Grouper and snapper are a staple in the fishing industry and every avid angler knows that there is nothing better in flavor than fresh grouper or snapper. Dragging them from 150 feet down is hard enough, and it’s a lot harder if you’re using the wrong bait and can’t get a fish on the line to begin with. If you’re in the right area and there are big fish around, crabbing is a must-have bait if you want to ensure successful hookups.

Grouper and snapper are natural predators of a wide range of crustaceans and when fishing off the East Coast there are several smaller crabs commonly found in the live bottom area between 90 and 250 feet. If you’re on the live bottom and tagging fish on the sonar, it’s a safe bet that if you drop a crab, you’ll have some action. There are several key factors that play a role in determining that “action”; tides, tide of the day, type of crab.

First, the tides and the time of day. The best bottom bite is always two hours before and two hours after low tide. Depending on the tides and the area you are fishing in, trigger fish can be quite a nuisance and there is nothing more annoying to an angler than getting bitten on the trigger when looking for big fish. To avoid getting stung by the trigger, you need to get there early, before the sun rises. Triggerfish do not normally feed in the dark. Check the tide charts along with sunrise and sunset and plan your cross country trips accordingly. If you leave early, try to arrive an hour or two before sunrise and the tides are an hour or two before or after low. If you fish at night, be sure to choose a night when the low tide occurs around midnight, which will allow you to fish normally with a full incoming and outgoing tide.

Second, bait. The type and size of the bait can play a big role in what you catch, especially if there are other fish around. Usually when there are good groupers and snappers you will find black bass, which are notorious for inhaling baits that appear to be as big as the fish. To avoid black bass, use whole large blue crabs. They are irresistible to large groupers and snappers, and they fish with a circle hook. It is recommended to turn your back on the crab, remove the top shell, and hook the crab through the belly with the tongue protruding through the meat. This leaves enough hard shell on the crab that the fish is forced to swallow it whole, allowing for easier hooking. If you are in an area where there are no small fish, which is usually uncommon, a great bait is baby stone crabs. They readily resemble most bottom-dwelling crustaceans at such depths, are easy to hook, and even easier for a large fish to swallow.

To recap, when bottom fishing for Group and Snapper, crabs make great bait. Whole blue crabs are great to use when targeting larger fish, especially when smaller fish such as black bass are in the area. Baby stone crabs can make great bait, assuming there are no smaller fish around. Don’t forget that there is no use using a great bait if you are not in the right place at the right time. Be sure to check the tide tables, and depending on the type of fish you’re targeting, time your trips with the tide and sun.