Use at least 65lb braided line. The lack of stretch in the line will allow you to keep groupers/ajs from taking you into structure.
What is the best line for grouper fishing?
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.
What line do you use for Goliath grouper?
We recommend using 200-300Lb monofilament when targeting goliath grouper.
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.
How heavy should a grouper rod be?
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.
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 much drag does a goliath grouper need?
Goliath Grouper Tackle
This is one of the most specialized fisheries there is in terms of tackle. You need a large reel capable of 90lbs of drag and loaded with 400lb+ monofilament if you want to consistently land the big ones.
How long does it take to reel in a goliath grouper?
120-minutes
Chris Heaphy, the owner of the 34-foot boat NorTech, Justin Stuller, owner of Estero River Outfitters, Justin LoFranco, joined Jesse James and his daughter Faith for the fishing trip. James said it took 120-minutes to reel in the giant fish. It was estimated to be around 300 pounds.
What is the best bait for goliath grouper?
Dead, cut, or live baits will all entice a hungry goliath. Large mullet, rays, jacks, even hardhead and sailfin cats are good choices, but the fresher the better.
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.
How much line do you need for bottom fishing?
As a general rule, you’ll want to fill your reel up to 80% or 1/8″ inches below the max fill line to 100% of the reel’s capacity. Keeping your reel full is the best practice for many fishing styles. Of course, there are a few instances where more or less line would be optimal.
What is the best rig for bottom fishing?
The sliding sinker rig a.k.a. the Carolina rig, is one of the most effective bottom fishing rigs you can find. It consists of a simple barrel swivel connected to a single leader, with a sinker, bead, and hook at the end.
Where are grouper found in Florida?
Black Grouper live around rocky bottoms and reefs on both sides of the Sunshine State. Adults hang out in anything from 60 to over 250 feet of water. They spend their summers spawning in much shallower seas, though, as little as 30 feet deep.
How do you catch grouper in the Gulf?
The key to catching gag grouper is plenty of live bait. While a variety of baits work, Shidler prefers pinfish, which he catches in pinfish trips that he visits on the way out to fishing grounds. Shidler also sometimes chums with live bait to help bring the gags up from the bottom and entice them to feed.
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.
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 catch grouper from a boat?
Take your boat 30-85 miles offshore, then anchor your boat 150 feet up current from where you want to fish. Toss a block or bag of chum to the ocean floor and attach live bait to your hook. Drop the line straight down, then crank the reel so the bait is suspended off the ocean floor.
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.
What food does grouper like?
The Atlantic goliath grouper, like most groupers, is an ambush predator and eats fairly large fishes and invertebrates and even small sharks.
How hard does a goliath grouper pull?
“They pull like hell,” Capt. Richard Stanczyk said. “They’ll literally pull you out of the boat.” Stanczyk, 72, who owns Bud N’ Mary’s Marina in Islamorada, has caught hundreds of goliath groupers up to 500 pounds — and he is not exaggerating.
Do goliath grouper fight hard?
#1 Goliath Grouper
They put up a really strong fight, but once you’ve gotten them to the surface, you have officially won. Additionally, despite having teeth, they typically engulf and swallow their prey whole. This means that once they’re hooked, you better hold on tight!