This fishing technique is very popular, particularly with the occasional charter boat angler and weekend fisherman...great catches of sweetlip, emperor, coral trout, cod, parrot fish and wrasse can be made with this method.

Heavy handlines are mainly used - with another option being a short boat rod fitted with overhead or sidecast reels.

Use line between 12 to 40 kilograms and a heavy sinker ranging from 60 grams to a kilo (or more) depending on water depth, current speed and the drift rate of your boat if you choose drifting over anchoring.

You will find that using the lightest sinker and thinnest line for the conditions will catch the most fish... (15 to 20 kilos will handle most fish taken 'bottom bouncing') but don't go too light, particularly with handlines, and not less than 12 kilo, unless you want cut fingers and the hassles of tangled line.

Experienced reef fishermen prefer the handline in water up to about 50 metres deep - and then switching to rod and reel or rail - mounted deck winch to overcome the problems of controlling all that loose - line coiled on the deck as greater depths are fished.

Hooks are rigged above the sinker on a 'bottom bouncing' rig, as this reduces snagging and presents your bait at several levels, not just on the bottom...this also keeps you away from less desirable reef species like red rock cod, nannygai and sergeantbaker which lie on the seabed...this method presents your bait a metre or two above the bottom where the more desirable species are feeding like snapper or cod.

Choose a sinker with a good hydrodynamic shape, such as snapper lead. Use strong workable swivels to stop twist... these can be either three-way swivels at each dropper or a single box or torpedo swivel on the main line above the top hook.
Refer to Sinkers, swivels & traces

Shown are two rigs, one tied with a dropper loop, which is quick and easy to tie, the other tied with a standard barrel swivel ( a three-way swivel could also be used) using a total of four blood knots. Refer to Basic knots & rigs

Dropper loop attachment The dropper loop is easy to tie, and once tied - it is easy to attach a hook by pushing the loop through the eye of the hook, passing it right over the hook then pulling it tight. This rig has adequate strength for most fishing situations.		Swivel or ring attachment Although four knots are used to build this rig, it is about as strong as it can be because nylon to metal connections with Blood knots are very strong indeed.

Fixed sinker rig
The simplest bottom fishing rig is called a Paternoster rig, consisting of a sinker tied or looped onto the very end of the line with one, two or more hooks (as in bait catching rigs) attached at intervals above the sinker.

Drop the rig overboard alongside the boat (no casting is necessary) either on the downcurrent side when anchored or the upwind or upcurrent side when drifting.

Keep a relatively tight line - but pay our slack to keep the rig on the bottom as the boat drifts or current pulls the line away. Once hooked, fish should be brought quickly and smoothly to the surface... it's important in those first few seconds after the strike to get the fish away from the bottom, because they will try to dive for cover in the coral - another reason for using strong line. (Note: when using a multiple bait rig in deep water it can help to leave a hooked small fish down until the other hooks 'load up').

Preferred baits need to be relatively tough - so they won't break-up or be picked away rapidly by small fish. Squid and strip bits (cut fish flesh) and whole small fish (pilchards, garfish, herring etc.). Live bait can also give excellent results... on the other hand fresh or fresh-frozen prawns while not very durable can be extremely productive.

A good idea when using prawns is to provide a 'cocktail' bait, by combining a prawn with a tough strip of squid or fish flesh so that if the prawn goes there is still something down there, not just a bare hook...Refer to the section About bait

When bottom fishing, anchor if you can outside the reef line...as opposed to drifting, this will reduce snagging and allow you to concentrate on the fishing without running the risk of drifting onto the reef. Fish the passes between reefs, drop-offs, deep 'bommies' and gravelly holes (good at night).

Target the feeding zone... For best results when reef fishing, drop a line beyond the edge of the reef a short distance sea-wards of rock outcrops or bommies. Fish have more or less permanent homes amongst the bommies but come out over broken coral rubble to feed, which is the place to fish. Further out is unlikely to yield much. The hour just before and after the high tide can be a good time, and evenings and early mornings are better than in the middle of the day.

The decision to anchor or drift, however, should be made on the day, having regard for conditions, comfort and safety. For example it can be very rewarding to anchor over a peak, drop-off or known hot-spot...On the other hand, a broad expanse of sandy bottomed country is better covered on the drift.