Red Grouper Fishing Reports

Lots a red grouper and red snapper offshore in about 90 feet.

Great day this past weekend with Some regular clients were available for charters throughout the holidays

Great day this past weekend with Some regular clients were available for charters throughout the holidays

Cero and Spanish mackerel bite has been great on the reef and in the nearshore channels. Mangrove and yellow tail bite has stayed consistent. Lane snapper have been on fire but FWC apparently knows that and have put an emergency closure on lane snapper in state gulf water. This is not updated/ reflected on fish rules app. So there has been a lot of confusion and frustration surround the species and legalities. Offshore there are still a few mahi being caught, wahoo bite is great, or just more guys targeting/ posting them. Tuna (blackfin) have started showing up. Live bait is plentiful on the beaches and lots of guys throwing the net. Sabikis on markers have also been filling the livewell.

Fishing has been great with this colder front moving In. There's lots of bull reds offshore along the wrecks with the red snappers.

Snapper, grouper, mahi, and my PB bonefish while on anchor at the dry tortugas

Bottom fishing has been where it's at past week. Families visiting for the thanksgiving holiday wanted to bring home meat. Scattered sailfish and mahi for those willing to risk a goose egg.

Bottom fishing has been where it's at past week. Families visiting for the thanksgiving holiday wanted to bring home meat. Scattered sailfish and mahi for those willing to risk a goose egg.

The fishing has been awesome lately and we're in the Destin fishing rodeo I am running specials for October & November at 275 an hour.

The fishing has been awesome lately and we're in the Destin fishing rodeo I am running specials for October & November at 275 an hour.

The fishing has been awesome lately and we're in the Destin fishing rodeo I am running specials for October & November at 275 an hour.

On the nearshore reefs there’s been a good push of larger flounder with most ranging from 18”-25”. The flounder have been biting mullet, pogies, and baby croakers in the 3-7”range using a Carolina rig 1oz -3oz depending on the tide. Best bites have been around the barges and APCs. If you get a pretty day there’s been a good push of grouper as shallow as 50-60ft on the ledges. The best baits have been pin fish and live pogies. Around the jetties there has been some trout redfish flounder and Spanish . Most of the trout have been caught on live shrimp floating down along the rocks anywhere from 5 to 10 foot down. You can catch some of the redfish using the slip corks with live shrimp or Just off the rocks on the outside and around the channel there’s been some bigger (over slot)redfish you can use cut bait (blue fish, pogies, mullet) or live pogies on a Carolina rig (2-3oz weight with 12”-16” 40lb fluorocarbon leader with a 8/0 circle hook. These bigger reds aren’t the main bull run which should start very soon but are more of our local fish pushing to the jetties with all the bait in the ocean. While fishing for these reds there is a good amount of flounder have been tight to the rocks and hanging around any bottom structure don’t be surprised if you catch them in the channel too. If you just fishing for flounder the outside of the jetties when the water is cleanest with a 1/4 ounce jig head with a finger mullet has been the best. If you start seeing an area with Spanish jumping and chasing mullet try anchoring in that area and start throwing live mullet around the boat on