UTERGag grouper fishing in The First Coast
In The First Coast, gag grouper peak February–March and September–November and are around year-round, spawning in February–March, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. February: Atlantic gags spawning on the shelf-edge live bottom off Jacksonville.
Fall fish on the nearshore ledges.
Gag grouper in The First Coast, month by month
- JanuaryAround
- FebruarySpawningAtlantic gags spawning on the shelf-edge live bottom off Jacksonville.
- MarchSpawning
- AprilAround
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberPeakFall fish on the nearshore ledges.
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberAround
Where to fish gag grouper near Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville
Spartina marsh, oyster-lined creeks and the Intracoastal from Ponce Inlet to the Georgia line, the St. Johns River and the Mayport jetties, St. Augustine and Matanzas inlets, and the beaches. More like Georgia's lowcountry than the rest of Florida.
Fish Scouter charts 191 wreck, 130 artificial reef, 43 ledge / hard bottom spots in the The First 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 The First Coast?
Peak season is February–March and September–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: Atlantic gags spawning on the shelf-edge live bottom off Jacksonville.
Where do gag grouper hold in The First Coast?
Look on artificial reef, wreck — around Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Mayport, Fernandina Beach.
What is the best bait for gag grouper in The First 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 The First Coast?
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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