Have you ever caught...

[SeaBiscuit]

a fireback grouper? Have you ever seen one?

Long before I could afford to fish for a hobby, I begged rides on commercial grouper - snapper boats and got to be friends with some of them. My favorite commercial captain (Light & Slight Lee) would sometimes call me on the way in and alert me to a special catch he was about to "pack out" at the fish house. Large American reds, brilliant hogfish or a stud wahoo, perhaps a 30 lb scamp or a lane snapper.
No fish ever captured my imagination as the two large fireback groupers I saw Lee bring in many years ago. A tropical grouper so beautiful that even after a day or two on ice still remarkable to look at.

I once watched Flip Pallot catch one on a jig fishing off the classic Sea Lion at Walker's Cay. His admiration of the fish was evident in the way he handled and looked at it. That was my first time ever seeing one alive. Even though it was on film, I'll never forget it.

Yesterday, I saw my first one ever, in person. Slip Slidin and I were fortunate to spend the day with my good friend Rick Croson of Living Waters guide service, (http://livingwatersguide.com/show/home.html) exploring new to all of us water "north" of our usual fishing areas. Rick's friend Randy was also aboard. a laid back fella, Randy did not seem too excited about much at all and seemed to be enjoying the ride and open water ambiance w/o much interest in fishing. When we finally got on a good bite of fish late in the day, captain Rick said to Randy: "hey man, why don't you catch one of these groupers?" to which Randy replied: "y'all are doing a fine job bringin' em in, I'm fine just watchin' ya".
Captain Rick then hooked a cigar minnow on his rig, dropped it on free spool and handed it to Randy. "Here you go man, catch one!" The bait was on the bottom less than a second when Randy lifted, putting a nice bend on Rick's "old school" white solid glass grouper stick.

If you read this far, you have probably guessed by now that Randy caught a fireback grouper! Rick, Slip and I went nuts looking at the fish and celebrating Randy's fantastic good fortune, when, with little visible excitement, he spoke the words: "well, this is the FIRST grouper I have ever caught"

Having a training in science I quickly thought of the statistical probability of what i had just witnessed. Hard to put a number to it, but definitely one in many thousand. That IS what fishing is all about folks!

Yo Slip,
I believe there is a picture or two of this thing in your camera. Can you please share?

SeaBiscuit

[clt_capt]

Great Read - Can't wait for the pics.

Ain't that just the luck - first timer, one heck of a first fish.

I have never caught one, but my best friend in HS caught one next to me on a head boat out of Tarpon Springs... Beautiful fish

[WahooKing]

They are present in the Bahamas.....We slow troll wireline outfits in 50-80' up on the reef....We'll catch about 2-3 Firebacks (Also known as the Yellowfin Grouper) out of every 15 or so Gags.

[slip slidin]

Had a great day fishing with Captain Rick, Biscoto, and Randy. Here are a few pics from yesterday. No complaints. Life is good.

[reel fishy]

They are beautiful, sometimes known as "sun burns" to the southern fleet. I also think the tiger grouper is quite the colorful creature along with the Kitty Mitchell. Good eating as well! Nice catch.

[Capt_John]

I've caught one and only seen two. Both were commercial fishing with Joe Hifko back when we fished together full time. They're definately colorful.

[JMS-ILM]

fine specimen.....i forsee another one clearing the gunnels of a 21 contender in the near future.....pretty work.

[reelreturn]

Pretty work- a stud black sea bass for sure

[weekender]

dang beautiful fish, congrats on a rarity, great pics. I'd be happy with some of THOSE seabass.

[Fiore3]

That is one hell of a pretty fish... Congrats on the catch, maybe one day I will be able to catch a grouper...

Again congrats on the Fireback......