Grouper are a favorite of anglers targeting bottom fish. This is mainly because they make excellent table fare and can get rather large. They are a member of the sea bass family. There are many different species of grouper found the waters of North America.
Most anglers target grouper by bottom fishing. Heavy tackle in the thirty to fifty pound class with conventional reels and boat rods is the standard. A heavy leader to protect against rubbing against objects on the bottom is used with an 8/0 or 9/0 hook and a heavy lead weight.
Grouper can be caught on fresh cut bait, such as mullet, mackerel or pinfish. They will also eat squid, octopus, and crabs. Live bait is by far the best bet. A live pinfish, a small gray or lane snapper, or a live cigar minnow are top draws for most grouper.
Grouper are very powerful and as a result heavy gear is needed. When hooked they will try to get into their hole or other protective area. The battle between grouper and angler is usually won or lost at this point. If the grouper makes it into a hole chances are your line will break. As a result many anglers tighten the drag on their reel down all the way to prevent the fish from reaching a hole.
Another popular method is freestyle jigging. With this technique a strong but flexible rod is used with a powerful reel. The reel is loaded with braid to prevent stretch and a wind-on fluorocarbon leader. Heavy metal jigs are then used with an assist style hook.
Species listed in this Wiki
Gag Grouper
Red Grouper
Scamp Grouper
Snowy Grouper
Speckled Hind
Warsaw Grouper
