Western Gulf of Mexico Grouper Fishing

[Nick_Renneker]

I want to learn @ grouper habits, techniques and what time of year is best. I fish out of S. Texas 5-50 miles offshore.

[Rob_Sheppe,_Web_Site_Produce]

I would think that your grouper fishing would be similiar to ours here on the "east gulf"

1) Grouper love structure. Rocks, ledges, hardbottom, artificial reefs, etc anything that can provide coverage.

2) Grouper will eat just about anything. Frozen squid and sardines are always a good bet. Live pinfish, grunts, bee-liners, sardines, threadfin herring, work well. Cut bait caught on the reef works well too. Give a 6-8oz jig a try.

3) I'm partial to a 5/0 circle hook. with a 60# leader, 4 oz lead to start. I can run 25 miles and still be under 100' so you'll have to figure the amount of lead to use in your depth. Of course if we are nailing or getting cut-off by big fish we will scale up on our tackle. It just depends on the size of your fish and the structure your on and the depth.

4) Grouper in our waters will move closer to shore when the water temp lowers in the fall (say 76 degrees and under) after a few cold fronts they move back out to the more stable water depths 100'+/-
Same applies in the summer, when the water gets real hot we won't find many inshore, we have to run to the 90-110 +/- depths (25-40 miles) to find the fish.
You'll have to ask around at your tackle shops to find the depths the fish are biting, what the guys are using for bait, etc.
Hope this helps a little

[Nick_Renneker]

Thanks for the info. We catch grouper accidentally and are looking to catch them on a more regular basis. We fish out of Port Mansfield Texas. Thanks again
Nick

[randy]

I too like to fish for these guys in the western gulf out of Port Aransas. I've had best luck in spring on structure in 150 ish feet. Caught them on cut bait and live. Liveies sometimes bring up the AJs. Big dead bait, on the bottom, around rocks seem to be the best.