[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t is finally May and grouper season is officially open as of May 1st. The grouper bite has been on in many depths and areas of the Treasure Coast as of late. Now these fish don’t have to be released as long as they meet the required size limits.
Grouper can be found from the rivers of our coast to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. There are many species of grouper, so it is a good idea to know the species and to know the characteristics of each. There are many apps available that can be downloaded to a cell phone and used to compare to your catch to help you confirm your grouper’s identity.
Grouper are a structural bottom fish. They can be found around rocks, ledges, artificial and natural reefs. Grouper don’t go far from their home; they will usually travel 10 to 20 feet to find food. When they feel the hook they will head directly back to their home and if they can get into their home they will usually rock you. If this happens, gently release your reel to allow the line to slack and wait a bit. Sometimes you can trick the grouper into coming back out by doing this giving you another chance to reel it up.
Grouper will eat most all natural baits whether dead or alive. My preference is a big lively blue runner dropped to the bottom on a 6- to 8-ounce weight. The commotion of the blue runner will draw the grouper’s attention and will hopefully entice the grouper to take a free meal.
Another way to get the attention of a grouper is by butterfly jigging. I will drop a 6- to 8-ounce butterfly jig all the way to the bottom of the ocean and moderately work the jig up and down, bouncing it off the bottom. By working the jig this way, it will cause puffs of sand or tap the structure causing noise and, in turn, the grouper will come out to inspect the noise and will cause a reaction strike.
For grouper fishing, I recommend a stout 50- to 80-pound rod and a reel to match. Make sure to have heavy drag set on your reel so you can muscle him away from the structure. Braid is a great line to have for these fish since it does not stretch. I would recommend at least 50- to 60-pound braid on the spool attached to 60-pound fluorocarbon leader and if baiting, use a 8/0 circle hook.
Just remember, this month the mahi run will be in full swing, just in case the grouper are not in a hungry mood or you limit out on grouper quickly.