BigBendFishing.Net

I haven't done much trolling for grouper, and when I have it's been with 30s. The other week I decided to give it a try with some 30s in about 30ft out by 24. I had em bumping pretty hard and hanging on here and there. Ended up a short try with no luck. Next trip I figured I'd try some 25s, same area. I found myself unable to get the 25s down at all. Even with 200ft plus of line out at 4mph on 40' braid they were wanting to skip on top. Is the line too heavy? The 25s were straight out of the box, so I don't think it was a "tuning" problem.
Any tips? I did see a post suggesting to use 30s bumping hard right now because of water clarity, but I'm looking down the road.
Thanks

If they start skipping on top its probably because the are fouled with grass. I troll the 25's a little faster than the 30's.

IV NEVER TROLLED FOR GROUPER DOES ANY ONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHEHE TO START I V GOT A STRETCH 25 GREEN W/ BLACK STRIPES

Put in at Lanark, run out to the NE end of Dog Island, head East untill you get to around 30 foot, slow turn towards the NE

30's are great for trolling in that area. You were trolling braid which has a lot less drag than mono so you don't have to put them back as far. Probably want to troll them 75 feet back at most. You don't want more than 150 feet of line out for any of them. 4mph is a little fast in my opinion. 3-3.5 is better. Out of the box lures still need to be tuned sometimes. Also were you using leaders and swivels? These tend to lessen the skipping. But you could also have had grass fouling it.

Here are some other links on grouper trolling.

http://www.bigbendfishing.net/phpbb/vie ... php?t=2549
http://www.bigbendfishing.net/phpbb/vie ... php?t=1037

I was using swivels, nice ball bearing ones, with about 2- 1/2 ft of 80# FC leader. There was some grass around but it seemed like they were off from the minute they hit the water. It was pretty bumpy out too, 3-4 with 5s thrown in, so judging speed may have been off a bit, who knows.
Thanks for the links.

I appreciate this input. I am still trying to figure out the stretches.

You did not say where you were trolling, but I was out in 25 ft water south of ST Marks TRYING to troll, problem is grass. It is bad in spots right now. Just give it up till the water clears. This was second week in a row I tried, and the grass would foul them every time (Mann's Stretch 25). Speed did not matter, when the grass gets in the hooks, it will pop to the top. You can sometimes make them redive by giving a quick jerk to clear the grass, but most of the time, you reel in and pull it off.

Hooked

All that SE wind held the grass in. All this N wind coming should clear it up.

Eveyone knows you cant catch grouper trolling, your just wasting your time.