How to Fish for Goliath Grouper Near Boca Grande, Florida
The gaping maw and brown and yellow mottled scales of goliath grouper (Serranus itajara), formerly known as jewfish, tempt novice and experienced anglers alike. These fish, found in few waters throughout the world, live in the Gulf of Mexico. Goliath grouper live in depths up to 150 feet; this, coupled with their size make angling from a boat a better choice. Goliath grouper can weigh 800 pounds, although the record in Florida is 680 pounds. Fishermen have little chance of finding these fish from a pier or the shoreline in Boca Grande.
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Things You'll Need
- Boat or charter boat suitable for deep-sea fishing
- Florida saltwater fishing license
- Bait
- Rod, reel and tackle
- 8/0 and 10/0 hooks
- 30-pound fishing line
- Cooler
- Hook puller
- Gaff
Instructions
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Catch Goliath Grouper
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1
Decide whether you will use a private boat or charter a commercial boat. Most mature goliath grouper like crevices, rock formations and artificial or natural reefs. If you don't know where to find these types of structures, or if you don't have a boat suitable for water a few miles offshore, find a Boca Grande sportfish to charter. Check the Pine Island Marina in St. James City for charters.
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2
Get a fishing license. Florida law requires all anglers to have a license. If you're going on a public charter, it's likely that the charter boat company has taken care of this for you. Always check; most bait and tackle shops will sell licenses, and you can also purchase one online from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
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Find underwater structure. Again, if you're chartering a boat, the captain will take care of this. If you're in your own boat, use your boat's GPS to locate the structures in the Boca Grande area.
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4
Cast using live or fresh bait. The largest shrimp you can find or 6-inch strips of freshly dead squid work well; you can also use smaller bait to attract smaller fish and, in turn, use them for bait.
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5
Set the hook, play the fish and reel it in. Make sure you're using 30-pound line (or heavier) and a large enough hook. Grouper are notorious for twisting line around rocks and other objects, so if you're paying out a lot of line, that may be what's happening. In most cases that will mean you're going to lose the fish - along with your bait, hook and a good chunk of line. Practice and repetition is the only thing that works to land a goliath grouper.
Bringing The Fish Aboard
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A goliath grouper will not, as they say, "go gently into that good night." Rather, it will fight you at every turn. Use your gaff to spear the fish before you try to bring it aboard.
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Hoist the fish over the gunwales. You may need a second person for this; enlist the aid of a fishing buddy or, on a charter trip, a crew member. Don't worry about this too much. If you land a fish large enough to require two people to bring it aboard, you'll have an audience and the crew will be there, ready to help.
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Use the hook puller to get your fish out. The hook may or may not have bait attached.
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Put the grouper in the cooler.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're on a charter boat, don't forget to tip the mate, especially if he's helped you land the fish.
Don't give in to temptation to fish the mangroves for goliath grouper. Juveniles - up to 3 feet in length - find sanctuary in there. The population suffered in the latter part of the 20th century, a problem that's made worse by catching the young.
References
Resources
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Saltwater Regulations: Goliath Grouper
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Recreational Saltwater Licenses and Permits
- Lee County Parks: Pine Island Commercial Marina
- Florida Fishing Spots: Artificial Reefs in Southwest Florida
- Sportfishing Charters in West Central Florida
- Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association: Fishing Guides
- Photo Credit grouper image by Earl Robbins from Fotolia.com
