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Find Grouper The Easy Way

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 3, 2008

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Tribune outdoors editor Frank Sargeant.

There's no question that seasoned skippers with hundreds of tried and true GPS numbers of great reefs catch the great majority of gag grouper, but it's also true that you can rig up with the right trolling gear, cruise around at random, and find enough fish for a family fish fry.

The best area to try this is roughly from Anclote Key northward to Crystal River, where the rocky ribs of the Gulf come very close to shore. In this area, there are hundreds of acres of reefs in water no more than 10 feet deep, lots more on out to 20 and 30.

At these depths, it doesn't take a downrigger or planer to reach bottom with a trolled lure. Simply choose a large saltwater diving plug of the appropriate designation, such as a Mann's Plus 25, designed to reach 25 feet at typical 3 to 4 knot trolling speed, and you're in business.

The more line you let out, the deeper most plugs run, so you can follow the bottom contour, running it deeper in crevices, shallower as you go over extended humps.

Sixty-pound tackle is about right. And when a fish hits, you simply toss over a marker jug; presto, you've got a proven GPS number that you can now plumb with live bait or frozen sardines. Find enough of these spots, and you've become an old salt yourself.

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