GROUPER IN KEY WEST
Groupers are a popular fish to catch in South Florida, especially in the Key West area. They are a ray-finned fish that can grow extremely large. They have stout bodies with enormous mouths. The largest grouper is the Atlantic Goliath, which can weigh up to 800 lbs and can be over 8 feet long! Their colors range from yellow to brown to gray with some dark spots. The most common types of grouper are Atlantic Goliath grouper, giant grouper and the red grouper. In Key West, the common ones are the Goliath, black, gag and red groupers. The grouper is a popular dish in Key West, as it has a mild taste and can be prepared as preferred.
WHEN TO CATCH GROUPER
There are only certain seasons in Key West that you can catch groupers. It runs from May 1st to December 31st. These are for the common groupers. Other species of groupers can be caught year round on the Gulf side. Groupers love being around reefs and man made wrecks. So anywhere where there is structure, a grouper is likely to be there. They feed around rocks as well. The best time of the day is early morning or late afternoon to catch this magnificent fish.
WHERE TO CATCH GROUPER
They love being near structures such as reefs, rocks and man made wrecks. The younger grouper enjoys being in the shallower areas, but if you’re looking for the bigger ones, you’ll need to go out in open water. There are many man made wrecks and offshore reefs in the Key West area. Our experienced Key West deep sea fishing captains can show you where to go to catch a grouper. Once you have an area figured out, you can set out and catch the grouper you are fishing for!
HOW TO CATCH GROUPER
Your best bet of catching a grouper is with a live bait of some sort, perhaps a live smaller fish. You can use lures and jigs as well, but you’ll need a lot of luck and skill getting them on those. One of the best ways to lure a grouper is have larger live bait such as crabs or pinfish. It’s better if they’re alive so that you can easily lure the grouper to the bait.
EQUIPMENT TO CATCH GROUPER
Slow trolling larger live baits is one of the best ways to catch groupers. However, you can catch these fish by deep water plug & jig trolling as well. There are specific lures that attract groupers to it. You should know, groupers will fight you (well the hook) so you should have a quality fishing rod that does not break easily. Because of their weight, they pull very hard. For this reason, you’ll also need a strong reel and a heavy line that doesn’t break. Of course, if you’re targeting the largest grouper of them all, you’ll need a reel that is capable of 90lbs of drag and at least 400 lbs + of monofilament. Just remember that you can not keep the Goliath grouper, so when you catch one, just take a selfie and release them back into the ocean.
More about Grouper
Grouper are fish of the sub family Epinephelinae. There are a number of different fish that fall under this name. Sea bass are also in the sub family Epinephelinae and are closely related to Grouper.
- Scientific name: Epinephelinae
- Higher classification: Serranidae
- Lifespan: 37 years
- Rank: Subfamily
Is Grouper good to eat?
Yes Grouper is good to eat. It has a subtle flavor and can be cooked up in a number of ways.
Is Grouper the same as Sea Bass?
Grouper belong the same family as sea bass. This make Grouper very closely related to Sea Bass.
Is Grouper Healthy?
Grouper is a healthy fish to eat with low saturated fats and a good source of key vitamins including B6 and B12.
Are Grouper Dangerous?
Grouper are not dangerous though their large size can sometimes be imposing. In fact grouper have earned themselves the tittle of genital giants.