UTERGag grouper fishing in Georgia Coast
In Georgia Coast, gag grouper peak March–April and June–November and are around year-round, spawning in March–April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. March: Gag spawn offshore in late winter; a spawning closure covers it — check GADNR / NOAA.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Gag grouper in Georgia Coast, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruaryAround
- MarchSpawningGag spawn offshore in late winter; a spawning closure covers it — check GADNR / NOAA.
- AprilSpawning
- MayArrivingGrouper open; live bottom and ledges.
- JunePeak
- JulyPeak
- AugustPeak
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberAround
Where to fish gag grouper near Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill
Endless spartina marsh and tidal creeks behind the barrier islands — Tybee, Wassaw, Ossabaw, St. Catherines, Sapelo, St. Simons, Jekyll and Cumberland — cut by big sounds (Wassaw, St. Catherines, Doboy, St. Simons, St. Andrew), with shell rakes everywhere, artificial reefs nearshore and Gray's Reef and the Gulf Stream offshore.
Fish Scouter charts 338 artificial reef, 169 wreck, 11 ledge / hard bottom spots in the The Golden Isles map area — the kinds gag grouper hold on.
What to use for gag grouper
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- PigfishFree-lined or under a cork on a 2/0 circle hook for gator trout; on the bottom for grouper.
- Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper.
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Leader50–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook5/0–8/0
- Braid50–80 lb
Feeds in 58–84°F water, best at 64–78°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch gag grouper in Georgia Coast?
Peak season is March–April and June–November, with fish spawning in March–April (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Gag grouper are here year-round. March: Gag spawn offshore in late winter; a spawning closure covers it — check GADNR / NOAA.
Where do gag grouper hold in Georgia Coast?
Look on artificial reef, wreck, ledge / hard bottom — around Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill, Darien, Brunswick, St. Simons Island.
What is the best bait for gag grouper in Georgia Coast?
Live bait: pinfish, pigfish, cigar minnows, squid. Pinfish: Hooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig. Tackle: leader 50–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 5/0–8/0, braid 50–80 lb.
What are the rules for gag grouper in Georgia Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Georgia DNR) and change — read the current rule at https://coastalgadnr.org/RecreationalFishing before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes.
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