Advice for amateur mahi fishing

Chase1281

Just wondering if anyone could give advice on mahi/snapper/etc fishing. .thinking about bringing a boat down to Jupiter area from Jacksonville. What rigs/tackle to use? How far offshore to get to them? Etc. . any help would be appreciated.. 

Thanks in advance

Garysmo

I use TLD 25s with 30lb mono on 6ft 20-40lb rods........   I also bring a spinning rod to throw a lure or chunk bait if I'm able to find a school or get them to school by the boat.   My primary bait is ballyhoo.  I rig them myself but a lot of people buy pre-rigged ones....either single or double hooked.  If you are in the area where kings are around I use wire but mono is the preferred.

I first started using simple skirts or sea witches.  They are cheap and easy to use.  You can then look into ilanders, chuggers, etc.  

As for depth that varies.  They do like warmer water so in Jan, Feb you are going to have to probably go deeper possibly the gulf stream however my biggest mahi was caught in 50ft of water in April....about 45lbs.  

Hopefully this will help a little.

Chase1281

Thanks for the help bud. . 

Garysmo

No problem....one more thing.  My favorite color is blue/white...but pink/white is good as is green/yellow.  Also a lot of people like to use a naked ballyhoo (no skirt).

reelthunder

Rigged squid is a sure bet they cant resist it shirt color varies with water color they dont call it dolphin candy for nothing. Find weed patches or weed lines follow the line or circle the patches anything floating can hold bait and if the phins are there their usually  around  the out side of the patches. If there big patches they will also hold under them also try dropping a jig on the patches to about 100 ft and jig it up you might just find a wahoo lurking down there. depth will very work your way out keep eye out for birds working and floating stuff as you travel good luck and tight lines.