Lotsa grouper...

[triumphrick]

It's my anniversary today...and momma wanted a fishing trip. So, we headed out an spent a few hours rounding up these guys....

Yes, all the gags were returned. Barb had two that were 28". We did get three legal reds to bring home.

Spent about 5 hrs out and fished 48'.

Brought over 20 grouper into the boat.

Great day, and still time to get cleaned up and go out for a while!

 

[jere1972]

Re: Lotsa grouper...

Nice Catch, have had similar success out of tampa area the past few weeks, in 38-45'. plenty of short reds, plenty of back breaking gags, not really seeing the shortage on these gags! hope they lift the ban in 2012.....or at least extend the season. what were you dropping for bait? we were having the most success on frozen sardines, and cut bait, seems bait had to be dead, live pins were'nt doing it!

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Lotsa grouper...

Yeah...I hear you about the closure. This is our third trip in the past month and we have had the same gag catches each time!!

We start with cut squid...catch some grunts...cut them up and fish them for only as long as the slab is bloody and oozing some scent.

Then we went to the baitwell and fished sailors choice, or spottails. Palm sized with the tails cut off. All that scent had the grouper running the grunts off and chowing down. I had frozen spanish sardines with us and never opened the box....

The spottails were all sabikid in about 8' near some rockpiles close in. This time of year pinfish are hard to get..so these were certainly welcomed!

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Lotsa grouper...

very nice catch. Hope they'er biting the week of the 9th in Marathon.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Lotsa grouper...

The spottails were all sabikid in about 8' near some rockpiles close in. This time of year pinfish are hard to get..so these were certainly welcomed!

How long are the baits on sabikis..... 1" etc.?

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Lotsa grouper...

No, they are around 5" - 6".....about palm sized...gotta have a big bait for a big grouper! some guys use a whole mullet head...and some even use whole small grunts...

We use cut squid...really like the tentacles (not testicles..) cause they stay on so well...and use the #8 sabiki hooks.

When the bait is thick, it's not uncommon to pull up 3-5 baits at a time. That's how they were the day we went out...

Good luck in Marathon!! We were just down in Sugarland Key for the month of October...had a blast! Ya gotta love the Keys...we sure do!