Grouper How To?

[xfactor]

OK we had a good thread on snapper fishing. So why don't some of you grouper experts get an info thread going with all the what, when, where, and how to's about them. I know next to nothing about fishing for grouper from a pier. All of my grouper fishing has been from boats offshore on the Atlantic side.

Jimmy

[fishintj]

OK I will chime in with my Grouper rig(although it is ligter than most I prefer lighter tackle). I use a penn spinfisher 550 with a redbone 7' extra heavy rod(mainly so the tip doesn't bounce in the wind). I use 20lb pp and 30-50lb fluro and a 3/0 circle hook. I like pinfish for them but depends on the night. Some times they prefer cut bait over live. The thing I love and hate about groupah is they hit it lilke a mack truck so at first you feel like you got a 10lb fish and you yank up a 10" red or gag. You gotta love their heart though.

[havetofish]

Jimmy,
I wish we still had some of the of the old boards extensive threads on this. I don't know of a more controversial and more frequent topic than this. This is part from experience and part from some of the old pro's on this board and I'm sure I have left out a bunch of stuff, but here's my .02 cents worth.
First off there is no right or wrong way to get it done. If you catch keepers then stick with what works for you.

What - I like a heavy spinner because I am not a good conventional caster when trying to sling it to the rockpiles. If your freelining it doesn't matter which type reel, but some cranking power is necessary. Fairly stiff rod. Do not give a grouper an inch or he will rock you up, unless you happen to catch one out in the open somewhere. But, if you aren't in the rocks or on the edges of them, then your odds are greatly reduced.
Ever notice people backing up while lifting their rod. They are doing this to try and turn the grouper as fast as possible before he can duck back in his hole.
I use 65lb PP because of no stretch and less wind and water resistance than mono. 50-80 lb leader ( Skyway grouper could care less if its flouro or not ). The choice of leader depends on the spot for me. I generally would rather have my line break near the hook, rather that my main line when rocked up. A lot of times when you think you are rocked up, you are really just tangled in a mess of someone else's heavy leader, this is where a heavier line and leader can save you. 7-10/0 circle hook. Grouper are gulpers and will generally hook themselves and circles will save a lot of the undersized ones. 2-3 oz egg sinker is usually enough to hold bottom and give you enough weight to cast far enough when bottom fishing. Basically the same setup when freelining without the sinker. As far as knots go, I think the palomar is the strongest knot and use it on both sides of a 90-200 lb swivel. If you tie the leader to the swivel first, then you can tie a palomar to the main line and pass the swivel and leader thru the palomar loop and have it on both sides.
Where - Any structure.
When - My best strikes have been on the first 1 - 1 1/2 hrs of the tide change. Pressure, Sunrise, Sunset, Water Temp. and Solunars can help also. But, if I had only 1 to pick from it would be the tides.
Bait - Big Live, big cut bait and artificials all work. Be prepared to use all of them.

Well thats a start, lets see where this goes.

John

[BigDawg71]

Here is what has been working for me. I have a Shimano baitrunner (6500 series) on a 7' heavy action Shakespeare rod. I like the baitrunner feature for freelining a bit fat pinfish out over the structure, that way I can keep my drag locked down tight but still give the fish some line. The reel is spooled with 65lb PP and topped off with 80lb leader. Like havetofish said, many of your snags are on other peoples tackle and not the rocks, especially when freelining. I try to use a big circle hook, but it depends on the bait I catch (usually a min of 5/0 but often use 7/0). Everything else is like havetofish says, just find yourself a nice rock pile and hang on; just don't forget to do the skyway shuffle (grab your rod and quickly move backwards) to keep them out of the rocks. Just make sure you look for cars!

[thefishslayer]

This time of year it's kinda slow but alot of action with smaller fish. I like to use a 3/0-4/0 reel with 40-60pd line with a 6-9/0 circle hook. I like a 7-8ft rod and use 60-100pd leader depending on water clarity. Frisky baits are key and so is a good tidal flow for freelining. Wait another month or two and there shoud be alot of keepers around. Colder months I sometimes like to fish with weights and something stinky or alot of oil content like macks ladys bluefish ect. Tight Lines!!

[SkyJay]

P.S. John...(HaveToFish) , is dead on wit the PALOMAR KNOT advice...
Study... Learn... And Ask Questions! Knots break... line cuts... the drag is yer friend...


And so is "SkyJay" !!!


Team Daiwa Rules! LOL

[goindeep]

Aug 12, 2008 10:56:35 GMT -5 havetofish said:

I think the palomar is the strongest knot and use it on both sides of a 90-200 lb swivel. If you tie the leader to the swivel first, then you can tie a palomar to the main line and pass the swivel and leader thru the palomar loop and have it on both sides.


John

Some of the best advice Ive ever read here. So simple and so effective. This is now my method, everytime.