UTERGag grouper fishing in Florida's Big Bend
In Florida's Big Bend, gag grouper peak February–March and June–November and are around year-round, spawning in February–March, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. February: Big fish offshore on the spawning grounds.
Fall push onto the shallow rocks.
Gag grouper in Florida's Big Bend, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruarySpawningBig fish offshore on the spawning grounds.
- MarchSpawning
- AprilAround
- MayArrivingGags on the rocks in eight feet of water — sight-cast plugs.
- JunePeakTroll big plugs over the shallow rock piles when the season is open — check MyFWC.
- JulyPeakScallop season — and grouper, snapper, reds on the same rocks. Anchor on the rock piles: gags and snapper below, and the reds cruise the same limestone at high water. Tripletail on the crab floats.
- AugustPeakHot water: dawn on the grass, then the rocks and the springs. Reds in the shade of the rock piles and mangrove points; grouper and snapper on the ledges; trout only at first light. Springs stay cool.
- SeptemberPeakThe reds school up big; snook open; gags still on the rocks. September is redfish month — schools of a hundred on the outside bars and creek mouths. Snook season opens in the rivers.
- OctoberPeakFall push onto the shallow rocks.
- NovemberPeakLast of the shallow fishing; check MyFWC for the closure.
- DecemberAround
Where to fish gag grouper near Steinhatchee, Cedar Key, Crystal River
A hundred miles of undeveloped coast: vast turtle-grass flats, limestone rock piles and ledges in ten feet of clear water, spring-fed rivers, oyster bars and salt marsh. No passes, no barrier islands — the Gulf just starts.
Fish Scouter charts 1,282 ledge / hard bottom, 336 artificial reef, 211 wreck spots in the The Big Bend & Nature Coast 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 Florida's Big Bend?
Peak season is February–March and June–November, with fish spawning in February–March (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Gag grouper are here year-round. February: Big fish offshore on the spawning grounds.
Where do gag grouper hold in Florida's Big Bend?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom — around Steinhatchee, Cedar Key, Crystal River, Homosassa.
What is the best bait for gag grouper in Florida's Big Bend?
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 Florida's Big Bend?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
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