Let's talk Grouper Baits...

[BahamaLure]

this just in from the islands... fast trolling baits you would normally use on wahoo over patch reefs etc. Use heavy drag to prevent the fish returning to it's rock after the hit. You may be surprised how far up from a reef or wreck a grouper will rise for a bait, I have seen them hit surface lures in 80ft of water. Also try using planer rigs to troll lures over wrecks. No natural bait required, and you cover lots of ground as opposed to anchoring in one spot.

[Captain Michael Buffington]

this just in from the islands... fast trolling baits you would normally use on wahoo over patch reefs etc. Use heavy drag to prevent the fish returning to it's rock after the hit. You may be surprised how far up from a reef or wreck a grouper will rise for a bait, I have seen them hit surface lures in 80ft of water. Also try using planer rigs to troll lures over wrecks. No natural bait required, and you cover lots of ground as opposed to anchoring in one spot.

wish that would work for us...

Mike

[calebw]

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When you start with the bigger baits use Mackeral, depending on the size cut then in 1/2 or 1/3..Pogies work real well, little secret cut the belly from the chin to the ass and let the juice's flow. Also when using bigger cut baits that are dead butterfly them and take the back bone out..

Ken, when using boston mackerel how do you cut them. Do you prefer to fillet them then cut them in half or thirds, or what about butterflying a boston.

[fishstick]

I did a short stint commercial grouper fishing off south carolina and the size of the baits surprised me. our typical offering consisted of a 12-15 inch boston mackerel with the tail removed to prevent spinning and a 1-2 lb hunk of amberjack. the small fish seemed to chew up the boston and get the big boys in to gobble up the aj. we also had a lot of success are big plugs of red porgy. the meat was attached to a 12/0 circle hook snelled to 30+ feet of 200 lb camo leader. for scamps and other smaller grouper we typically used a double hook rig with each hook baited with 2 cigar minnows.

[swell rider]

I just cut them 1/2 or 1/3 on an angle..I do cut the tail off to keep from spinning.. Filleting or butterflying them works well too but I stick to the basics and keep it simple.. Alot of good ideas on here but for the type of fishing were doing in S.E NC this is what I found works best on both my commercial and charter trips..Ken

[Logan9581]

They will eat anything. Around here, the reds like big dead bait or what we call squirrel fish (I think they are actually a type of sand perch). Gags like the live stuff. The bigger the pinfish the better. Second favorite bait for gags is a 6 inch blue runner (trim the tail).

Gags will also eat lures. We troll the stretch 30's.



The stretchs also work well in the Bahamas:

[PurpleGold]

Thanks for all the responses here guys. I suspected I was pretty well on the mark as far as bait goes, I think my main problem is location. I just don't have all that many good numbers and haven't had the time to invest in finding some new ones. My buddy that I grouper fish with has mediocre electronics at best so that makes finding new spots that much harder.

I have been using a 5-8 foot, 100# mono on my grouper rigs so I will try lengthening that on the next trip and switchin to some Flouro.

Let's keep the grouper discussion goin here since this topic doesn't get that much coverage here on SFC.

What are your favorite hooks and does your hook choice change when fishing live vs. dead bait? I have been using Gamakatsu 8/0 or 9/0 Octupus circles and Owner 8/0 offset J's. Both have worked well for me. I like the circles better for live bait and the J's better for dead bait.

[Captain Michael Buffington]

Thanks for all the responses here guys. I suspected I was pretty well on the mark as far as bait goes, I think my main problem is location. I just don't have all that many good numbers and haven't had the time to invest in finding some new ones. My buddy that I grouper fish with has mediocre electronics at best so that makes finding new spots that much harder.

I have been using a 5-8 foot, 100# mono on my grouper rigs so I will try lengthening that on the next trip and switchin to some Flouro.

Let's keep the grouper discussion goin here since this topic doesn't get that much coverage here on SFC.

What are your favorite hooks and does your hook choice change when fishing live vs. dead bait? I have been using Gamakatsu 8/0 or 9/0 Octupus circles and Owner 8/0 offset J's. Both have worked well for me. I like the circles better for live bait and the J's better for dead bait.

only the size changes and i just use mustads. They are made for grouper and aj jaws.

Mike

[swell rider]

For starters, If you want to get to the good bottom you need to jump to the other side of the shoals from were your at.. Your Leaders are to long and no need for Floro, waste of $$$..Listen to what I told you in my earlier post and like I said there's alot of good advise on here but here in NC this is what works.. No need to get to fancy, just keep it simple..If you give me a call I'll give you a few ## to get into some better bottom..Ken

[Capt. Lyndon]

One bait that hasn't been mentioned is a hunk of 'cuda fillet. I've caught many grouper on it. Purplegold, get with me, or give me a call, and I'll give you some good numbers as well. 910-842-8903.