Outdoors

Be ready to change tactics for red grouper

By DAVE ZALEWSKI
Published August 31, 2007

The best option right now in offshore fishing is targeting red grouper in 70 to 102 feet of water. It might be necessary to wade through many undersized fish (regulation's minimum size is 20 inches) to end up with the one-per-person-per-day bag limit.

Fishing lighter tackle creates less stress on the smaller fish when bringing them up from the depths. We ask our anglers to retrieve slowly when they feel a smaller fish on the line. Doing this, we have seen few fish come up with protruding stomachs, and upon release these smaller fish immediately bolt for the bottom.

There are three ways to target red grouper. The first is to anchor over flat hard limestone bottom. The larger grouper prefer the edges of the hard bottom where it transitions to sand. They wait there for smaller baitfish to leave the protection of the rocky areas. A good fish finder, properly tuned, will show this edge and the boat should be positioned directly above it.

When wind and current allow, drifting can be effective. Sinker weight must be adjusted so the bait remains close to the bottom. Large butterflied squirrelfish is a good bait choice because it is difficult for smaller fish to take them off the hook. Large jig heads with large plastic tails or live baits hooked through the lips produce many large fish when drifting.

Fishing live bait piles, which often run from the surface to the bottom, are another method. The ones spotted on the fish finder usually result in fewer fish, but larger ones. When fishing these bait stacks it is necessary to "motor fish" - keeping the boat over the bait school by bumping it in and out of gear. Not every bait pile will have predators under it, but when one is found the fish will be above average in size. Be ready with baited hooks and drop the baits to the bottom as soon as the boat is positioned above the bait school.

Mahi-mahi, or dolphin fish, are active in depths as shallow as 60 feet out to as far as one chooses to venture. The inshore fish are small, but provide great sport on light tackle. The larger mahi-mahi can be targeted in the depths of 180 feet and deeper by trolling high-speed lures or deploying live bait flat lines while bottom fishing.

Spanish mackerel have been "hit or miss" on the inshore and mid water artificial reefs, but whenever they are present nonstop action is the norm. It is always worthwhile to spend a few minutes trolling these reefs on the way offshore to see if a school has taken up residence.

Dave Zalewski charters the Lucky Too out of Madeira Beach. Call (727) 397-8815.

[Last modified August 31, 2007, 00:37:22]