[aero320]

I went back to Tim's this afternoon and trolling for hybrids was very good. They bit all afternoon. The fish are about 20-25 feet deep. An easy way to catch them is to troll a 1/2 or 3/4 oz. white saltwater jig head (from Bass Pro). Use a 4" chartreuse Sassy Shad on the jig head. Boat speed is critical only because of lure depth. I am trolling at 2.6 mph. Let out 50 feet of line and attach a 3 oz. snap weight. You can also use a 3 oz. bank sinker and a rubber band. After attaching the weight, let out another 75 feet and you will be at the right depth. I also have downriggers, but the snap weight method is producing more fish. Side planers will allow you to get away from the boat and produce more fish.

The fish I am catching over 10 pounds are Rockfish. Have also caught some very nice walleye as well as smallmouth. If you don't know if a fish is a hybrid or Rockfish, look at the anal fin. If it is a hybrid, the second spine will be 2/3s the length of the third spine. If it is a Rockfish, the second spine will be 1/2 the length of third spine.

Hybrids are very good eating if you remove the red meat from the fillets. The easiest method is to fillet them and leave the fillets in the refrigerator overnight. It will be much easier to remove red meat once the fillets are chilled.