Anyone have any experience fishing for goliath groupers? Looking for recommendations and advice. Thanks.
General Discussion
Goliath Groupers
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Cutbait for jewfish. Fresh mullet if you can get it...Whole mullet if you're fishing for big ones.
I found them to be a PITA when fishing near mangroves - dashing in and taking my bait when sight fishing for other fish,then heading back into the roots before I could horse them away.
When fishing deepwater wrecks for other species I knew I had a big goliath grouper 'cuz it pulled hard,then stopped. I compared it to hooking a volkswagon bus that then drove into the garage and closed the door. There was no muscling that SOB out of the wreck...big ones around bridges know how to wrap the line around abutments and break you off.
It's easier to get a big fish by shark fishing. You don't need to fish around structure.
When spearfishing/lobster diving,it's clear some folks take them illegally. They avoid divers with spears but are attracted to divers with a net and tickle stick. They hang right behind you waiting for the diver to nurse a bug out of the hole. If it scoots,they get it. If you net it and measure it - and release it as too small - they try to eat it. If you break a leg or antenna off while catching it they eat it...all the while making a loud clicking noise....right behind you. It can be unnerving.
Or so I hear. lol
I found them to be a PITA when fishing near mangroves - dashing in and taking my bait when sight fishing for other fish,then heading back into the roots before I could horse them away.
When fishing deepwater wrecks for other species I knew I had a big goliath grouper 'cuz it pulled hard,then stopped. I compared it to hooking a volkswagon bus that then drove into the garage and closed the door. There was no muscling that SOB out of the wreck...big ones around bridges know how to wrap the line around abutments and break you off.
It's easier to get a big fish by shark fishing. You don't need to fish around structure.
When spearfishing/lobster diving,it's clear some folks take them illegally. They avoid divers with spears but are attracted to divers with a net and tickle stick. They hang right behind you waiting for the diver to nurse a bug out of the hole. If it scoots,they get it. If you net it and measure it - and release it as too small - they try to eat it. If you break a leg or antenna off while catching it they eat it...all the while making a loud clicking noise....right behind you. It can be unnerving.
Or so I hear. lol
Huge Grouper Fish Caught by Cape Coral Fisherman On Kayak
https://youtu.be/F2CCZzQ-Qes?si=NumNkPi1dFLUDaGj
They're not overly hard to catch provided that you find a spot and have the proper tackle. They like to hang out by filet tables, bridges, inlets, piers etc and will eat just about anything they can fit in their mouths. A big circle hook plus a heavy egg sinker on cable leader or really heavy mono will help you avoid getting cut off on structure.
Displaying 1 to 15 of 18 posts