By Caitlyn Gatrell
The action is really starting to heat up in Southwest Florida! As the water temperature rises and the heat increases, warm-loving critters are making their way out. Amongst these creatures, we have some of the strongest fish in the sea: Grouper. Now there are many grouper species out there, about 160 to be named, so the opportunities are pretty abundant. Some you can find nestled away in the backwaters or mangroves, and others you need to head offshore for. Now, I don’t really fish offshore, but I can tell you what’s going on inshore!
As we enter into the fun of fishing during summer, grouper have definitely made their way to our hooks. We have been sighting and hooking up to them more and more. A few popular species we have seen include goliath and gag grouper. Even the little ones have some serious strength, often doing whatever they can to get away.
Typically, we pull up to our honey holes with live or cut bait, heavy leader and hooks, and a max drag. Fishing in the backcountry and mangroves can be tricky for grouper as there are plenty of structures and loopholes for them to rush into. Matter of fact, we have lost quite a few as they are pretty good at running and hiding and they seem to know how to fray the line until breakage. You have to be prepared for grouper. Essentially, we pull up, throw our bait down, let out a little line, then reel in the slack and keep it tight. Then we wait. Honestly, with grouper it’s not much of a wait as they seem to bite pretty quick. And when they do, it’s sudden, hard, and fast. You have a couple of seconds to take control, steering them away from structure before they flood in and it’s too late. When you’re positive the fish is not in a hole, you have to make sure to fight hard! You have to pull them up and reel down fast so they don’t pull more line. Cupping the spool and turning them towards the boat is needed, but be careful, if you go too hard it can cause too much line tension then a break.
The battle is often tough but it’s fun! Your arms may be hurting but you’ll be excited once you see that boil by the boat and get a flash of their cool colors. Grouper are actually pretty cool looking and they are very hardy fish. Be careful when you pull them up and dehook them as they are quite feisty and have sharp teeth and gill plates. I always say, they are some of the fastest released fish out there. They are angry, feisty, and ready to get away from you! They often give a huge kick and splash before diving back down to the bottom. I do love a good grouper fight, no matter the size, as they are always willing to battle with you!