Damn Good Goliath Grouper Fishing Charters

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Goliath Grouper Fishing Charters

Veteran Operated
This trip is managed by a veteran of the US armed forces.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Jetty Fishing in Sebastian

The Sebastian Inlet Snook N Reds

100% (1) Guided by Robert
17 ft 1 - 2 People From $275
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Miami

Special Midweek 8hr Big Game Trip

100% (89) Guided by Bryan
36 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,099
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Bokeelia

Wreck Dweller Big Fish

NEW Guided by Daniel
33 ft 1 - 12 People From $2,400
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Caye Caulker

8 Hour Trip – Goff's Caye

NEW Guided by Jacob
26 ft 1 - 8 People From $1,100
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Marathon

Marathon Key Nearshore Run

100% (17) Managed by Steve
31 ft 1 - 6 People From $900
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Deep Sea, Flats in Marathon

Half Day (4hr)

100% (4) Guided by Chris
27 ft 1 - 8 People From $800
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Everything to Know About Booking a goliath grouper fishing charter

What are the best goliath grouper fishing charters?

The best goliath grouper fishing charters are:

What is a Goliath Grouper?

The Atlantic Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is the largest member of the grouper family. They have a stocky build (to put it lightly) with small eyes and a large head. They are yellowish-brown to grey in coloring, with spots that help to camouflage them against coral and muddy bottoms.

They are tough, solitary fish who can live in both brackish water and low oxygen levels. Also known to be fearless, they will defend their territory with aggressive body language, and by using their swimming bladder to make a rumbling sound.

How big do Goliath Grouper get?

Goliath groupers aren’t called “goliath” for no reason. These big boys and girls can grow up to over eight feet in length and over 600 pounds, which can be reached in up to their 50 years of life. However, the average catch will be between 75 and 150 pounds.

What's the biggest Goliath Grouper ever caught?

The world record according to the IGFA is a 680 pound goliath grouper that was caught off Fernandia Beach, Florida. It was caught on May 20th, 1961 by Lynn Joyner off of conventional tackle, using Spanish mackerel as bait.

Where is the best place to catch Goliath Grouper?

Goliath Groupers can be found throughout the western and eastern Atlantic. They are distributed from Florida to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, as well as from Senegal to Congo, as far as the Canary Islands. They can also be found in the Eastern Pacific from the Gulf of California to Peru.

Young grouper live in canals, brackish estuaries, and mangrove swamps. As they become older, they move to shallow, tropical waters and can be found around coral, rocks, mud bottoms, and man-made structures, up to 150 feet deep.

When should I catch Goliath Grouper?

The great thing about goliath groupers is that they can be caught year-round. However, the peak season is from May to October during and right after their spawning season. The early morning and late afternoon is the time of day for the best bite.

How do you catch Goliath Grouper?

As mentioned, goliath groupers are known for their aggressiveness, strength, and ability to muscle their way through reefs and rocks to break lines. This means that strong gear is absolutely necessary, including line with a minimum 300 pound test, and 16-20/0 sized circle hooks crimped solidly to the leader, and a 50-80 wide reel.

Goliath groupers eat sea turtles and crustaceans, but some great bait to use include burrfish, catfish, toadfish, octopus, ladyfish, and jack crevalle. In whichever you use, natural bait works best, as lures tend not to tempt them. Also, with any of these, be sure to anchor close to the reef so that the fish will be lured out to take the bait, possibly bouncing it off the bottom, however far enough that you have a chance to pull them away before they break the line on any structure.

Are Goliath Grouper good to eat?

Goliath groupers were once known to be a very highly regarded quality seafood, making them an ideal target for fishermen. But they quickly became overfished which led to strict bans on keeping them in areas they’re found including the United States, the Caribbean, and Brazil, in order for them to be able to regrow their populations. Due to long lifespans and slow growth rates, it is expected to be a long road to recovery, and these fish should always be handled carefully and released to live another day.

Recent Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Great guy. Very knowledgeable and pleasant. Would like to go out fishing with him again.

    Courtney C. | June 3, 2025

    Trip: Naples Fishing Adventure

  • ★★★★★
    My family and I went out with Doug and his son Jon. it was a wonderful experience; the boat had a bathroom and air conditioning that is very hard to find on most fishing excursion boats. While Doug captained the boat his son kept all the rods baited and cast, all we had to do was reel them in. They knew exactly where to go, we caught plenty of fish and Jon filleted and cleaned them even advised us how to cook them. With their years of experience and knowledge I would only go with them again and advise anybody to do the same.

    Roy C. | June 2, 2025

    Trip: Pensacola Deep Sea Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Everything about our trip was outstanding! The boat, the Captian, Captain Carlson was fantastic. He wanted fish for every one of us on the boat even more than we wanted to catch! He worked so hard to load the boat and that we did!!! One of the best charters I have even been one. We all can’t wait to come back again and do it all over again!

    Kip J. | June 1, 2025

    Trip: Dry Tortugas fishing Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Best Captain , very good fishing spot . The boat is top noch also the fishing rods. After the fishing he prepared for us the best sahimi from the tuna we coth . Exelent day

    Munteanu L. | May 29, 2025

    Trip: Miami sport fishing 🎣

  • ★★★★★
    Tyler was so fun and professional, we caught a good amount of fish including a baby shark which my dad was hoping to catch. It was a very fun and exciting trip, highly recommend!

    Amy L. | May 28, 2025

    Trip: Offshore Fishing Jupiter

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