How To Catch Grouper

 

EQUIPMENT

1. 6-7' HEAVY ACTION ROD.

 2. LEVEL WIND REEL WITH 50-6-# TEST MONOFILAMENT LINE.

3. HEAVY DUTY SPINNING REEL WITH 40-50# TEST MONOFILAMENT LINE.

4. DEPTH RECORDER/FISH FINDER. A COLOR MACHINE IS BETTER BECAUSE IT WILL SHOW THE SOFTNESS OR THE HARDNESS OF THE BOTTOM BETTER.

5. FOR BOTTOM FISHING, PUT YOUR LINE THROUGH A 5-8 OUNCE SINKER AND THEN PUT ON A RED BEAD AND TIE IT TO A HEAVY SWIVEL. THE RED BEAD STOPS THE SINKER FROM BEATING AGAINST THE SWIVEL.

6. NEXT, TIE ON A 2 1/2-3FT. OF 80# MONOFILAMENT LINE AND DETACH IT TO A 7/0 OR 8/0 HOOK USING AN IMPROVED CLINCH KNOT OR A UNI -TO -UNI KNOT. CLICK HERE FOR KNOTS PAGE

 

TROLLING EQUIPMENT + HARDWARE

1. USE THE SAME ROD AND REELS AS BOTTOM FISHING.

2. FOR TROLLING, TIE YOUR LINE TO A HEAVY DUTY SWIVEL AND CONNECT IT DIRECTLY TO THE PLANER. FROM THE PLANER, TIE 10-12 FT. 0F 50# TEST MONOFILAMENT LEADER TIED DIRECTLY TO YOU LURE USING A UNI-KNOT OR IMPROVED CLINCH KNOT.

3. #2 PLANER FOR DEPTHS OF 20 FT. #3 PLANER FOR DEPTHS OF 30. FT. #4 PLANER FOR DEPTHS OF TO 40 FT.

 4. MANUFACTURE'S DOWN RIGGER OR POOR MAN'S DOWNRIGGER.

   

 

AREAS TO FISH

 

1. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, THE WATER HEATS UP AND MOST OF THE GROUPER WILL MOVE TO FIND COOLER WATER. (20-25 MILES).

 

2. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, WHEN THE WATER IS IN THE GULF COOLS DOWN, THE FISH WILL MOVE INSHORE. LOTS OF TIMES YOU CAN FIND GROUPER IN 20-25 FT. OF WATER.

 

3. FISH ALONG THE EDGES OF THE SKYWAY CHANNEL AND THE EGMONT CHANNEL. DON'T FISH THE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHANNELS, ALWAYS FISH THE EDGES AND DROP OFFS.

 

4. LOOK FOR HARD BOTTOM OR AREAS THAT HAVE A CHANGE IN DENSITY OF THE BOTTOM. PICK AREAS THAT SHOW A DEFINITE ROCKY BOTTOM OR LEDGES.

 

5. WORK THE ARTIFICIAL REEFS LOCATED ON YOUR LOCAL MAPS OR LOOK ON OUR SITE TO GET THE LORAN NUMBERS .

 

 

DEAD BAITS

 

1. WHEN USING DEAD BAITS, CUT THE BAITS IN HALF AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THIS ATTRACTS FISH.

 

2. AFTER YOU CATCH A FEW FISH WITH DEAD BAITS, THEN SWITCH OVER TO LIVE BAITS. THE SMELL FROM THE DEAD BAITS ATTRACTS BIGGER FISH AND WILL GET THEM INTO THE FEEDING MODE. FROZEN WHITE BAITS FROZEN SQUID FROZEN SARDINES

 

LIVE BAITS

 

1. HOOK THE BAIT IN THE BACK NEAR THE DORSAL FIN.

 

2. LOWER THE BAIT TO THE BOTTOM AND REEL UP ABOUT 3 TURNS ON THE REEL.

 

3. WHEN THE GROUPER GRABS YOUR BAIT, HE WILL TRY TO HEAD FOR HIS DEN IN THE ROCKS. RED GROUPER HAVE A MORE SUBTLE BITE, IT'S MORE LIKE A TUG. GAG GROUPER WILL SLAM IT LIKE A RUNAWAY FREIGHT TRAIN.

 

4. THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD DO IS CRANK THE REEL AND LIFT THE POLE WITH THE TIP TOWARD THE SKY IF YOU CAN.

 

5. DON'T GIVE UP. JUST REMEMBER HOW GOOD THESE FISH TASTE WHEN YOU GET THEM TO THE TABLE.

 

   

 

 

ARTIFICIAL BAITS

 

 

1. WHEN USING ARTIFICIAL BAITS, YOU MUST FIRST CHOOSE IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE A DOWNRIGGER, A PLANER, OR JUST A BAIT THAT HAS A DEEP DIVING LIP ON IT.

2. YOU MAY WANT TO USE TWO POLES WHILE TROLLING.

3. PUT THE LINE THAT YOU WILL USE FOR YOUR DOWNRIGGER OUT APPROXIMATELY 150 FT, THEN ATTACH IT TO THE DOWNRIGGER. LOWER THE DOWNRIGGER BALL TO A DEPTH 2-3 FT. FROM THE BOTTOM. PUT OUT YOUR NEXT LINE APPROXIMATELY 25 FT. THEN ATTACH IT TO A DOWNRIGGER.

4. IF YOU ARE USING PLANERS, CHOOSE THE PLANER THAT WILL TAKE THE ARTIFICIAL BAIT TO HALF OF THE DEPTH YOU ARE TROLLING.

5. START TROLLING AT 1500 RPM'S. THIS IS APPROXIMATELY 4-5 MPH. IF NOTHING HAPPENS, THEN TRY SLOWING DOWN OR SPEEDING UP.

6. ONCE A FISH HITS, THE PRESSURE OF THE FISH WILL TRIP PLANER AND THE FISH WILL COME TO THE SURFACE. JUST SLOW THE BOAT DOWN AND REEL THE FISH IN.

7. IF YOU ARE USING A DOWNRIGGER OR A POOR MAN'S DOWNRIGGER, THE LINE WILL POP OUT OF THE RELEASE CLIP AND YOU'RE IN FOR A FIGHT.

8. SLOW THE BOAT DOWN. YOU WILL BE IN A TUG OF WAR FOR A WHILE. THE FISH WON'T COME TO THE SURFACE LIKE IT DID WITH THE PLANERS.

9. MAKE SURE YOUR GROUPER IS LEGAL.

10. IF IT IS NOT LEGAL, PLEASE RELEASE IT TO PRESERVE THE GROUPER FISHERY.