Bottom grass

Now with the absence of bottom grass around Sebastian Inlet following the severe die-off two years ago, it has become necessary to locate holes, sharp drop-offs, boating channels or any submerged structure that will hold crabs, shrimp and baitfish.

"Many depthfinders will not show short bottom grass, like shrimp grass," Grigsby says, "But that stuff holds a lot of fish offshore, and the down scan finds it easily.

Sinkers in the 1/4- to 3/8-ounce range are preferred; you want that sinker digging on a steady retrieve, banging smoothly along the bottom in relatively open waters, shell bars, or over short bottom grass (like early season hydrilla, Shrimp Grass, Baby's Breath, or other deeper vegetation).

This is a deadly rig over short bottom grass, scattered hydrilla, sandbars, boat trails, drops and ledges, the open water between reed patches, or anywhere else you need to cover a large area.