Aug 09 Gulf Grouper Deep Sea fishing Report
Little deeper and further offshore are the fishing conditions you are looking for. When you are looking to catch big Red Grouper, Gag Grouper, and Red Snapper the cooler waters in 50 feet or deeper have been the most consistent for catching fish all day long. The shallower waters have plenty of Gag Grouper and other reef fish. They just do not cooperate very long; For example, you may anchor on a reef and catch one or two Grouper then they stop eating. Additionally around 11:00 am on a sunny day it is almost impossible to get any keeper size fish to bite. There are always exception in fishing. However, Off shore the fish tend to feed longer and average length is longer. Dead Threadfin Herring are great to start off with to get the fish chewing. Then drop a live bait down and feel your rod load up when GagZilla takes off towards the rocks. Pinfish, Cigar minnows, and Porgies are great live baits. Live baits seems to get used faster than dead bait so make sure to have plenty.
Tip of the day. Most anglers use 80lb line and 80lb leader material when fishing for Grouper. In deeper water using lighter 60lb monofilament line and longer leaders will always get you more bites, and some times more fish. Getting more bites is what you want then you can worry about trying to land the fish. Most of the time the toughest part of the battle is the first 5 seconds when the fish first senses resistance when hooked. 60 pound line can handle the strain if the line is new and has no abrasions. Checking the terminal tackle constantly and replacing leaders that are rough will help you land more fish. A good time to check leaders and line are when you're baiting the hook. Simply remove the damaged areas of line, and replace scorn leaders and you will land more bigger fish.
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
