It’s time to go Grouper fishing folks! The marinas are open in Miami-Dade and it is Grouper season! Fischer and Laurel are showing off a couple of good ones.
Groupers are some of Florida’s most iconic fish species. These big bottom-dwellers are a favorite of most South Florida anglers. There are many different types of Grouper in South Florida. In this post, we will give you a bit of information on three of the most popular ones, the Black Grouper, the Gag Grouper and the Red Grouper.
BLACK GROUPER
Black Grouper is one of the largest species of Grouper in the Atlantic. They are loved and sought after by both recreational anglers and commercial crews. They can grow to well over 4 feet and easily top 100 pounds. The average catch in Florida is around half that length, weighing between 5 and 20 pounds.
Black Grouper hang out around rocky bottoms and reefs on both the east and west coasts of Florida. Adults can be found wandering the ocean in anything from 60 to over 250 feet of water. In the summer, however, the can be found spawning in much shallower seas, sometimes as little as 30 feet deep. Juveniles stick to these inshore spots until they’re big enough to fend for themselves.
GAG GROUPER
Gag Grouper, commonly known as “Grey Grouper,” are a staple of reef fishing trips around the Gulf and up the Atlantic. They don’t grow as big as Black Grouper, usually maxing out somewhere around 50 pounds. Even so, the average catch is in the same 5–20 lb bracket as Black Grouper.
Adult Gag Grouper live in similar places to most Grouper species: reefs, drop-offs, and other rocky structure in 60+ feet of water. However, younger Gags can be found in estuaries and even seagrass beds, so don’t be surprised if you hook one while you’re on the hunt for Redfish and other inshore species.
RED GROUPER
If you are ready for some offshore reef fishing, this is where you will find the big, tasty Red Grouper. These deep-water hunters are a big reason why people venture offshore when there are so many fish in the shallows. They look great and taste even better!
The average Red Grouper weighs somewhere in the 5–10 lb range, and anything over 2 feet long is a rare catch. They live around rocky bottom up to 1,000 feet down, so you may have to travel 20 miles or more to get to them. I can tell you it will definitely be worth the trip!
Give us a call today and let’s get fishing!