Black Grouper Fishing Charters

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Recently Booked Black Grouper Fishing Charters

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Miami

Offshore Big Game Trip

100% (15)
36 ft 1 - 6 People From $117 / person

Flats, Inshore Fishing Charter in Key West

Key West "Flex" Sportfishing

100% (6)
24 ft 1 - 4 People From $163 / person

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Key West

Key West Fishing Slam

NEW
36 ft 1 - 6 People From $175 / person

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Key West

Key West Offshore Action

86% (7)
33 ft 1 - 6 People From $150 / person

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Freeport

Freeport Run - 38' Luhrs

NEW
38 ft 1 - 6 People From $370 / person

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Galveston

Going Deep - 35' Sea Hunter

100% (2)
35 ft 1 - 6 People From $342 / person

Most Popular Types of Black Grouper Trips

“Our Damn Good Guides go above and beyond to provide you an incredible trip, and we’ve handpicked every single one. We’re passionate about the outdoors and about empowering people to find the perfect-match guide for the trip of a lifetime, every time.”

Jonathan and Attison   |   Co-founders   |   Austin, Texas

Choose your trip by skill level

More Black Grouper Fishing Charters

Damn Good

A charter with Captain Jason is super flexible, allowing you to chase your favorite species or cross another fish off your bucket list! If you want to go offshore into the Gulf or fish Biscayne Bay, there are tons of options available—all for a reasonable price! On the bottom, there are multiple species of Snapper, Grouper, and Shark. In the middle depths, there are Jacks, Runners, Permit, Barracuda, and tons of other exciting sportfish. On this charter, you can mix it up, switching techniques depending on which species you're interested in catching. Captain Jason will provide the gear, bait, and licenses. All you need to bring is a sense of adventure, snacks and drinks! Get out there and get hooked! Read More

Nearshore Fishing Charter in Key Largo

Epic Biscayne Bay Trip

100% (5)
18 ft 1 - 3 People From $117 / person

Captain Mark will guide you on a thrilling adventure through the waters of Key West, Florida! You’ll be fishing aboard Captain Mark’s 40-foot Luhrs sportfisher, which is equipped with two 750-HP Caterpillar engines that will get you out to your destination quickly and seamlessly. She can accommodate up to 6 adventurous anglers and has a GPS, fishfinder, live bait well, and ice box. On this trip, you’ll be targeting a wide variety of species, including Billfish, like White Marlin and Sailfish, Mahi Mahi, Mutton Snapper, and Amberjack. You might also catch a few sharks. Prepare yourself to feel the intense power of this apex predator as you reel it in. The longer you go, the farther out you can travel, and the farther out you travel, the bigger the fish get! Don’t forget to bring a cooler to take home your day’s catch, food and drinks for the day (no glass), sunscreen, and a hat. Captain Mark will provide all rods, reels, tackle, and fishing licenses. Let go of your daily responsibilities and have some fun fishing with Captain Mark! Read More

Deep Sea, Inshore, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Key West

Key West Deep Sea Run - 40' Luhrs

100% (4)
40 ft 1 - 6 People From $233 / person

Come experience the Florida Keys on this incredible fishing adventure with Captain Justin! The Keys are a world-renowned fishing destination, and there's no better way to enjoy all that they have to offer than a trip aboard his 24' Sailfish. Captain Justin specializes in calm water, light tackle, “good times” fishing. This is ideal for beginner to intermediate anglers who are looking to bend some rods and hear the drag scream. Target species include Snappers, Groupers, Barracuda, and Shark. These will vary by season and weather, but rest assured—Captain Justin will put you on some awesome fish! You'll be fishing aboard his 24' Sailfish center console, a fast and manueverable boat ideal for fishing nearshore areas. Features include an enclosed head (restroom), large live well, freshwater shower/saltwater rinse down, comfortable seating, T-top for shade, and a JL Audio stereo system with subwoofers. The Sailfish has a variable deadrise hull that offers an incredibly smooth and comfortable ride, powered by a Suzuki 300HP engine with a maximum speed of 45mph. This is the only boat in the fleet that is equipped with LED lighting and offers night fishing and star gazing trips. Being a 24' single mono-hulled center console makes for the perfect fishing & diving platform. The Sailfish is the biggest boat in the shallow back country, and is more than capable of getting to the reef and beyond. Captain Justin will provide everything you need for a successful day out on the water, from rods, reels, and tackle, to ice, water, and fishing licenses. All he recommends you bring are any snacks and drinks and he'll take care of the rest! Dont miss this amazing fishing experience. Read More

