I was at the keys last weekend and was having trouble with bait deployment I could quit get my baits out that far how do you guys get your big baits out there any tips? I use anything from big snapper/jacks to whole rays any advice would be helpful
U can use a soda can an let if float out it will sink when the can fills up with water ....there's many ways .. u can use a clothes hanger an put the balloons on them and just let it gloat out SMS snap tbd balloons of where u. want it at ..
What bridges would you recommend I tryied 7mile and long key
If You Went To Long Key You Were At The Spot. Always Follow The Tide, A Big Bait Doesnt Get Hit Almost Instantly, And If It In The Area A Nearby Shark Will Sniff It Out. As To Bait Deployment The Soda Can Trick Works And If Your Bait Is Too Heavy Try A Water Bottle Or A 2 Liter Soda Bottle, Dont Focus On Distance Just Your Bait At A Spot In The Water That You Dont Get Yor Line Cut Off. Lone Key Is A Great Bridge & Seven Mile Is Also, Just Too Many Crab Traps This Time Of The Year And On Seven mile You Can Only Fish The South Side Or The Cops Will Harrass You. Good Luck 
just drop your bait straight down itll drift it doesnt have to be 200 plus yards. ive seen mor sharks there close to the bridge rather than far out. but its the keys theyre everywhere!
Thanks for help guys I will defiantly try these out next time I go and hopefully get some nice sharks what part of long key bridge is better? I was on the south side and the water seemed to shallow the north side looked a bit deeper
I dont balloon my baits all that far anymore out there. I was on Channel #2 bridge a few days ago and the tide was ripping fast enough to take my bait 50-75yds out before it hit bottom. I had a 15in Bonito and an 8oz weight. I got no hits that day/night but something chewed up my baits pretty well. Just caught a bunch of grunts, snapper and a lil grouper on bucktail jigs tipped with gulp and some tipped with squid strips.
just like team hot reelz said, keep them straight up and down. I like mine right on the surface personally, it's pretty rad seeing the sharks come up and take it. That being said I have had hook ups on ballooned baits as well. For me it depends on what bridge I'm on, time of year and if I'm fishing the outgoing or incoming.
how do u keep the bait on the surface and not drift with the tide?