One of the things that you should remember when it comes to trolling for grouper is to take it slow. Go at 2 knots. Downriggers or planars are great for methods for trolling for grouper.
How fast should you troll when fishing?
The best trolling speed depends on several factors including the type of fish, water conditions and lure choice. In general, trolling speeds between 1.5 and 2.5 mph, as measured by GPS, are a good starting place for most species like walleye, trout and salmon.
How far behind the boat should I troll?
Every boat is different and you should make your boat your own study. Proper distance for most boats will be anywhere from 20 feet to 150 feet behind your boat. Whether you have inboard diesel or outboard gas engines, your power dictates the distance you troll your baits and lures.
How much line should I let out for a troll?
Downriggers. Downriggers allow for extra long length between the downrigger ball and the lure. Let out 50 feet of line and clip into the release. If that’s not enough distance to prevent your lake’s wary walleyes from seeing the ball…then let out 150 feet of line!
How far offshore is grouper?
During late November and early December, grouper migrate close to shore, so a long run might not be necessary. There are times we target them in as shallow as 12 feet of water just off the beaches. In most cases that is only a mile or so from shore. The area from 1 to 6 miles offshore is perfect this time of year.
What is the best bait for Goliath grouper?
Pinfish are one of the better grouper baits and you can find these bait fish fairly easily, which is great. Sand perch are also great baits for grouper. If you can catch some of these baits, get them on your favorite live bait rig and send them down to the bottom for some grouper.
How do you troll in the Gulf?
Trolling the inshore Gulf of Mexico
Plugs and spoons are the two most productive lures. Both lures can be trolled using a light trolling sinker or behind a planer, but a plug with a large lip will “trip” the planer.
Is grouper line shy?
Big gag grouper aren’t incredibly line shy, so relatively heavy fluorocarbon leader is standard across most fisheries.
How do you get yellow edge grouper?
When fishing for Yellowedge Grouper, best to use live bait and go deep dropping. Deep dropping is a term that anglers use when dropping your bait down to 400 to 600 feet. Usually, Yellowedge Groupers are found swarming there. Some of the baits you can use are Chub Mackarel, Sardine, Squid, and White Octopus.
Should you troll with or against the current?
When in an area with current, troll crosscurrent as opposed to with and/or against the current. Going crosscurrent, you don’t have to worry about how the current is affecting your lure’s or bait’s speed through the water. Plus, fish generally swim into the current.
Is mono or braid better for trolling?
Mono holds knots better and costs less than braid. It also works better on smaller bait-casting reels because light braid can dig into itself. Florida sailfish and dolphin anglers still use a lot of mono on the troll, and some use it for kite lines because it runs through the clips better.
How can I make my lures deeper?
If you need to go deeper, just let out some backing until your target depth is reached. On the lure end of the line, remove a short section of lead as before and tie on a size 18, or smaller, barrel swivel. Now use a 10 to 15 foot mono or fluorocarbon leader to tie on the lure.
Where is the best grouper fishing in Florida?
The Atlantic coast sees its fair share of grouper action all year round. The Gulf Stream comes almost to the shore on the southeastern side of the state bringing with it warmer waters and bigger fish. The peak season tends to start earlier on this side of the state because of that.
How much drag does a goliath grouper need?
Goliath Grouper Tackle
You need a large reel capable of 90lbs of drag and loaded with 400lb+ monofilament if you want to consistently land the big ones.
How do you target a goliath grouper?
Bait For Goliath Grouper
The bait of choice is a live jack crevalle, ladyfish or moonfish. On the jacks I like to clip the tails off. This help keeps the bait in the strike zone longer and gives you a better chance of catching a fish.
How fast do you troll for dolphin?
When you are trolling for Mahi Mahi it is important to make sure you find the right speed. Mahi Mahi are aggressive fish and will eat fast as well. Professionals tell you to troll for Mahi Mahi between 2 and 9 knots.
How fast can you troll with a downrigger?
Most people troll at 1.5 to 3.5 mph. How do you know if you are at the right speed? Sure, you can look at your GPS speed over ground readings, but you see your downrigger lines are almost straight at 2 mph.
How fast do you troll for marlin?
One of the best methods to locate marlin early in the season is by trolling a set of marlin lures. Most boats troll at 6.5 to 8 knots and stagger trolling lures along the ‘clean’ lanes or alleys which form behind a boat at trolling speed. Placing your trolling lure in these lanes is critical.
What size hooks for grouper?
“They require a 7/0 or 8/0 hook.
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