Warm water, southerly winds, and strong seasonal migrations make this a great time to head offshore and target bigger fish. Around 23 Mile Rock, anglers can find an extensive stretch of ledges and live bottom in roughly 80 to 105 feet of water, creating excellent habitat for grouper, cobia, and other offshore species. One productive approach is to spend the first couple of hours trolling while watching the bottom machine and marking promising ledges before anchoring. Some of the better areas can feature dramatic drops of around 20 feet, but getting positioned correctly is critical. If the spot is holding fish, the action should usually start quickly after your bait reaches the bottom. Heavy tackle is the better choice for this type of fishing. Penn Senator reels paired with 6-foot heavy Ugly Stik rods are a solid, affordable setup, with 80–100 lb braided line providing the sensitivity and low stretch needed for strong hooksets. Bottom rigs made with 3-way swivels, 100 lb mono, quality 7/0 hooks, and 6–10 oz bank sinkers work well depending on the current. Avoid pyramid sinkers around ledges, where they can easily become snagged. Bring plenty of bait—frozen sardines, cigar minnows, squid, mackerel, menhaden, and bluefish are all good options. Live bait can be even more effective, but it is usually worth starting with frozen bait before spending valuable fishing time catching live bait.