30 to 60 feet deep.
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 bait for grouper fishing?
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.
Are grouper fish deep sea?
While Goliaths can be found in shallower water, Warsaw Groupers are deep ocean fish. They can grow to seven feet and weigh around 600 pounds.
What pound test should I use for grouper fishing?
A good rod and reel, with fifty-pound test monofilament line, can handle almost all the grouper you may encounter. Line much larger than that is overkill that is cumbersome, and, some believe, visible to the fish.
How do you rig for grouper fishing?
The rig consists of an egg sinker sliding on an 18-inch piece of 100-pound mono between two swivels. A 6-foot piece of 100-pound mono leads to a circle hook, with the size depending on the bait. “If I’m fishing for gags, my favorite bait is a live golden spot or a pinfish,” said Johnson.
What is the best month to catch grouper?
Generally speaking, the best time to catch grouper is from May to October. You’ll have the best chances fishing either in the early morning or late afternoon as these are the best times of the day for grouper in Florida.
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.
Is grouper good eating fish?
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.
What do grouper feed on?
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.
What is the best tasting grouper?
Meanwhile, the scamp grouper is considered to be the best-tasting among all groupers. It is not as popular as the red grouper, but it is prized for its taste and known to be one of the most esteemed fish found in the Gulf. This fish matures at about 2 years and can live up to 31 years.
What is 20lb fishing line good for?
General Rules for Monofilament
For small trout and sunfish, a 4 lb test is okay. For bass or general freshwater fishing, 6-8 lb test is the norm. In saltwater, 12-15 il test is standard when using light tackle for smaller species, while 17-20 lb test allows you to target bigger fish.
What color fishing line is best?
Yellow. The high-vis yellow color is great for anglers who watch their line to detect bites. The bright color makes it easy to see from above and slight bites are easily noticed. The downside is that it’s more visible to fish below.
Does the color of fishing line matter?
And does the color of fishing line matter? The truth is, no single color of braided line has ever proved to cause fish to bite more readily, but that shouldn’t preclude fishermen from being mindful when selecting line.
How long should a grouper rig be?
Cut enough line so that after tying the hook and the barrel swivel on to each end, the resulting length is roughly 3 feet.
What pound leader is grouper?
Fishing Line
Smaller grouper, 30 to 40 pound line is fine with a 60 to 100 pound fluorocarbon leader. For bigger grouper, scale up to 50 to 80 pound line and you might be better off with braided line or some other type of super line with a 100 pound fluorocarbon leader.
How do you get grouper inshore?
The best way to fish for inshore grouper in Florida is to find deeper water with structure like bridge pilings, rock piles and deep dock pilings. Any live bait or fresh dead bait presented to them will be eaten if you get it down to their holes with enough lead weight to pin your bait to the bottom.
Where is the best place to catch grouper?
Grouper are relatively plentiful and can be found in most US coastal waters, but they are especially common around the waters of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Grouper are a great gamefish because they are delicious – their flesh is tender and sweet and is a treat for any seafood lover.
How far offshore can you get grouper?
To get the best grouper, you should go 30 miles (48.2 kilometers) to 85 miles (136.794 kilometers) offshore. Grouper will naturally swim on the current and into your bait.
Where is the grouper capital of the world?
Madeira Beach or Mad Beach as it’s nicknamed is the Grouper capital of the world. There are many great shops and restaurants to choose from! Here are some of the top 3 best seafood restaurants in Madeira Beach.
How fast do you troll for grouper?
One of the things that you should remember when it comes to trolling for grouper is to take it slow. Go at 2 knots. Downriggers or planars are great for methods for trolling for grouper.
Why does grouper cost so much?
As mentioned previously, due to their preferred habitat domestic Grouper is more difficult to get to. As a consequence, especially when combined with high demand, they are generally more expensive. At wholesale, a whole Grouper will be priced at $6 or $9 per lb but have a retail value of around $12 on average.