Inshore, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Key West

Key West Fishing Adventure

100% (2)
24 ft 1 - 4 People From $225 / person
Damn Good

When you get out there with Captain Brandon on the flats, you're in for the ultimate hunt. Whether that's chasing cruising Permit, lurking Snook, or going after Sharks, there are a ton of top sportfish species just waiting to grab your hook! Summerland Key is one of the most beautiful places in Florida, and you'll be out there with a highly skilled, experienced guide! Captain Brandon runs a smooth operation on board his 17' Ankona skiff, and he'll be doing the utmost to put you on quality fish in record numbers! If you're a beginner or just looking to have some fun on your vacation, Brandon will help you catch a cooler full of tasty eating fish, including Snappers, Redfish, and Grouper. If you're a more advanced angler, you'll be more than welcome to take a shot at some of the premier sportfish, including Bonefish, Tarpon, Permit, and Snook. Either way, you'll have a blast and come home with photos and memories that will last a lifetime. Captain Brabndon can provide all of the gear for your trip—if you need it—and he'll have a cooler with ice, water, and soft drinks ready to rock and roll. Feel free to bring a snack or pick up a sandwich on your way to the dock. You can also bring any other drinks of your choice as well to be stored in the cooler on board. Don't forget your polarized sunglasses. These are essential out on the flats to help eliminate glare and see the fish as quickly as possible! Read More

Flats, Inshore, Nearshore Fishing Charter in Summerland Key

Summerland Key Flats Action

100% (6)
17 ft 1 - 3 People From $167 / person

Go aboard Captain Greg's beautiful 32' Sabalo and see what fishing in St. Peter's is all about! You'll be able to get a taste of everything on this trip, including nearshore reef fishing, offshore trolling, and everything in between. There are so many species available on this trip that we're barely able to list them all! The Gulf of Mexico is know as the Grouper capital of the world, and in the reefs, wrecks, and ledges you'll fish there are Black, Red, Scamp, Gag, and Goliath Grouper. Aside from bottomfish, there are also tons of Gray Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Red Snapper, Amberjack, and Triggerfish that can be caught on the same reefs! These fish are all absolutely delicious table fare, and Captain Greg is happy to clean your keepers at the end of the trip. For surface trolling, there's an abundance of King Mackerel, Mahi Mahi, Spanish Mackerel, Barracuda, and even Sharks! These species are a blast to catch and provide a challenge for every level of angler. You'll be fishing from a 32′ Sabalo sportfisher, built in the "Down East Cruiser" style. She has 15 feet of fishing deck space, with 11 rod holders and an open deck all the way around the stern. The 315-HP Cummins diesel engine makes her an extremely reliable fishing machine. With over 200 gallons of fuel capacity, she can take you out 100 miles and back with fuel to spare! In addition, she boasts 1800 lbs. of ice capacity; far more than a charter could ever need. This means there’s room for all your food, drinks, fish, and plenty of fresh ice. The creature comforts of this charter boat are more than worthy. Her central engine box has a cushion that’s 24 square feet and 6” thick for comfortable seating for six. There’s also a fish box with another 4 inch thick cushion that seats two. There’s also plenty of room to rest in the oversized v-berth below. Whether you want to relax on a fifty mile ride offshore or sit down and reel in a fish, there’s room for you AND five of your friends. Captain Greg will provide everything you need for a blue-ribbon day, including rods, reels, bait, and tackle. All you need to bring is sunscreen, proper clothing, sunglasses, and a smile! Read More

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing Charter in St. Petersburg

St. Pete Offshore Experience

100% (5)
32 ft 1 - 6 People From $117 / person

When you meet up with Captain Conan at the dock behind the Worldwide Sportsman don't forget to check off the side of the dock to see some giant Tarpon cruising around. These giant fish will get you fired up for your day offshore to be sure! After you've gawked at the Silver King, climb aboard Captain Conan's 32' Sea Vee and get comfortable! Equipped with all the equipment and gear you'll need the Just One More is always ready to take you offshore. After a quick motor out to the deep water, Captain Conan will get you started with some trolling for pelagic species like Mahi Mahi, Black Fin Tuna, Wahoo, and others! You will make many memories and go home with a great catch when you launch with Captain Conan. This 31' center console Sea Vee is a very safe boat with twin 300hp Mercury Verado engines. All you need to bring is some food and drink for your trip and some sun protection, Captain Conan will take care of the rest. Read More

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Islamorada

Deep Water Adventure

100% (4)
32 ft 1 - 6 People From $250 / person
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Everything to Know About Booking a black grouper fishing charter

What are the best black grouper fishing charters?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 183 black grouper trips, and the most popular trips are Offshore Big Game Trip guided by Bryan, Key West "Flex" Sportfishing guided by John, and Key West Fishing Slam guided by Mark.

