Mycteroperca microlepis
Popular reef fish with excellent table quality. Found around structure.
Year-round, best spring through fall. Summer afternoon bite is strong.
Live pinfish or small mullet on the bottom around structure. Deep jigging with heavy jigs.
24" minimum, grouper aggregate bag limits apply.
Fish tight to rocks, wrecks, and ledges. Early morning on the incoming tide.
Curated picks for Gag Grouper fishing in Florida
Stout, sensitive jigging rod for pulling gags off structure.
Grouper run to the rocks the moment they feel the hook — you need backbone to stop them.
Tough conventional reel for bottom fishing structure from a boat.
Level wind keeps your line even on high-speed retrieves away from the rocks.
Heavy vertical jig for working bottom structure and ledges.
Gag grouper ambush from ledges — drop this to the bottom and pop it up.
Single-strand stainless wire leader to avoid cut-offs near rocky structure.
Grouper aren't shy — use wire near hard structure to avoid abrasion failures.
4 spots tracked — click any for tides, weather & local tips
