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How to Catch a Florida Grouper

Grouper is a fish found in the Florida waters of the Gulf Coast and in the Florida Keys. They have a high proportion of firm, lean, edible white meat compared with their body weight. The goliath grouper, a protected species, can reach lengths of more than eight feet and can weigh more than 680 pounds. Grouper prefer areas around submerged structures, such as shipwrecks and reefs, and are found in waters as shallow as six feet, as well as out in the deep sea.

Things You'll Need

Sturdy rod, 5 to 7 feet, heavy action, about 40-pound test
100-pound mono shock leader, 3 to 4 feet
Open-bail spinning reel
Heavy snap swivel tied on to the main line
8/0 hook
Free-sliding egg weight, about 3 to 8 ounces, but the lightest weight possible that will still reach the bottom
Live bait, such as pinfish, small perch and lizard fish

Instructions

- 1
  Check the weather forecast. A day with a low, or no chance of rain, and light east winds is ideal for calm gulf waters.
- 2
  Observe the direction of the tide if you are flat-line fishing near a pier or in shallow water, 4 to 12 feet deep. Find a rock pile or similar structure on the side of the pier where the water will pull your bait away from the pier or rocks. Bait the hook through the bottom lip, top lip and nostril. Let out enough line to reach the grouper near the bottom.
- 3
  Turn off the engine of your boat when you reach your destination, if you are using one to catch grouper in deeper waters. Allow the boat to drift. This works better than anchoring in one spot because as you pull the bait behind you, it disturbs the bottom and draws the attention of the bottom-feeding grouper.
- 4
  Bait the hook through the bottom lip, top lip and nostril. Let the bait drop to the bottom and allow it to drag behind the boat. There should be about 15 feet from the tip of the rod to the surface of the water to keep the bait away from the boat.
- 5
  Let go of the line when you feel a fish, count to five, snap the bail closed and begin to reel it in. Try to tire out the grouper before lifting it into the boat.

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