Our guides are rated a 4.85 out of 5 based on 2408 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are licensed, insured, and vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly black grouper guides? Check out our beginner and family friendly black grouper guides.

What types of black grouper fishing charters are common?

Deep Sea fishing is the most popular for black grouper as well as nearshore fishing, inshore fishing, and flats fishing.

The most common fishing techniques are bottom fishing, trolling, and light tackle fishing but live bait fishing and heavy tackle fishing are popular as well.

How much do black grouper fishing charters cost?

for black grouper prices can range anywhere from an affordable $69 to $3,000 and up, but the average price for a half day trip for black grouper is $1,143. The average price for a full day trip for black grouper is $2,354.

What month is best for black grouper fishing?

The most popular season for black grouper fishing is spring, and most anglers book their trips 33 days in advance.

Do I need a fishing license for black grouper and what are the bag limits for black grouper?

See here for more information on black grouper fishing licenses, black grouper bag limits, and fishing season regulations for black grouper. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right black grouper rules and regulations.

What is a Black Grouper?

Black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci), also known as black or marbled rockfish, is a marine member of the grouper subfamily. It is often confused with the gag, misty, and Warsaw grouper. They are the largest keep-able member of the groupers, and are known for their strength and fast reflexes, giving them the nickname the “freight train”

They have a meaty, oblong body, with spiny dorsal and anal fins that have dark blue or black borders. They range from olive to gray in coloration and have dark, brassy spots on their head and sides. Their tiny eyes sit on a large, blocky head, with their lower jaw extending out.

Black grouper are protogynous hermaphrodites, which means that they are all born female. Once they reach the size and age of sexual maturity, at around ten years, some will turn into males for reproduction purposes.

How big do Black Grouper get?

Some rumors say black grouper can grow to over 50 inches long, and over 170 pounds, but the average catch is usually only a little over two feet in length, and between five to 20 pounds.

What's the biggest Black Grouper ever caught?

According to the IGFA, the world record for black grouper is 124 pounds. This monster was pulled out of the Gulf of Mexico near Texas, on January 11th, 2003 by Tim Oestreich II.

There are reports of a man named Alex Newman, who caught a black grouper weighing 124.18 pounds near Fort Myers, during a charity fishing tournament. However, it was not recognized by the IGFA.

Where is the best place to catch Black Grouper?

Black grouper can only be found in the western Atlantic Ocean. Juveniles can be found as far north as Massachusetts, and as far south as Brazil. The best places to catch adults are in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and near the Bahamas.

No matter where you go, black grouper will tend to gather near offshore wrecks and reefs, coming into shallower water between 30 and 120 feet deep during spawning, and 120 and 250 feet year-round.

When should I catch Black Grouper?

The best chance you will have at catching a black grouper is between May and August. This is when they come into shallower waters to spawn. Having them congregate in bigger groups, and lower water levels will help you to target and catch them.

However, the big trophy black grouper tend to stay in deeper water. Heading towards water 120-250 feet deep in the spring and winter will be the ticket, especially during a cold front, which is when they become their most active and hungry.

How do you catch Black Grouper?

Grouper are well known for their impressive strength. This makes it important to come prepared with some heavy-duty gear. A reel that can withstand a minimum of 20 pounds of drag, an 80-pound braided line, or 100-pound leader is necessary.

When it comes to bait, grouper aren’t very picky. Their biggest preference is the smellier, the better. Some options include baitfish like speedo mackerel, tinker mackerel, and yellowtail snapper, alive or dead. Keep in mind that persistent chumming, as well as keeping the depth of the hook in the bait shallow, can make all the difference.

Once you have prepared your bait, drop it right to the bottom where grouper like to hide among the coral ledges, rocks, and wrecks. Then get ready, as grouper are known to suck their food in whole. As soon as you feel that tug, get ready for a fight.

It is important to muscle up these tough old fish as quickly as possible. Allowing for slack, or time for them to swim off only gives them the means to get away into their hidey-hole among the sharp rocks and corals. The longer it takes, the more you’re increasing the odds of a cut line.

Are Black Grouper good to eat? What are the best Black Grouper recipes?

Black grouper is highly revered as one of the best fish to eat out of the ocean. It can be described as a mix of bass and halibut in taste. The meat is firm, with large flakes, and is very juicy.

There are many ways to prepare and serve grouper, for example in a sandwich, or served as the main with greens, potatoes, and hollandaise sauce. However, the resounding winner is to serve black grouper with lobster and shrimp. It pairs well due to the grouper’s natural diet of shellfish.

