Grouper Fishing at Egmont Key

[ShaneCarroll]

After reading some previous forums on here, I decided I am going to take a fishing trip this Sunday (anyone want to join, feel free.) We are going on and around Egmont Key, hopefully fishing for grouper. I have an old school fish finder, so I can determine depth and whether fish are there or not.

What is the best depth in that area to catch grouper, and what is the best bait?

If grouper doesn't work, will consider trout fishing.

We are getting one of those wonderful Florida cold fronts, so the temp Sunday should be 68 and overcast.

Thank you in advance for the help.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Grouper Fishing at Egmont Key

Well, you should do a lot better than we did on Wednesday. We had 20 - 25 knot winds and when we rounded the channel from the Ft. Desoto boat ramp all we could see was whitecaps. Had friends in from out of town and we were headed to Egmont, but no dice. 4' - 6' swells coming in to the mouth of the channel!
Anyway, we went north under the last bridge and the island up ahead on your left will have a no motor zone sign. Use troller or just fish along the edge of the signs and that is one of the better flats for trout. Doa's on a popping bobber works real well, or live shrimp under the same bobber.
Grouper are found along the shipping channel. Using you depth finder, try fishing the slope or sides of the channel. Also out at the Skyway fishing piers over the rocks is another good spot. Try using live pinfish, greenbacks or you can use cut squid. The squid is sold frozen at WalMart on us19 just before the Bayway. Good luck!

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: Grouper Fishing at Egmont Key

F Y I , they just changed the grouper laws and the season is closed for the next few months all of Feb and March ,, then it will go up to 24 inch min size when the season reopens ..

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Grouper Fishing at Egmont Key

Thanks Jeff, unfortunately, I did not get your email until after the trip. Fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on how you look at it), I didn't catch anything except hypothermia in the 55 degree water. I will definitely keep that in mind, though, I will definitely be returning there soon.

Thanks again.

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: Grouper Fishing at Egmont Key

I do a lot of grouper fishing in that area and the new rules really ticked me off, it's hard enough to find 22 in gag grouper in the bay now they want them to be 24 in or larger,, I use a rig with small hooks and squid to catch grunts and pin fish , the bigger the better ,then I drift fish between 20 and 30 feet of water dragging the bottom with the big bait bouncing it up and down, sometimes I cut the tail to attract the bigger fish and I use heavy grouper rods with 80 lb test so I can winch them up before they cut you off in the rocks.
If you want to get rid of the strong after taste with grouper,, soak the meat in warm tap water mixed with brown sugar for about 30 min,, before you freeze it or before you cook it,, makes a huge difference.

 

[South_Bound]

Re: Grouper Fishing at Egmont Key

Does this affect Red Grouper as well? Is it a FL thing or a federal Southeast area management thing?

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: Grouper Fishing at Egmont Key

red grouper size went up also but I don't remember what size since I don't keep those , they have tons of worms in the meat.
fed water has it's own rules but it really doesn't matter since you can't come in to fl waters with illegal fish no matter where you caught them. fine is 450 per fish .

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Grouper Fishing at Egmont Key

red grouper size went up also but I don't remember what size since I don't keep those , they have tons of worms in the meat.

You are wrong about that. Drum, yes..red grouper, no way.

The majority of the commercial quota is red grouper and those fish and the ones I catch don't have worms....

Sorry, Shane about leaving you hanging on those grouper closures. They are in effect until the end of March in Federal waters. They did add one more red grouper to your overall bag limit of 5 fish. The length limit is going to be 22" for gag or black grouper and 20" for reds. Here's a link...

http://myfwc.com/marine/grouper/index.htm

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: Grouper Fishing at Egmont Key

not wrong at all ,I know what a drum is,, the worms in red grouper are black and white striped and I also know red grouper are served in restraunts etc. Been fishing most of my life and fishing in florida since I was 20 years old so that makes 36 years fishing here.. caught a lot of grouper never found a red that didn't have worms if you know what you are looking for,, they won't hurt you , I dig them out of the meat but preferr gags to red .
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