When selecting the perfect grouper stick, you’ll want to look for something that’s strong and designed for maximum leverage. I favor grouper rods that are 7’0” or 8’0” in length and rated for nothing less than 50 lb.
What kind of rod do you use for grouper?
Medium-action boat rods and high-speed Daiwa conventional reels make up McMillen’s grouper arsenal.
What pound test should I use for grouper fishing?
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.
What size hook should you use for grouper?
“They require a 7/0 or 8/0 hook.
What do you need for grouper fishing?
It’s better to use solid material, line not lower than 60 or 100 numbers, spinning reel (better an electric one), and a hard hook. We suggest to catch grouper with electric reels due to the deepness of their habitat, they never go up to the surface. An other option is to use bottom line, a very hard line.
Are grouper hard to catch?
Their coloration and ability to change hues and shades to identify with their surroundings give them that ambush capability. It is this ambush ability that makes them relatively easy to hook, but difficult to land. Anglers find that medium heavy bottom fishing tackle is the best way to approach the grouper.
What does 10 pound test line mean?
Fishing line strength is call ‘test’ and is measured in pounds (lbs.). Each spool of line has a label identifying what pound test line it is, which is usually similar to something like 8-lb. test. Pound test is a measurement of how much (in pounds) stress can be put on fishing line before it breaks.
Is 8lb fishing line good?
It’s light enough to pull in a pile of Panfish, and heavy enough to get your Largemouth Bass dockside. However, when you get more specialized a lighter test (2-4 Lb.) for Panfish and a heavier test (8-12 Lb.) for Bass is a good rule of thumb.
How do I choose the weight of my fishing line?
Line Strength
It should roughly match the weight of the species you are fishing for (e.g. use line in the 30-pound test for tuna in the 30-pound range). A typical line to cast for trout would be 4-pound test. Consider braided line of 30-pound test or more if you go after large game fish.
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.
Where do you catch grouper fish?
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 do you fish red grouper?
The most popular technique used by fishermen is bottom fishing with a heavy rod and reel. There are other ways that people like to fish, though! You could try trolling or free lining a live pinfish when shallow and groupers also love a vertical and or slow pitch jig.
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.
How deep do you fish for grouper?
What’s hot: Grouper fishing is still good as long as you are in the right depth. Red and gag grouper have been active in 30 to 50 feet of water. Watch depth: Do not run too far offshore. On several occasions last week we did well in 35 feet then worked out to 70 feet only to encounter slower fishing.
How far offshore can you get grouper?
GROUPER DIGGING IN SHALLOW WATER
A good rule of thumb is that the deeper the water the bigger the grouper. This will keep a lot of boats fishing between 25 and 50 miles offshore but it is a long run for most people. The most fished and prolific area is from 12 to 20 miles offshore in about 60 to 80 feet of water.
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.
Why is grouper so popular in Florida?
And that’s a good thing, because grouper is one of Florida’s most popular fish. The flavor is so mild and subtle, it appeals to just about everybody. All groupers are members of the seabass family, Serranidae, which is made up of more than 400 species.
What do grouper eat in Florida?
Goliath groupers are opportunistic predators and feed mostly on slow-moving, bottom-associated species. Calico crabs make up the majority of their diet, with other invertebrate species and fish filling in the rest, according to FWC.
How do you catch grouper instead of snapper?
Artificial baits such as large bucktails and butterfly jigs have been getting even the pickiest fish to bite. These baits draw a “reaction strike” from these fish. Drop the rig to the bottom and work it upward in a pretty fast motion to mimic a baitfish trying to get away.
Is frozen squid good bait?
One of the most common frozen baits is squid. Squid are one of the most important food sources for saltwater fish worldwide, so they’re an important bait. Sometimes you’ll find whole small squids; other times, large or small pieces of “wing” from larger squid.
How big of a fish can 10 pound test catch?
What size fish can I catch on a 10lb line? The largest fish I ever caught on 10lb line was a catfish that weighed 50lbs and 6oz. The limiting factors are: How much line you have, and how many obstructions there are where you are fishing.