Grouper are one of the most highly prized fish in the Northern Gulf of Mexico primarily because they are terrific table fare and fearsome fighters. Because of the grouper’s overwhelming popularity among anglers, the species deserve their own considerable how-to ink.

Of the roughly two dozen species of grouper, only about a dozen are available to recreational anglers in less than 200 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico. The most commonly targeted species include gag, red and scamp grouper, as well as another delicacy of the sea, the black sea bass.

Gag and red groupers spawn from February to April in the Gulf. During this time there is a one month commercial closed season because large schools of spawning fish are highly vulnerable. The recreational season is open all year.

Grouper inhabit natural and artificial reefs, as well as wrecks, oil platforms, offshore lumps and ledges on the ocean floor. This structure provides habitat for favorite food sources like crustaceans, octopus and a wide variety of finfish.

The prepared opportunist grouper pro knows that frisky live bait catches more and bigger fish. Favorite live baits include pinfish, menhaden (pogies, LYs), cigar minnows, hardtails (jacks), squirrelfish (sand perch), beeliners and many others that live where grouper live. Serious grouper grabbers will do whatever it takes to fill the baitwell with livies. Bait catching techniques include chumming, castnetting, sabiki rigs and offshore bait traps.

One of the most successful techniques is to anchor on top of the fish and fish them vertically with live bait. After arriving at a known GPS waypoint, a search begins to find a good show of fish on the bottom machine. The fish are marked with a quality buoy. Then, allowing for wind and current, the anchor is set to allow anglers to drop baits on top of the fish. Drop a big pinfish on a giant grouper, it is an offer he can’t refuse. Another pattern that will put fish in your box is trolling. Pulling magnum plugs on flat lines or downriggers over natural bottom will lure bruisers up in the water column to eat.

Stout, quality tackle is required to pull these brawlers out of their rocky homes. Thirty pound class outfits are normally the minimum that is necessary. Heavy action rods with lots of lifting power will get it done. First rate reels with flawless drags are the standard. Terminal tackle should include 50# fluorocarbon leaders, 100# barrel swivels, premium circle hooks and enough lead to stay vertical in the current.

Florida fishing regulations for the Gulf of Mexico allow a daily aggregate bag limit of 5 grouper per angler. Gags must be 22 inches and red grouper 20 inches overall length. As always, take what you can realistically use and save some for your grandchildren.

Til next tide, tight lines and solid hookups,

Captain Alex Crawford
Proud Member Florida Outdoor Writers Association
Proud Member Florida Guider Association
[email protected]
www.topknots.com