In this article I will discuss the inshore groupers of the Florida Gulf coast and their behavior. Groupers, as a general rule of thumb, live close to structure where they can find food and shelter from predators. This is why we target them on submerged rocks, docks, bridges and natural features. It is important to note that there are many species of grouper off the Florida coast and in just about every other body of water in the world. Some are very similar, but there are differences between them all.
I will discuss the three most popular groupers we fish for; Black, Scamp and Gag (Red). The following information will vary from region to region and if you are not catching grouper you expected, try searching for them near structure and different parts of the water column.
Black Grouper: Depth is very important when targeting Black groupers. They can be found as shallow as 30ft and as deep as 200ft or more. Try looking around wrecks, rock piles and bridge pilings. The Blackgill grouper is a species of the black and can be caught anywhere from 20-100ft of water, but they are mostly found in 30-60ft on most coastlines.
Scamp Grouper: Scamp groupers reside around structures such as wrecks and reefs. Look for them to inhabit depths from 20ft-180ft. My biggest Scamp grouper to date is at least 100lbs and was caught on a wreck in around 80ft of water.
Gag Grouper: Gags can be found as shallow as 30ft and as deep as 200ft or more. Try looking around wrecks, rock piles and bridge pilings. Gags are the most abundant and available of all groupers and can be found in almost every location I have mentioned above.
When it comes to fishing gear, I only use hand lines most of the time. Of course there is nothing wrong with using conventional reels or rods, but for me it is just more fun catching them by hand. I use a length of high-test braided line around 130lb test tied to a strong steel leader, which is then tied to an over sized circle hook. For weight I carry a 5oz egg sinker on my hand lines and 4oz weights on my conventional set up, but the number one thing you need when bottom fishing is patience! There is no reason to drag a grouper from deep water, because they will usually spook and swim away before you can ever boat them. When you feel a hit, just wait for the grouper to swallow your bait before setting the hook. This way you will have a better chance of landing them because they won't be able to spit the bait after you hook them. If you aren't sure what kind of grouper it is, don't try and catch it with conventional gear! A large chunk of fishing line wrapped around a grouper's jaws can seriously injure or even kill them.
Below I have posted some pictures of my past catches over the years. All three species are very similar, but can be identified by their unique characteristics. My personal favorite is catching all three in one day!
