The most common setup for taking tripletails is a medium-to-heavy spinning or casting rod at least 7 feet in length. The reel will be spooled with 50-pound or stronger braided line. A black swivel is attached just below a barrel weight of at least 1/2 ounce. Next, a fluorocarbon leader of the same test and 2 to 3 feet is tied on. Finally a 6/0 heavy-duty bronze hook is used.

The most profitable assaults on tripletails entail teamwork: One person steers, holding the boat in a downcurrent position, while the other casts the bait to the targeted structure or floating object. The angler slowly reels the bait, trying to match the speed of the current. Several casts are made to sweep the lure or bait past each likely spot.

Tripletails don't seem to spook especially easily, so some anglers ease the boat right up to the structure and jig the bait vertically, being careful to work around the entire area. This vertical jigging will draw strikes from other species hugging the structure as well.

Some Mobile Bay anglers fish for tripletails in a style that dates to an earlier era. Using large Calcutta poles was the conventional method for going after blackfish in the bay for over 75 years. The poles resemble large bamboo canes, but are much stronger. Unlike the bamboo pole, which is hollow, Calcutta poles have fibers all the way through, giving them strength.

Tripletail fishermen use 14- to 16-foot poles to drop the bait right beside the object that they're focusing on. The long poles allow a little more control over the bait, so the angler can concentrate on the shady side or the "sweet spot" of the target.

The poles are matched to at least 80-pound monofilament line tied to them; a large balsa float on the line serves to detect strikes. Crimped-on lead weights are used with a heavy-duty hook below.

Once a fish is hooked, the angler signals the driver to pull away, thus keeping the fish out of the structure. With no reel on the pole, it's man against beast! The angler must apply leverage with the pole, holding it at different angles to steer the fish and making sure that pole and line are never aimed straight at the fish.

Baits
The No. 1 bait for tripletails is a large live shrimp -- the bigger the better. Bait shops often pull the really big shrimp out (probably to take home for dinner or the home freezer) and don't have them for sale. If you can't locate big live shrimp, you may do better to stop by the seafood shop to pick up some fresh jumbos. Live is better, but dead does work.

Tripletails also hit small live mullet or croakers. The flashier the bait is the better, so keep a lively minnow on the hook.

Tripletails can be tricked with artificial lures, too. Plastic minnow imitations draw strikes, as do large shrimp imitations. D.O.A. Baits makes a jumbo-sized plastic shrimp that catches tripletails. Natural colors like clear or smoke work best.

Regulations
The limit on tripletails in Alabama is three per person. The minimum size limit is 16 inches total length.