Ocean "Drop Shot" Rig By Hippo

The Mayes brothers dropshot and the proof is in the pudding.

The Mayes brothers dropshot and the proof is in the pudding.

Some kind of code to me, what's that?

Ridiculous. I like the jig head right down on the rocks.

I agree.  There's no way you can give the swimbait the best kind of action with all that hardware attached.  It appears awkward, prone to tangle and more prone to snag the bottom.  I say keep it clean, get your swimbait (direct tie) nearly dragging the bottom and consider...,losing a swimbait once in awhile is just the cost of doing business.  Nine times out of 10, I'm able to free a snag anyway.

I agree. Swim baits are best fished vertically or horizontally on a cast and retrieve. The drop shop technique is effective for fishing bay halibut. If I were to drop shot for lings, I would use a whole squid or a sluggo.

The Mayes brothers dropshot and the proof is in the pudding.

Some kind of code to me, what's that?

They were the #1 team two years on a row at GS

The Mayes brothers dropshot and the proof is in the pudding.

Some kind of code to me, what's that?

They were the #1 team two years on a row at GS

Thx

The Mayes brothers dropshot and the proof is in the pudding.

A lot of things can work for bottomfish.  Bait, swimbaits, iron, flies, pink dildos (I didn't do it, but a friend of mine did and he scored a 26 inch ling on it!).  But I prefer dropshot over all of them  .  Been fishing dropshot for years, and it's still my preferred all-around technique for targeting bottomfish.  Though I don't exactly rig it the way described in the OP's diagram.

Next thing I want to try is either a GI-Joe or Scuba Steve action figure with a couple hooks and an internal weight.  I want a picture of Scuba Steve sticking out of a ling's mouth!

I'd think that the sacrificial sinker would be worth more than the swim bait.

I've had great success using the dropper loop instead of a 3-way.  I've used Tubes, Hoochies, B2Squids, Bait, and shrimp flies.  4oz torpedo sinkers rocket their way to the bottom quickly on my spinning setup allowing me to fish in a stand alone spot, or drift over rocky area's doing a sort of touch and go technique.  Very cheap and effective!  Especially happy with how well the B2 squids have held up.  One has lasted me at least 10 trips being hammered by lings and rockfish.  Was very happy to add to my stash at GS8! 

I use a drop shot set up quite a bit in lake fishing for bass. Works great for worms swim baits or any soft plastic. Great technique for stubborn fish or when the bite slows. You can twitch it in one place and give it a swimming action without it moving or you can jig it back to you and impart the swim action.   

I.use the same rig except i have a swim bait as the weight and use a 3/0 snelled bait holder hook (tied short) with a small swim bail or grub. When you jig it it looks like the larger bottom bait is chasing a small fish. I get a ton of doubles. With the small bait getting hit first.

get your swimbait (direct tie) nearly dragging the bottom

DC, why is direct tie better than using a snap swivel?