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SALTWATER RIG LIBRARY

Chicken Rig (Deep-Drop Dropper Rig)

A heavy multiple-hook vertical rig for deep reef drop-offs. Three or more snoods come off a long rig body, with a light above the hooks and a heavy sinker on a weak link at the bottom.

Best forQueen snapper, silk snapper, snowy grouper
WhereDeep drop-offs, 300–1,000 ft
MethodDeep dropping
DifficultyAdvanced
Chicken Rig (Deep-Drop Dropper Rig) — BigJoe rig illustration
Main lineSwivelRig bodyDeep-drop lightSnoods + circle hooksWeak linkHeavy sinker

Rig diagram (component order)

Chicken Rig (Deep-Drop Dropper Rig): Main line, Swivel, Rig body, Deep-drop light, Snoods + circle hooks, Weak link, Heavy sinker

Step-by-step how-to

Chicken Rig (Deep-Drop Dropper Rig) — BigJoe step-by-step graphic
BigJoe step-by-step graphic

Step-by-step build instructions

  1. 1

    Tie the braid to a heavy ball-bearing swivel.

  2. 2

    Tie on 6–10 ft of 100–200 lb mono as the rig body.

  3. 3

    Crimp a crane swivel and a 12–18 in snood with a circle hook.

  4. 4

    Add more snoods every 2–3 ft so they cannot tangle.

  5. 5

    Clip a deep-drop light above the top hook.

  6. 6

    Attach the heavy sinker with a weak link, bait every hook and drop.

BigJoe Tips

  • An electric reel or a heavy conventional reel makes deep dropping practical.
  • Mark the drop-off on the sounder and hold the boat over it.
  • Fish come up fast from deep water; use a descending device to release.
  • Check hook limits and deep-water species rules before you drop.

Variations

  • Use dropper loops instead of crane swivels for a lighter rig.
  • Glow beads above each hook in very deep water.
  • Squid strips stay on the hook during long drops.
  • Use a rock or old spark plug as a cheap throw-away weight.

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Target Species

Queen snapperEtelis oculatusSilk snapperLutjanus vivanusSnowy grouperHyporthodus niveatusBlackfin snapperLutjanus buccanella