entry point for anglers new to deep dropping. Virginia Beach captains like Joe DelCampo have built reputations targeting blueline tiles in 275-350 feet with two-hook dropper rigs on 100-150lb leader.

Snowy grouper are the trophy of the deep drop world. They live on rocky ledges and hard bottom in 300-700 feet and can exceed 30 pounds. They fight hard and taste incredible. Expect them from the Carolinas south through the Gulf.

Queen snapper are a Florida and Caribbean deep drop prize, typically found at 400-1,000 feet over rocky bottom. Bright red, with delicate white flesh - one of the prettiest fish you'll ever pull from the deep. For more on deep water pelagics that overlap with deep drop territory, see our bigeye tuna fishing guide.

Barrelfish show up on deep drops along the mid-Atlantic, often in 600-900 feet over mud bottom near canyon edges. They travel in schools and when you find them, you can fill a cooler.

Tips for Better Deep Drops

• Check your drift speed before you drop. If you're moving faster than 1 knot, deploy a drift sock or wait for conditions to improve. A severe line angle wastes bait and weight.
• Use the right amount of weight. Too light and you'll never hold bottom. Too heavy and you can't feel bites. Start with 3 pounds and adjust up or down based on current.
• Mark productive spots. When you catch fish, drop a waypoint immediately. Tilefish especially tend to concentrate in specific areas along the shelf edge. Build a library of spots over multiple trips.
• Rebait after every drop. Bait condition degrades fast at depth. Even if your bait looks OK when it comes back up, change it. Fresh bait catches more fish.
• Stagger your hooks. If you're running a 5-hook chicken rig, bait all 5 hooks with slightly different offerings - squid strip, whole squid, bonito strip, sardine. Let the fish tell you what they want that day.
• Fish the tide changes. Just like shallow water bottom fishing, deep drop species feed more aggressively during moving water. Slack tide at depth often means slow fishing.
• Bring extra rigs. You will lose rigs to snags, tangles, and toothy critters. Tying a new chicken rig at sea while the boat is drifting off your spot is miserable. Pre-rig at least 5-6 rigs at home and keep them organized in rig bags.

Deep dropping is one of those techniques that looks intimidating from the outside but becomes second nature after a few trips. Get the right electric reel, spool it with heavy braid, build solid rigs, and go find some bottom in 500+ feet. The fish down there are world-class eating, the competition is minimal compared to shallow water reef fishing, and there's something genuinely thrilling about catching a fish from a quarter mile below the surface. Tight lines.

Know Before You Go: Regulations change frequently. Always check current size limits, bag limits, seasons, and gear restrictions with your state fisheries agency before heading out. For Atlantic species, visit ASMFC.org for interstate management updates.

Questions about tackle? Call us at 888.453.3742 or email help@thetackleroom.com.