Red Grouper

Season in Florida Keys

Florida Sportsman: groupers (including red) on taller patch reef structure, with a wave of grouper moving shallow in fall and winter. FWC Where to Saltwater Fish: groupers fall to spring (Monroe). NOAA: juveniles favor shallow nearshore grass beds and reefs; adults common in 10 to 60 ft. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Taller patch reef structure in about 10 to 30 ft when grouper move shallow in fall and winter; knocker rig with a circle hook (Florida Sportsman).

Rests on the bottom near ledges and holes it digs out; eats any convenient prey, swallowing it whole (NOAA, FishBase).

What to look for

Low ledges and dug-out holes on hard bottom.

Bait

Live or cut sardines, Cut squid, Ballyhoo. Knocker rig: 1 to 2 oz slip sinker sliding down to a 1/0 to 2/0 circle hook (Florida Sportsman)..

Leader

Common mistakes

• Letting the fish reach its hole after the bite

Landing

Lift hard right after the bite to keep it out of the rocks.

Handling

Unhook with pliers; release undersized fish quickly.

Keep or release

NOAA describes the meat as mild, sweet, firm and flaky. Rules differ by state and by federal season; see the regulations file.

Recipes for red grouper

Typical: About 20 in (50 cm) is a common length (FishBase). Large: Up to almost 50 in and over 50 lb (NOAA).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the FL limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before you keep a fish.

Sources

• Florida Sportsman (David A. Brown, Nov 2024): patch reef fishing close to the Florida Keys (Angler knowledge)
• Florida FWC: Where to Saltwater Fish (species and seasons by county, Nassau to Monroe) (Official source)
• NOAA Fisheries: red grouper (Official source)
• FishBase species summary: Epinephelus morio (red grouper) (Official source)

All the fish of Florida Keys