Damn Good Goliath Grouper Fishing Charters

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Goliath Grouper Fishing Charters

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4-8 Hour Trip – Inshore

100% (2) Guided by Keith
19 ft 1 - 3 People From $550
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Fishing in Destin
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Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Key West

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Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore in Playa Herradura

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38 ft 1 - 8 People From $2,600
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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

  • ★★★★★
    Wonderful trip, they made it so easy to enjoy ourselves, crew was inviting and welcoming. will definitely be booking again

    Heather W. | November 27, 2025

    Trip: Key West Nearshore/Offshore Trip

  • ★★★★★
    What an awesome guy,the most knowledgeable professional,his perseverance paid off in the end thanks for a great trip

    Dino M. | November 18, 2025

    Trip: Islamorada Backcountry Or Nearshore

  • ★★★★★
    What an amazing saltwater fishing experience Captain Austin provided my family and I. This trip included my Denise, my daughter, her husband, my grandson, and I. None of us are experienced saltwater fishermen but the Captain put us on fish right away and we all caught plenty all day. My grandson caught a nice red Grouper and a big hog fish and Denise caught 2 big hog fish. It was a great time for us all and thank you Captain Austin for a time together we will never forget.

    James L. | November 11, 2025

    Trip: Nearshore/offshore

  • ★★★★★
    Awesome trip Captain Brad put us on the fish all day

    Sam R. | November 2, 2025

    Trip: Key West Mixed Bag Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Great time! Knowledge, attentive and right on top of it. Highly recommended them. I will definitely come back. Five star service all around!!

    Tony K. | October 13, 2025

    Trip: Clearwater Offshore Fishing

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