Curious about how big do groupers get and how to fish for grouper? These massive fish can grow to be giants, but with the right technique, you can reel them in like a pro. Discover the secrets of successful grouper fishing and learn how to land a catch that will make your friends green with envy. Join us as we dive into the world of grouper fishing and explore the good tackles for fish these magnificent creatures.
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Before we talk about how to catch groupers, I think we should first get to know these fish. Perhaps you have seen dishes made with grouper on the dining table, but have you ever seen what a whole grouper looks like? Do you know how big groupers are and how large they can grow?
There are over 100 species of groupers in the world, and both groupers and sea basses belong to the family Serranidae, which is part of the Perciformes order. These fish can be found in tropical and subtropical waters around the globe, with most species inhabiting the Indo-Pacific region.
The main differences among various species of groupers are their size, coloration, and habitat preference, but they are all characterized by their large mouths and stout bodies, the common type including gag, red, Snowy, and Scamp.
Currently, the Goliath grouper is the largest species of grouper in the world, with the Atlantic Goliath grouper being the largest in size.
Many small species of groupers generally weigh no more than 20 pounds and measure within 25 feet in length.
However, as we mentioned earlier, the world’s largest grouper species, the Goliath grouper, can weigh up to 800 pounds and measure about 8 feet in length, with an average weight of around 400 pounds, and the heaviest caught one so far was 680 pounds.
How to fish for grouper? 7 tips to catch groupers easily!
Groupers can be caught all year round, and most people prefer to fish for them during the summer. Some groupers inhabit in shallow waters, while many others live in deep waters. Deep-sea groupers like to live near coral and seaweed, as well as rocky areas under rocks with caves, usually at depths of around 60 to 755 feet underwater.
After well understanding the groupers, we can know that catching small groupers may be relatively easy, as they may only weigh half or even less than the weight of the angler. But if you would like to catch large groupers, it may be a challenging and exciting experience. Here are some tips to fish for groupers:
tip 1 : Prepare proper fishing tackles
Choosing the right fishing equipment is first step. Use a strong, sturdy rod with heavy line and a weight that is appropriate for the depth of the water you are fishing in.
If your target is smaller groupers, you can use a fishing rod of about 12 to 20 pounds. If you want to catch larger groupers, it is recommended to use a heavier fishing rod, such as a 30 to 50-pound fishing rod.
tip 2 : Choose a big reel
When fishing for grouper, it is important to use a reel with sufficient strength to handle the potential size of the grouper.
Therefore, choosing a big reel is one of the important techniques for grouper fishing. It is recommended to choose a reel with a capacity of 15 to 40 pounds to ensure its strength, and different poundage reels should be chosen according to the actual situation.
tip 3 : Put on the lure or the bait
Grouper can be caught on lure or bait, but the live bait, such as squid, shrimp, small fish, can best attract the groupers. Be sure that your bait is fresh, so that groupers could be easier to be caught.
Lure is also a good option to get groupers. If you want to catch deep-sea groupers, it is suggested using the lure that is relatively heavy, allowing the jig to own a stable swimming form and can sink steadily.
tip 4 : Keep patience
Catching small groupers is not difficult as they are usually smaller in size and more likely to take bait. However, if you want to catch larger groupers, it requires the right heavy-duty equipment, proper fishing techniques like slow jigging, and of course, more patience.
tip 5 : try trolling
Interestingly, groupers have a gentle temperament. Although they have a habit of burrowing into holes, they have to come out of their holes or shelter for food. Once they are hooked, they struggled fiercely to swim toward the bottom for hiding into the holes. Try to troll the groupers, so they will be harder to go back there. After a while, they will gradually give up struggling.
tip 6 : Choose right boat position
Accurate boat positioning is crucial for fishing for groupers, as they tend to stay close to a large structure such as rocks, sunken ships, etc. If the bait is too far away from the structure, they may not notice it.
Therefore, when determining the location of the boat, the anchor can be positioned a bit ahead of the structure so that the bait can naturally drift towards the structure with the current.
tip 7 : fishing when the water temperature is cool
Cool water temperature usually makes groupers more aggressive and prone to feed actively. They tend to move towards shallow water areas and can be found in waters ranging from 10 to 50 feet deep.
Therefore, choosing a cool weather day to fish for groupers may increase the chances of catching them in shallow water areas. Don’t forget to check the water temperature before heading out to sea!
Where to catch grouper?
Now that you know about the grouper fish and how to catch it, I believe you would like to know where to go to catch it.
As we mentioned earlier, groupers inhabit areas near the seabed and prefer to hide in places with coral or seaweed clusters, or shelter in rock caves. In addition, large obstacles on the seabed such as wrecks and rock walls are also places where groupers like to hide.
Living in hidden places not only allows them to avoid danger, but also enables them to secretly observe prey and suddenly rush out to capture food.
Groupers are mainly found in the waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. The most famous spot for catching groupers is in the southern waters of Florida, USA, including the Bahamas, the southern Gulf of Mexico, and around Cuba, and as far south as the Caribbean.
Other locations where groupers can often be found include the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Costa Rica, Panama, Madagascar, and the Strait of Gibraltar.
Are goliath groupers endangered? Check if they are conservation species while fishing!
Are you ready to go grouper fishing? Before you set out, there are some things you need to know. Not all groupers can be caught and eaten indiscriminately. Due to past overfishing, inadequate conservation efforts, and a lack of regulatory oversight in the oceans, some species of groupers are now critically endangered and cannot be caught for consumption.
Even if caught, they must be released back into the ocean. Here are a few types of groupers that are currently listed as critically endangered:
Did you notice that the world’s largest grouper mentioned earlier, the “Goliath Grouper,” is also one of the endangered species? If you are planning to go fishing for groupers, please be mindful that catching the above-mentioned fish may violate the law.
Make sure to check local regulations before going fishing, and even if you catch any of the protected grouper species, remember to release them back into the ocean as soon as possible!
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