[dropcap]W[/dropcap]ith only two months before grouper season closes, many anglers will be targeting these brutes. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people get smoked by these powerful fish. You want to go after them with some stout gear. We’re using an 8-foot DLX35H Star rod with Shimano Trinidad TN50 spooled with 100-pound test braided line. We’ll use 8 feet of 80-to-100-pound test leader with a #7 OT circle hook. For a quality bait, nothing beats a hand sized live pinfish.
Now let’s talk about where to find that prized bait. The channel markers in the Intracoastal are holding them this time of year. Take a Sabiki rig and tip the hooks with a piece of shrimp and cast near the channel marker. If you’re good with a cast net, chum the water up and make a throw. Another good spot to round up bait is the SISA (Sebastian Inlet Sportfishing Association) reefs offshore. Check them out online for the locations of the reefs.
Hot spots for grouper are the 80 and 95 foot reefs, as well as the cones in the deep water near the Gulf Stream.
A handful of mangrove snappers have started showing up on the docks, as well as kingfish, cobia and big amberjacks from the outer reefs. Watch for a strong showing of sailfish as the November cold fronts push in.