Chris Pascual | Bridge Fishing 101 in the Florida Keys | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 383

Chris Pascual is an experienced bridge fisherman from South Florida who specializes in fishing the Florida Keys bridges, where he regularly targets snapper, grouper, and other species from iconic locations like Channel 2, Channel 5, and Long Key. In this episode, Chris reveals the exact setup that allows him to consistently land 25-inch mangrove snappers and massive cubera snappers from bridges where most anglers struggle to get bites. He breaks down his strategy for fishing overnight sessions on three-mile-long bridges, explains why he carries eight to ten dozen live shrimp on every trip, and shares the story of a 12-pound mutton snapper that met a heartbreaking end. Whether you're new to bridge fishing or looking to level up your game, Chris delivers specific, actionable intelligence that you can use on your next Keys trip.

The Cart That Makes Three-Mile Bridge Sessions Possible

When you're planning to fish a bridge that stretches three miles across open water, you can't just grab a rod and walk out. Chris Pascual brings four to five conventional rods, eight to ten dozen live shrimp, a livewell, a drop net, a cast net, a cooler, a chair for overnight sessions, a lantern, a chum bucket, and even wet weather gear in case squalls roll through. The solution that makes all this possible is a heavy-duty aluminum bridge fishing cart from Bass Pro with seven or eight rod holders welded onto it and big rubber tires that can handle the distance. Some anglers have taken it even further with bicycle setups pulling their gear. When you're dealing with bridges like Long Key or Channel 2 where you might be fishing from the middle of a structure that's miles from shore, having the right cart system isn't optional. Chris walks through his complete cart setup and explains why each piece of gear matters at 2:21.

Why Eight to Ten Dozen Live Shrimp Isn't Overkill

Most anglers show up to the bridge with a dozen or two of live shrimp. Chris Pascual brings between eight and ten dozen on every trip, and there's a specific reason why. He's not just fishing one spot or one rod—he's running multiple baits at different pilings, targeting mangrove snappers and muttons with live shrimp while simultaneously soaking big cut baits on the bottom for grouper and cubera snapper. The shrimp strategy is about covering water and keeping fresh baits in multiple strike zones throughout tide changes and different times of day. During his overnight sessions, those shrimp keep producing through the early morning hours when the biggest mutton snappers are cruising through. He also keeps a lighter spinning rod with 30-pound braid specifically for mangrove fishing with live shrimp on a jig head. The full breakdown of Chris's bait strategy and how he manages that many live shrimp starts at 5:21.

The Hurricane Window That Produced 25-Inch Mangroves

Two years ago when Hurricane Michael tracked toward the Florida Panhandle, it skirted close enough to the Keys to change everything without causing major destruction in the islands. Chris waited two days for the water to settle, then headed to one of his go-to bridges. What happened next was one of those sessions anglers remember for years. He limited out on mangrove snappers with every single fish just shy of 25 inches—not the typical 17 or 18-inch fish most people are happy with. He was releasing fish in that size range because he was catching 23, 24, and 25-inch specimens. The barometric pressure change from the hurricane, combined with the stirred-up bay conditions, had the mangroves feeding aggressively. Even better, he returned the following weekend and limited out again on Saturday and Sunday, this time with fish between 17 and 20 inches, plus a bonus 25-inch black grouper right off the bridge. Chris tells the full hurricane fishing story and explains the timing window at 15:41.

The Drop Net Strategy and the Mutton That Got Away

When you're in the middle of Long Key Bridge—a three-mile span with no shore access nearby—you can't walk a fish down to land it. The drop net becomes essential equipment, not optional. Chris uses a standard drop net from a local tackle shop, typically priced around $30, and it's saved countless big muttons, permits, and groupers that would otherwise be impossible to land from that height. But he's also discovered a secondary use: stuffing the net with bait and lowering it down as a makeshift crab trap, letting it soak for 30 to 45 minutes while nothing else is happening. He's pulled up lobsters and stone crabs this way. The most memorable drop net moment, though, was one that didn't end well. Chris hooked what he estimates was a 12-pound mutton snapper right around sunrise—one of those prime early morning bites he specifically sets up for with big baits soaking on the bottom. As he brought the fish up, a shark hit it. All that remained was the head and a bit of meat, measuring 16 inches long. The complete story of that lost mutton and Chris's drop net techniques starts at 9:54.

Final Thoughts from Tom

I've driven across those Keys bridges a thousand times and watched anglers set up in all kinds of configurations. Some folks clearly know what they're doing, and others are just hoping for the best with dried-up bait and gear that won't handle what's swimming below. Chris is in that first category—he's dialed in the system.

What I appreciate about this conversation is how specific Chris gets. He's not giving you generic bridge fishing advice. He's telling you which bridges work and why, what to look for in the structure below before you set up, and exactly what gear you need to handle a big cubera or grouper that wants to get back into the pilings. The hurricane fishing window he describes is something most people miss entirely, but it's a real pattern if you understand the timing.

If you fish the Keys or you're planning a trip down there, this episode will save you time and put you on better fish. Chris breaks down the whole system from cart setup to bait selection to drop net techniques. Listen to the whole thing—it's worth your time.