Recent Reviews of Captain Experiences

  • ★★★★★
    Good trip; Dustin did great in conditions that were not ideal!!

    Michael W. with Dustin K. of Panama City Beach, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Had a fantastic trip with Captain John in July of 2023. Went for a morning trip on our honeymoon, caught tons of fish, had a lot of fun. John and his first mate were very competent, personable, and provided an excellent experience. The boat was well outfitted, John knew several spots with lots of fish, and gave us more time than we'd paid for. Great experience, will absolutely book again next time we're in the keys.

    Clare D. with John G. of Key West, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Excellent service! Will definitely use again. Very knowledgeable about the area and put us in the fish. Loved every minute of it and highly recommended to anyone who wants to go fishing!

    Jonathan L. with Brandon S. of Summerland Key, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Great time

    Leo M. with Antonio E. of Key West, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    I have been fishing the keys for 10 years but learned a ton fishing with Captain Troy and first mate James. We caught a 2 man limit of nice sized yellow tail in 1.5 h. Very friendly folks made for a great day ! Highly recommend!

    Thomas J. with Troy W. of Islamorada, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    5 stars for everything! Great Captain and First Mate! Caught a bunch of fish. My 14 year old caught an 8ft sailfish.

    Charles F. with Rudy N. of Riviera Beach, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Chris and Daniel were awesome. Caught a lot of fish and had a lot of fun. Provided rods and a variety of bait. Went on the 6 hour trip and it was plenty. If you want bigger fish then maybe go for the 8 hour

    Alex V. with Chris S. of Gulfport, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Excellent trip with John. Good guys, on fish all day and had a great time. Definitely would book again!

    Kevin V. with John G. of Key West, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Great fishing trip, memorable experience, would refer John and partner to anyone interested charting fishing trip in KeyWest!

    Rob R. with John G. of Key West, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    We had a blast fishing with Captain Troy and his crew! They did everything possible to provide us an exciting adventure during our vacation. We caught a variety of fish and enjoyed grilling them up that evening. We highly recommend Captain Troy for your Florida Keys fishing adventure.

    Patrick G. with Troy W. of Islamorada, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Great time! Very nice guy, helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. Would definitely go out again.

    Jeff C. with Daniel P. of Key Largo, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    We had a fantastic time with captain Brad. We tried different techniques and despite being a rough choppy day we still have out with a lot of fish. We all enjoyed it and highly recommend him to anyone!

    Shai K. with Brad S. of Key West, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Great captain and first mate.

    Robert D. with Eric R. of Miami Beach, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Great time, knowledgeable and cool captain! Highly recommend!

    Gary G. with Jason C. of Key Largo, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    We had a super great time with Tony! He was friendly and very helpful, Made the adventure extra special. I would give Tony a 5 Star rating!!

    Steve T. with Tony F. of Sarasota, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Jedidiah was unavailable to take us out fishing, but his friend Matt was able fill in. Matt was excellent company, very knowledgeable about fishing, and the various species within these waters. We had a wonderful time and if Matt is a representation of the people Jedidiah keeps for company, then I have no doubt he would be as equally wonderful to go fishing with, 10/10.

    Christina W. with Jedidiah P. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Captain David Larson was nice, professional and best of all, he put us on the fish! I did the 4 hour charter and we caught barracuda, massive bull shark, trigger fish, grouper, and blue fish. By the end of the 4 hours I was happy and exhausted. Captain David was experienced, helpful and a genuine good guy.

    Blake L. with John J. of Key West, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great time with Bill and his first mate. Fishing was a bit slow but always fun to get out there with Captain X

    Dade M. with Bill C. of Lantana, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    Captain James was AWESOME! He was easy going, confident and a pleasure. One person in our party had never fished and Captain James was patient and instructional. He got us on fish immediately and we caught Jacks, Trout, Reds, and Snooks. I cannot recommend Captain James highly enough. I will definitely be using him in the future!

    James R. with James G. of Sarasota, Florida

  • ★★★★★
    I recommend that you choose Aaron as your captain. It was an awesome experience and definitely will be doing it again when we come to Daytona. Aaron made it a fun and safe adventure. Caught a lot of fish! Even good for first timmers!

    Ricardo N. with Aaron H. of Port Orange, Florida

What's biting?

View Black Grouper Fishing Reports from our damn good guides.

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Our guides are Damn Good Guides, which means they’re licensed, insured and vetted by our team of outdoor experts who know them on a first-name basis. We hand pick our Damn Good Guides, and our network spans all across the country and beyond.

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