Some of the biggest grouper I have ever caught have been on big chunks of mullet. Live pinfish, squirrelfish, and other live bait also works well.
Does grouper like mullet?
A mullet head will occasionally take a grouper as will other forms of dead bait, but I put my vote in for live bait. I sure have had success with live bait. A mullet head will occasionally take a grouper as will other forms of dead bait, but I put my vote in for live bait. Agreed..
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.
What can you catch using mullet as bait?
Bait Fish. Finger mullet is known for being the prey of choice for several fish, including redfish, bluefish and flounder. At the end of the summer and through fall, these predatory fish will be out looking to catch some of the many finger mullet.
What pound leader is grouper?
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.
How do you catch grouper?
Grouper can be caught on lures, live bait, and dead bait. My favorite way to catch them if they are shallow is casting jerkbaits in shallow reef areas but a large livebait sent down to the bottom and then lifted a crank or two is probably the most effective way to catch them day in and day out.
Will grouper eat cut bait?
Cut bait is versatile, accessible, and effective for catching any number of species, including grouper.
What size hooks for grouper?
“They require a 7/0 or 8/0 hook.
What depth do you find grouper?
Where To Find Grouper Fish? Small fish can be found generally inshore, and in water 15 feet deep or more usually.
What saltwater fish eat mullet?
FYAO Saltwater Media Group, Inc. Dead mullet is the best bait for catching tarpon, snook, redfish and speckled trout consistently because these fish conserve energy by scavenging on easy meals.
Do catfish eat mullet?
Do Catfish Eat Mullet? Both saltwater and freshwater catfish will eat mullet. The oily skin and durability of mullet make it a great choice when targeting catfish.
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.
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 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.
How do you catch grouper instead of snapper?
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.
What is grouper season in Florida?
1 – April 30 in all state and federal waters of the Atlantic including all state waters off Monroe County (Atlantic and Gulf sides).
What is the best bait for gag grouper?
Best Live & Natural Baits
- Crabs are good baits for grouper.
- Pinfish are one of the better grouper baits and you can find these bait fish fairly easily, which is great.
- Sand perch are also great baits for grouper.
- Shrimp are always great baits.
- Cut pieces of squid can also be great bait.
How long does it take to reel in a grouper?
James said it took 120-minutes to reel in the giant fish. It was estimated to be around 300 pounds. They say they caught the goliath about 40-miles off the coast of Fort Myers Beach just after dusk on Monday.
What do gag grouper eat?
Adult gag grouper primarily feed on fishes, crabs, shrimps, and cephalopods while juveniles measuring less than 8 inches (20 cm) in length feed on crustaceans residing in shallow grass beds. Similar to other serranids, gag grouper are protogynous hermaphrodites.
Does the sinker go above or below the hook?
Place one or two split shot sinkers 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) above the hook. Press your line into the narrow groove running through the middle of the sinkers. When picking out your sinkers, use enough weight to bring the bait closer to the bottom, but not enough to weigh down your line.
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.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.