Over the years I've done all kinds of dropshotting, but I haven't come up with a satisfactory way of really beefing it up for punching the mats. Any help?

Not the best way to "punch" mats with a dropshot.  Maybe fish the holes and the edges, closest way I could think of to "punch" with that sort of idea is the jika rig.  But not really a dropshot.  Problem with mats is you need to power your bait through that mess with the weight, you may have to go to heavier torpedo style sinkers made for ocean fishing to get through there and look at fishing a 2oz weight.

Dropshots typically involve an exposed hook and a weight under a 1/2 oz. Punch rigs usually have weights over an ounce and and a "hidden" texposed hook. Not sure why you would want to combine the 2.

Dropshots typically involve an exposed hook and a weight under a 1/2 oz. Punch rigs usually have weights over an ounce and and a "hidden" texposed hook. Not sure why you would want to combine the 2.

He wants to powershot.  You can have really good success fishing a "dropshot" rig where you would normally flip.  Gives the fish a different look.  Look at it as fishing a 4/0 size hook with a 4-6" creature bait on 17-20lb fc flipped or pitched along the tullies/reed lines  or into timber or brush and having your bait 6-8" off the bottom in the fishes face.  Works pretty well at the right times.  

Do you have a link to a video of folks "punching" mats with a beefed up dropshot.

He wants to powershot.  You can have really good success fishing a "dropshot" rig where you would normally flip.  Gives the fish a different look.  Look at it as fishing a 4/0 size hook with a 4-6" creature bait on 17-20lb fc flipped or pitched along the tullies/reed lines  or into timber or brush and having your bait 6-8" off the bottom in the fishes face.  Works pretty well at the right times.

Very close, but I'm thinking of beyond bubba shotting. We are all doing that here and it does work great. But I am thinking of giving the fish under the mats beyond the edges a different option. The mats are real thick at times depending on which plant you're punching, tides, etc. I'm using my regular punching gear, and at least a one ounce weight. I can create the hole for the weight to go thru, but more often than I like, the bait hangs up on the mat, or worse, the bait gets pulled down the hook shank wasting the presentation. I have tried screwlock hooks with variable success, but I don't know if anyone makes a bad--- punching strength hook with a screwlock. I really would like to get a ten inch power worm under there efficiently. I'll continue tinkering and keep you posted.

Owner screw lock flipping hooks. I'd look at seeing if I could find someone put a welded eye on them for you if possible or some split rings so they sit right. Now you have me thinking of possibly tinkering around where I'm at and seeing what I can come up with.  

Owner screw lock flipping hooks. I'd look at seeing if I could find someone put a welded eye on them for you if possible or some split rings so they sit right. Now you have me thinking of possibly tinkering around where I'm at and seeing what I can come up with.

I do have them and I use them for other flipping purposes. But yes, the unwelded eye is potentially an issue for punching. As it is, since these have a vertical orientation of the eye, threading the line back thru the eye turns the bait sideways. I like the split ring idea. Owner Hypers are beastly strong for their size. I'll try it out, but I think I'm going to glue the rings shut too.

Do you have a link to a video of folks "punching" mats with a beefed up dropshot.

I don't have the link, but Andy "Cooch" Cuccia did a video for his website of power shotting on my favorite fishing hole. He wasn't punching mats with it though. He does have a vid on punching the mats as well, and it will give you an idea of the thickness of the stuff I'm talking about.

Quick question, I bought finesse wide gap 3/0 hooks. These could be used for dropshotting right? Techniquely they are octopus hooks.