What size hook should you use for grouper?
“They require a 7/0 or 8/0 hook.
What is the best bait for catching grouper?
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.
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.
How deep do you fish for 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 far offshore do you have to go to catch grouper?
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.
How far offshore can you get grouper?
To determine the current, drop a buoy and wait five minutes for your boat to drift. Then motor back to the buoy and drop anchor 150 feet up-current. 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.
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.
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.
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 is the best snapper rig?
With fresh bait as the ideal candidate to target snapper, a 2 Hook Paternoster Rig is the best choice for presentation and hook set. The 2 Hook Paternoster Rig is a bottom weighted snapper fishing rig designed to bring the bait down effectively and easily.
What is a carolina rig in fishing?
The Carolina rig is a plastic bait rig similar to the Texas rig, but with the weight fixed above the hook, instead of sliding down to it The Carolina rig is suitable for beginning fishers. This specific rig is designed to help fishermen catch bottom feeding fish, particularly bass fish.
What is the Neko Rig?
The Neko Rig is a relatively new phenomenon in the bass community. Basically, it is a weighted version of a wacky rig with a weight inserted into just one end of the soft plastic, giving the bait a unique action as it falls and allows it to stand straight up once it hits the bottom.
What is a Sabiki rig?
The Sabiki rig is a cutting edge fishing technique that was first used for baitfish angling in Asia Sabiki rigs have grown to be known as flasher rigs by a great section of the fishing community. They are the absolute fishing tackle and are now employed all over the world.
Is Mullet good bait for grouper?
Baits for Grouper Sardines are probably the most successful live bait, especially if caught fresh with a net or baitfish rig. A close second is a pinfish and third are mullet. Any of these fish are as likely to get a response from a grouper as any bait on the planet.
How heavy is a grouper?
This fish will generally reach a weight of around 400 pounds However, there have been some much larger fish caught. One in Florida that was caught with a hook and line weighed 680 pounds. They can get larger, though.
Where are grouper found in Florida?
Several species of grouper (Epinephelus spp.), including gag, red grouper, and goliath grouper, are found in Florida waters The gag grouper, Mycteroperca microlepis, is common to Florida’s reefs. These fish can reach nearly 50 inches in total length.
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 best time to fish for grouper in Florida?
Grouper are one of the most popular gamefish in Florida coastal waters. Knowing the best time to come visit Florida and chase these moster brawlers can make all the difference in the world. Generally speaking, the best time to catch grouper is from May to October.
How deep is the middle grounds?
With depths ranging from about 85 to 150 feet , the ‘Grounds abound with topographical diversity. Lined with a sand and sandshell substrate, this area features steep limestone peaks, live and hard coral formations and seemingly endless ledges dropping 15 feet or better.
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.
How many miles is considered offshore?
Offshore Fishing Offshore journeys or deep sea fishing, on the other hand, commonly need a dedication of 12 to 72 hours to take you anywhere from 30 to 130 miles far from the shore. This type of water warrants bigger game fishing watercrafts furnished with larger fishing equipment sonar.
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.
Where is the best offshore fishing in Florida?
- Big Lagoon State Park.
- fort pickens fishing pier & beaches.
- Johnson’s Beach at Gulf Islands National Seashore.
- Old 3 mile bridge fishing pier.
- Oriskany Artificial Reef (22.5 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola Pass)
- Palafox Pier.
- Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier.
Do you need wire leader for grouper?
Here are the two most important things to consider… we need design the leader so that: The weight can slide off of the line in the event that a fish breaks the line above the leader. The weakest point in the system is right above the hook.
Sources
https://www.amazon.com/grouper-rig/s?k=grouper+rig
https://georgepoveromo.com/article-2009_three_basic_bottom_rigs.html
https://www.floridasportsman.com/editorial/grouper-rig-tips/401215
https://profishingrigs.com/saltwater-rig/make-simple-grouper-rig/