The best bait for
grouper fishing
are squid, chub mackerel, sardine, white crab, or octopus pieces , one of the favorite grouper food. But normally they bite any bait.
Where is the best place to catch grouper?
The best grouper fishing takes place in 120 to 180 feet of water over wrecks or hard bottom (rocks or reef) The Gulf of Mexico is a really large area, so what a lot of guys will do is keep their bottom machines on whenever they’re running while watching for good bottom.
What depth do you catch grouper?
When you’re grouper trolling, you should do it in water that is 30 to 60 feet deep You’ll have no trouble setting the hook even though it’s that deep. The stretch is going to give your fish some leeway anytime it strikes your moving lure, so it’s not cutting the mouth of the fish.
What is the
best time
of the day to catch grouper?
You will want to go early in the morning as this is when the groupers are most active because their prey fish are most active. Grouper prefer the water temperature to be around 70° on average, sometimes even up to 77°, but if it gets warmer than that, they will head to deeper waters.
How do you target a grouper?
The trick to targeting only the grouper has been using big live bait such as grunts and large pinfish Frozen sardines have been the standby for red grouper, but these smaller, soft baits usually get inhaled by the snapper well before they reach the bottom.
What size hook should you use for grouper?
“They require a 7/0 or 8/0 hook.
What is the best month to catch grouper?
The best time of year to fish for gag grouper in the shallows would be from October through the end of the season in December , however, they can be caught all year long. Since these fish are so strong on their initial run we use extremely heavy tackle to keep them out of the structure and into your cooler.
What is the legal size for grouper in Florida?
The minimum size limit for gag grouper is 24 inches total length and the daily bag limit is two fish per harvester within the four grouper aggregate bag limit. Charter captains and crew have a zero bag limit.
How many grouper can you keep in Florida?
Gulf state waters in Florida are from shore to 9
nautical miles
. Federal waters begin where state waters end and extend to 200 nautical miles. The minimum size limit for gag grouper is 24 inches total length and the daily bag limit is two fish per person within the four grouper per person aggregate limit.
Can you catch grouper at night?
You may catch grouper during a full moon or under lights, but are typically not active at night They are most active during the transition period between the fish that are active at night and the ones active during the day, dusk and dawn.
What kind of rod do you use for grouper?
A 6 1/2 foot to 7 foot medium heavy rod with a 30-40 or 3/0 to 4/0 series reel is a
good all-around
and versatile grouper fishing outfit. This can handle most the bottom fishing situations as well as some light tackle trolling. Most grouper fishing is done bottom fishing. Casting is not required.
What food does grouper like?
They habitually eat fish, octopuses, and crustaceans Some species prefer to ambush their prey, while other species are active predators. Reports of fatal attacks on humans by the largest species, such as the giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) are unconfirmed.
Can you catch grouper with shrimp?
Sand perch are also
great baits
for grouper. If you can catch some of these baits, get them on your favorite live bait rig and send them down to the bottom for some grouper. Shrimp are always great baits Use the lively shrimp for better success.
What is grouper season in Florida?
1 – April 30 in all state and federal waters of the Atlantic including all state waters off Monroe County (Atlantic and Gulf sides).
Can you catch grouper from the shore in Florida?
Bottom fishing for Florida Grouper works great in both nearshore and offshore waters around wrecks and reefs You’ll normally either anchor the boat to take advantage of a productive spot or drift to cover larger areas of the structure.
What is the leader for grouper?
We recommend going with braid first for grouper. If you are fishing in shallow water (under 150ft) you can get away with using 50-80Lb monofilament.
Can you keep grouper in Florida right now?
Grouper, Yellowfin & Yellowmouth – s u l Season: Atlantic – Closed Jan. 1–April 30 Gulf – Open year-round.
Is it legal to take a goliath grouper out of the water?
What to do when you’ve caught a goliath grouper? Harvest and possession has been prohibited in both state and federal waters off Florida since 1990 Must be immediately returned to the water free, alive and unharmed. Photographs can be taken but only during the active act of release.
Is grouper good to eat?
Thanks to its subtle flavor that easily absorbs dressings and marinades, grouper is excellent however you serve it Fish sandwiches made with either a thick slice of blackened grouper or battered and deep-fried bite-size pieces of grouper are one of the best and most simple ways to enjoy this fish.
How long does it take to reel in a grouper?
James said it took 120-minutes to reel in the giant fish. It was estimated to be around 300 pounds. They say they caught the goliath about 40-miles off the coast of Fort Myers Beach just after dusk on Monday.
What is the best month to fish in Florida?
The best time to fish in the state of Florida in saltwater is normally April through September whereas the best times to fish freshwater are spring through November. Each species of Florida gamefish will have its peak high seasons.
Can you jig for grouper?
My jigging technique is to bounce bottom with jigs slowly. Grouper can chase fast moving jigs, but I always have more success by moving jig slowly close to the bottom.
How do you fish for grouper in the Gulf of Mexico?
In the Gulf of Mexico, grouper anglers use magnum diving plugs that will go as deep as thirty feet or more Many areas of the Gulf bottom are lined with ledges and rock. Artificial reefs can be found on any good chart from as close in as five miles to as far offshore as fifty miles or more.
References
https://www.liveabout.com/catching-and-fishing-for-grouper-2929541
https://www.howtocatchanyfish.com/groupers.html#:~:text=Grouper%20Techniques,day%20in%20and%20day%20out.
https://floridainsiderfishingreport.com/2014/05/targeting-grouper-central-west-region-capt-geoff-page