Fish Long Leaders for Snapper and Grouper

Over his lifetime of fishing wrecks and structure, Capt. Bouncer Smith has learned the benefits of using long leaders on his bottom rigs for snapper and grouper when fishing pressured waters in South Florida. A Penn International 50VSX filled with 50- to 80-pound braid is his standby. To the braid he attaches a three-way swivel. From there, he ties on a 25- to 50-foot (or longer) 50- to 80-pound monofilament or fluorocarbon leader, and to the end of that, a smaller barrel swivel with 3 to 5 feet of 80-pound fluorocarbon to a circle hook. The third eye of the swivel connects to a 30- to 40-pound monofilament dropper loop with an appropriate-size bank sinker. The loop allows him to change out sinker weights based on current speed and depth. When dropped to the bottom and retrieved with three to five cranks on the reel, the long leader provides separation from the conspicuous weight and three-way swivel, allowing the live or cut bait the freedom to move around naturally.