We do not offer rental tackle for Pulley Ridge Lite or Halfway Ledge. Please do not deviate from these requirements.

Pulley Ridge Lite and Halfway Ledge

Reels-

Please remember this trip focus on depths from 200-300 feet. With that in mind we request no electric reels. We are chasing muttons,tunas and grouper so we don’t want those sinkers banging on the bottom. With that being said your Tortugas tackle will be fine. Make sure to include a 15 foot top shot of 50 lb. test mono between the braid and the rig. The mono top shot also helps the crew when it comes time to undo tangles. Bringing along extra braid and mono is highly recommended. You may not need it but if you don’t have it…….

These reels below are solid options
-Shimano Trinidad 20 or 30
-Shimano Torium 20 or 30
-Shimano Talica II 16
-Diawa Saltist 40

Rods-

8’0″ rated for  30-50 lb. line. You want something with enough backbone to handle a decent fish yet still be light/comfortable enough to hold all day long and have a soft enough tip to detect strikes.

Why a 8 foot rod? Simple. The platform your fishing off of is high above the water. You need the length. Especially if a fish goes under the boat. It is a very common question. Yes you really need a 8 foot rod.

Yankee Capts Special Edition Rod

-Calstar 800H

-Calstar 850H

-Shakespeare Ugly Stick USBWB 4080C801

-Spinning Rod

8”0” 20 lb. spinning tackle that can handle jigs up to 6 ounces.

Hooks-

We will fishing in the Gulf of Mexico so circle hooks will be required while bottom fishing. Any inline circle hook will work however we suggest you get straight eye hooks unless you are very proficient at snelling hooks.

Mustad 39933NP-BN or Owner 5178
-10 7/0
-10 6/0
-10 4/0

The rigs we will be using are little different from regular carolina rigs. The crew will be happy to show you how to rig.

Lead-

-Count on fishing 10 oz. of lead , sometimes more depending on conditions, but 10 oz. Is generally ideal. Please bring an assortment of bank sinkers ONLY.

-16oz, 12oz, 10oz, 8oz & 6oz

Grouper rig (double swivel)

Also needed are the following-

-Assortment of vertical and speed jigs. 4oz and 6oz. Silver/Blue colors are a solid option.

-10 oz. Hammered Diamond jig

– 20 #1 Barrel Swivels

– 20 Plastic Beads

– 30 lb. And 50 lb Leader material

Slow Pitch Jigging-

Temple Reef Innovate MH 8’0 or 7’8

Paired with Shimano Torium 16 or Accurate Valiant 500n

Daiwa Jbraid, 8 Strand Line

30lb or 50lb Fluorocarbon Leader

Slo Pitch jigging Vendors that support us!

These vendors do private charters throughout the year. They also offer quality gear that is “Yankee Capts Approved”. Please contact us at greg@yankeecapts.com for more information.

NLO

Slow Pitch Jigging Mega Store  

Johnny Jigs

Florida Sportfishing Gear

Jigs R Us

Bait-

Since we will be drifting baits without backbones are required. Whole squid, butterflied baits and strips. The bait needs to drift across the bottom and flutter along the bottom. NO SPINNING BAITS!. Remember these fish do not see a lot of pressure so what matters is how the bait is presented and freshness NOT what it is.

Here is a great link for local bait catching!

Many anglers are simply too busy or do not have the facilities to catch bait on their own. The easiest options are stop by one of the myriad bait shops in the Keys. The Yankee Capts proudly endorses-

If you have any questions please email Greg at greg@yankeecapts.com.