Winter has taken hold. Anglers will have to work harder to produce grouper in the more shallow depths after the most recent session of cold fronts.
Last week, 70-foot depths produced decent catches of gags. Water temperatures held in the mid to upper 60s, keeping appetites aggressive. Many ledges and live bottoms held fish tipping the scales at 15 pounds. Bringing 10 to 15 keepers to the dock was considered a normal day. Dead and live baits worked with equal success.
But the dropping water temperatures have put a halt to many appetites. The fish will show great on the sonar, but not all will eat. This can be frustrating for charter captains, knowing what's down there but not having any cooperation from the fish.
Keeping some sort of action on the bottom is important during these struggling times. Keeping a double-hooked grunt rod working while bottom baits are presented is a great way to get things rolling. Tipped with squid, these rigs cause lots of commotion. The grunts - which are impervious to cold - will aggressively fight over the squid baits. If there is any large grouper in the area, they'll investigate the ruckus, hopefully snatching one of your baits.
Baits that work during these frigid times are sardines, squid, grunt fillets, chunks of mullet and endless others. The key is to have something easy to grab, because the fish are not interested. Keep the baits on the bottom with little movement. Lifting the sinker repeatedly to check your bait will scare the bigger grouper away.
Another tip for cold-water grouper digging is to not set the hook. This tactic of "cranking, not yanking" will give you more success. Grouper tend to hold the bait lightly in their mouths. Let the grouper grab the bait, then wait until they start to swim away with it. Then reel quickly rather than yanking on the line.
- Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call 727 595-3276, or e-mail sales@jawstoo.com
