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Outdoors

Grouper will bite in 'Grounds'

By ED WALKER
Published February 12, 2005

Things have been tough for grouper anglers. Cold fronts have been coming at a rate that rarely allows the wind and water to settle enough to get offshore or in between.

On the few days the weather is nice, the cold water has been contributing to heavy fog. Even when you make it out there, the bite has been virtually non-existent inside 50 feet, which in some areas is a long way. The few successful trips have come from anglers and divers who've been able to go to 100 feet of water or the prime bottom known as the Florida Middlegrounds. In "the Grounds," the water stays warmer and the fish usually are willing to bite about any bait. Experienced anglers, however, can be found trying to scoop up the biggest live bait in the well upon arrival to a new spot. Bigger is better out here. You can catch an 8-pound gag or a mangrove snapper on cutbait and might even get a big fish. Yet when you send down a half pound of live porgy or pound of Key West grunt, you're going to get only the monsters.

Last week, there was a boat that landed two gag grouper more than 50 pounds while fishing a 30-foot ledge in the Middlegrounds. Each fish gobbled up an oversized live bait on an extra heavy bottom rod.

There are some grouper that grow even larger than the gags. Black grouper, affectionately known to many commercial anglers as Carbos, can get to 100-plus pounds. Though these fish rarely are landed on rod and reel, presumably due to their strength and penchant for living deep in the crevasses and caves, they're down there.

To experienced underwater hunters, the big Carbos are the ultimate prize. Divers working the Middlegrounds and nearby areas have landed fish 120 pounds after extensive battles. The fish often will dive into the deepest caves after being speared, and it may take an entire tank of air or even two tanks and multiple spears to extract them. Following a giant angry grouper into a silted-out cave on the bottom at 135 feet isn't for the inexperienced.

Catching grouper more than 30 pounds on rod and reel takes heavy-duty equipment and a strong back. As soon as these fish sense trouble, such as a hook in their mouth, they rush to the nearest structure to take cover. Then it becomes a tug of war. If the fish makes it to his hiding place, he wins. If not, the angler has a chance.

Tackle for the big boys should consist of 100-pound test monofilament, a 5- to 9-foot section of 150-pound leader and enough weight to force a large live bait that doesn't want to go to the bottom to do so.

When the bite comes, the first step should be to crank the handle until the rod bends all the way down. This eliminates most of the stretch in the line and allows you to get a positive hook set. Next is a matter of getting the best leverage. Some anglers put the rod butt under their arm. Others prefer to have it in a rod belt at the waist line. Either way, it's all about pulling the hardest and gaining line when possible.

Once the fish is moved off the bottom, the pressure can be eased somewhat since the structure no longer is a factor and the line or leader could have been damaged during the initial struggle. If all has gone well, a steady lift and crank all the way to the surface and gaff in the lip will close the deal.

[Last modified February 12, 2005, 00:24:15]