UTERRed grouper fishing in Florida's Big Bend
In Florida's Big Bend, red grouper peak October–May and are around year-round, spawning in March–May, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. March: Spawning on the offshore hard bottom.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Red grouper in Florida's Big Bend, month by month
- JanuaryPeak
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchSpawningSpawning on the offshore hard bottom.
- AprilSpawning
- MaySpawning
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish red 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 red grouper hold on.
What to use for red 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.
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Cigar minnowsNose-hooked on a stinger rig for kings, or a 4/0 circle hook dropped to the bottom for grouper.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 60–84°F water, best at 66–78°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch red grouper in Florida's Big Bend?
Peak season is October–May, with fish spawning in March–May (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Red grouper are here year-round. March: Spawning on the offshore hard bottom.
Where do red grouper hold in Florida's Big Bend?
Look on ledge / hard bottom, artificial reef — around Steinhatchee, Cedar Key, Crystal River, Homosassa.
What is the best bait for red grouper in Florida's Big Bend?
Live bait: pinfish, squid, cigar minnows. 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 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for red 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/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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All about red grouper · The Big Bend & Nature Coast, the whole year