What is Bottom Fishing and how do you do it?

Question

My father is asking about it, and I have no idea. I've been searching, but my computer keeps freezing.
Thanks :D

Answer 1

In general, bottom fishing is fishing on or near the bottom. However, in saltwater, it generally refers to fishing on or near the bottom over reefs in relatively deep water (100-500 feet or so). Off California, you catch rockfish and other bottom fish such as lingcod, whitefish, and so on doing this. (Fishing the bottom in 50 feet of water for bass or halibut isn't generally considered bottom fishing.)

Generally you need a pretty sizeable weight for this -- while you can get a bait to the bottom in 100 feet with 4 ounces of lead, if there's much current or you're using a bigger bait or multiple baits, you'll need 6-8 ounces or more. If you're fishing 500 feet, you might need 2-3 pounds or more of weight, and heavy tackle which can handle it (like 60-80 pound line and a rod and reel to match).

To my mind, this deep water fishing isn't very sporting, but you do catch nice-sized, good eating fish.

Answer 2

there are several different ways to catch fish, in the sporting sense, as opposed to commercial fishing.

in sporting, you can cast baits or lures and reel it , you can troll which is dragging baits behind a moving boat or you can bottom fish.

you choose your method of fishing depending upon which species of fish you want to catch. each species is most easily caught using only one of the techniques. if a fish is a bottom dweller, it will be caught bottom fishing.

bottom fishing is drive the boat out into the gulf, sea, whatever, stop over an area where the fish congregate,(usually structure, reef, or some feature on the bottom that attracts them, located by sonar-type device), bait up your hook and let it sink to the bottom, wait for fish to bite it and then, reel it in.

Answer 3

Bottom fishing is when you attach a small weight to your fishing line and let the baited hook sink to the bottom. Fish that are in deeper water tend to feed off of the bottom so you bait will be where they feed.This would apply to any body of water fresh or salt water that you could fish in.

Answer 4

When I'm "bottom fishing" I go into the wind or up from the current, then let the boat idle and let the lines bump along the bottom, slowly.

Answer 5

Its when your line is weighted down so that the bait trails the bottom of a lake. Usually gonna get catfish that way.