[dropcap]G[/dropcap]rouper will be the fish flavor of the month this May for most offshore anglers on the Treasure Coast. May 1st is the opening day of Florida`s eight-month “Grouper Season”, as anglers can once again catch and keep certain members of the grouper family. May becomes celebration time for fish “grocery collectors” and “meat hunters” alike, as the four month closed season comes to an end.
Bottom fishing for grouper is a full contact sport in the world of offshore angling, especially when one gets attached to fish that are 20-pounds or better. Grouper of this stature test the mental and physical prowess of the angler, who must combine fishing strategy with heavy tackle to steer these bottom brawlers to the surface. While there are many species of grouper caught east of Stuart, gag and red groupers are the most populated of the species on the local reefs of our area. Anglers who present live and dead baits around the bottom of reef structures will regularly intersect grouper from 15-to 35-pounds. The current Florida State Record for gag grouper is held by a fish that weighed in just over 80-pounds!
Locally, grouper inhabit a wide swath of offshore rod and reel territory from depths of 30- to 180-feet of water, with depths of 70- to 160-feet being the go to zone for serious grouper fisherman as they dial in their strategies. At these depths, anglers must position their boats directly over the top of reef structures, by either drifting or anchoring, and deploy baits at the base of these structures. Grouper will elevate in the water column to take a bait, but characteristically stay tight to the bottom. Heavy tackle in the form of 4/0 to 6/0 reels spooled with braided line of 80-to 150-pound test will yield the best, successful “Grouper Getting” results. Terminal tackle includes weights sufficient to reach and hold baits at the bottom, heavy mono filament leaders of 100- to 150-pound test, and J or circle hooks of 7/0 to 10/0, in size. Grouper will eat a wide variety of cut and live baits, and anglers will have a large selection of baits from these categories. Live grunts, pinfish, and threadfin herring will be the grouper`s favorite snack, with dead representatives of these same baits being equally as irresistible to a hungry grouper.
Anglers should be sure to check current fish regulations for size and bag limits, as each and every species of grouper possesses its own unique state and federal requirements to be a “keeper” fish.