Grouper Fishing

In response to an article titled: A Guide to Fishing for Grouper
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/16193/a_guide_to_fishing_for_grouper.html

When you start putting on your jackets, that usually means that keeper gags are moving closer inshore. Grab your rod and reel, gas up the boat, and let's get going!

There are more species than just gags and black grouper. There's actually near 400 species found in the waters of the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. For shallow-water anglers, you can fish for reds, gags, black, scamp, yellowfin, yellow mouth, rock hind, red hind, goliath, and nassau. You cannot, however, keep a goliath or nassau grouper. For those of us who go further out sometimes for grouper, we can catch yellow edge, Warsaw, misty, snowy, speckled hind, and scamp. Size, seasons, and limits vary, so it's important to know the rules before you go.

There are thousands of GPS numbers for wrecks, reefs and "grouper holes" available to the public. As the waters cool down from the diminishing summer heat, some grouper begin to move closer to shore, seeking bait and the comfort of warmer water. They tend to stay over hard bottom such as coral reefs and ledges. Others like to remain further offshore and hide in dark crevices and caves of reefs.

Get out your chart and research the Internet for aerial photos and click on a few diving websites of people who have recently scuba dived some interesting spots where grouper may be. On your chart and pictures, Florida Sportsman Magazine once suggested you look for deep cuts in shallows that are near deeper channels or for shoals that might have newer wrecks close by. Deep holes several miles out can also hold grouper over rocks that have accumulated there over time or from hurricanes.

Let's talk about what equipment you will want to use. Typically for bottom fishing you use something similar to a Penn 113H spooled with 50lb test line on a 6-7' heavy duty rod. You can also use a level wind with 30- to 80lb test line, spinning reels with 30- to 50lb test, and/or an electric reel (so your arms don't ache from having to reel in from 200 feet of water). A 6' 80lb flourocarbon leader is recommended.

You will also need a heavy weight to get your baits down. I suggest using a 4oz to 1lb sinker. Using the downrigger is another great idea. However, if you use braided line, you can use a lighter weight. That's because braided line sinks faster than mono. Six-pound test braid will go to the bottom with only a 4oz weight.

Go with a big, sturdy hook. By that I mean, go with some in the 5/0 or 8/0 range. You want to be sure your fish is hooked and you can yank him up before he retreats back into his hiding place. You definitely don't want a bent hook!

Many pre-maid rigs in tackle stores are made with 30" of 150lb test line. They usually have a 8/0 hook and an egg sinker with beads on each end of it. All you have to do is tear open the bad and attach it to your line via the swivel. With our homemade grouper rigs, we make double drop rigs so we can attach two baits.

When it comes to baits, live works well. I have had much success using live pinfish, mullet, and blue runners. Dead baits like squid work too. Large jigs are excellent as well. I actually prefer my butterfly jig when grouper fishing. I put it down to the bottom, slowly pull the rod up, let the jig float back down to the bottom (this is when the jig does its swimming action), then I raise it and repeat the process again until I have a bit. Most bites come on the downfall.

Grouper are very delicious! A fillet only contains about 100 calories and is extremely low in fat. Catch some up and take them home to grill!