 Many beginning fishers confuse gag and black groupers. However, they are two different species of grouper, as many a grouper fishing guide will explain. There are plenty of differences, however, and a trained eye usually does not have any trouble discerning between a gag grouper and black grouper. Here is a brief grouper fishing guide: an overview of groupers and what they look like.
Grouper fishing guide: why they are so popular. Groupers are very numerous along the Florida coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico (they are also present on the Atlantic side, but we will focus on the west coast of Florida). They are among the most popular of sport fishing species in Florida because they are very tasty and because they are such a challenge. Groupers are huge and they put up a very definite fight. Many beginners are nearly dragged over the side of the boat when first fishing for groupers, and some even fall in. This fight is exhilarating, and it is no surprise that many true sportspeople enjoy the challenge.
Grouper fishing guide: the difference between the two main types of grouper. The two most popular and numerous types of grouper are the black and the gag grouper. The black groupers have dark gray colors with distinct box-looking patterns. These boxes look very nearly black, and give the black grouper its name. Other distinctive characteristics of the black grouper are red-gold speckles on the head, back and the tail. Additionally, the black fins can have deep blue edges.
The gag grouper, on the other hand, is much more plain. They come in light brown or gray, and they do not have a particular pattern of markings, although the skin does display wavy markings devoid of pattern. Edges of the find on a gag grouper are often light bluish.
Grouper fishing guide: how to fish for them. There are two different strategies in use for catching groupers. The first makes use of live bait. Simply drop the bait down and then make sure the line is tight so that you can feel the bite. Groupers sometimes bite so that if there is slack you don’t even realize the bait is gone until it is too late. Once you feel the bite, you pull up on the rod and the fight begins. You have to wrestle the grouper to the surface. This is sport fishing at its finest.
The other way to fish for grouper is by trolling. This is rising in popularity because it allows you to cover more water and because it lets you take advantage of the groupers’ aggressiveness. Trolling is becoming a rather effective way to fish for groupers in Tampa Bay, especially when it comes to catching the gag groupers that like more shallow water.
Any grouper fishing guide will tell you that groupers can be fished pretty much any time of the year. And if you start from a place like Tampa Bay, whether the weather is temperate, even allowing you to fish during the winter, you can have a very successful grouper fishing trip. |
