The red grouper bite has been off compared to last year, but things are picking up. Fishing hard bottom (Swiss cheese bottom) areas in 100 to 130 feet has been the most productive.

Find the hard bottom by looking for shows of fish and bait holding on the bottom, then drift slowly over it and drag bait along the bottom. If you hook a fish, mark that spot for the next drift. Use enough weight to hold the bait on the bottom without floating up. Let out line from time to time to keep the bait down.

Start with frozen sardines with the tails pinched off. If the bite slows, switch to live bait. Live vermilion snapper are red grouper candy, but pinfish, squirrelfish, and Spanish sardines also work. The most productive bait is an 8- to 10-ounce white jig with a 8-inch glow-colored grub tail attached. Tip the jig with a whole small squid or a piece of cut grunt to add scent. Don't move the rod, just let the bait drag along the bottom.

When you feel the hit don't set the hook, just reel as fast as you can, leaving the rod down until you feel the weight of the fish, then bring the rod up and keep reeling.

- Capt. Randy Rochelle runs the charter boat Gotta' Go out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 528-1213.

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