The Keys are a prime fishing destination, but also a great vacation destination. In both cases, a rod designed for rockfishing is a good opportunity to fish without overloading.
Rockfishing in the Keys is no different from rockfishing on any other beach. For this reason, a classic UL-type rod for this technique, rated between 1 and 7 grams, is perfect.
The best thing, but this is above all for ease of transport, given that we're on a trip, is to have a travel model.
A spinning reel in size 1500 or 2000, fitted with 18 or 20/100 nylon, completes the combo.
The footprint is minimal!
There's really no need for a steel leader, as the small fish you'll find on the spot don't have particularly sharp teeth. This means you can connect the line body directly to the hook.
As far as lures are concerned, the small sizes, from 1.2 to 2 inches, were the most effective. It's even possible to recut certain lures if you want to fish even smaller!
Natural colors work best.
In terms of colors, the ones that stand out are the natural ones, with green, brown or gray. Flashy colors such as orange, pink or chartreuse don't seem to work, at least in the conditions tested, i.e. on sunny days and in clear water.
Mounting
A classic lead head approach allows you to comb a larger surface, while a drop shot rig with a small hook allows you to tackle smaller fish, which are too small to bite on a lead head. With such a rig, you can fish very well with small hooks, such as n°16, and catch very small fish.
The drop shot mount is perfect for rockfishing.
It's essential to have enough tackle for both rigs, so you can tackle many species, including non-carnivorous ones, with worm- or insect-shaped lures.
The Keys
As far as the equipment is concerned, you'll need to bring it with you, as the technique isn't used at all on site, and the few fishing stores don't have anything like it.
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