What A Fight

[clayton86]

Got out the other day on my day off for some early morning fishing in the gulf. I caught 1 fish a nice grouper at least to me I know they get to be much much bigger. Man did this thing fight hard he tried like hell to get under the pier into the cracks but I wasn't giving him anything I remembered what y'all said a while ago bout just cranking keeping them out of there hole. There was 2 of them the other was about the same size and chased it everywhere trying to get the jig out of its mouth. I got it on a pink Pompano jig from BPS. I had a few more hits threw out the day but came up short they were all on live bait also some I think may have been crabs as I kept bring back eye and gillless baitfish oh yeah i got the cast net to work good so I have some minnows to use.

Also whats the best way to pick up and hold a grouper he had some sharp points on his gill plates not to mention TEETH! another question what type of grouper is it I googled it it kinda looks like a Goliath grouper to me but what do I know I'm a bass fisherman from WNY.

[Bassn Blvd]

Hold'em under the gill plate, between the gill plate and gill.

For the size you caught.I just grad'em around the body.

Boga grips work amazingly well, especially for saltwater species, since most have teeth.

LMAO, and yes, we use the one you caught as live bait for bigger grouper.

[clayton86]

Hold'em under the gill plate, between the gill plate and gill.

For the size you caught.I just grad'em around the body.

Boga grips work amazingly well, especially for saltwater species, since most have teeth.

LMAO, and yes, we use the one you caught as live bait for bigger grouper.

I'v seen some big fish cruising but they never seem interested in anything and I don't think they could get that guy in there mouth. I'm not sure what they are they kinda look like a freshwater drum shape wise when looking at them but like 3-4ft long tall "skinny" bodies with hints of yellow with a big black stripe right behind the gills. Only 1 guy has caught one that I know of from my unit he got it on a piece of breaded and seasoned shrimp on the bottom. Im more interested in getting more of them grouper my next day off is the 1st I may go out again.

[SirSnookalot]

Thers are dozens of grouper varities ad I don' t know what's in your waters. It looks a bit like a gag or black grouper, but those orange spots throw me.

You can always grab them from the top holding a tag or towel, those fin spines are sharp, infection is always a possibility from them.

Like my dad taught me with bluegill, grab from the head and work back so you are pressing down the dorsal fin.

[clayton86]

Thers are dozens of grouper varities ad I don' t know what's in your waters. It looks a bit like a gag or black grouper, but those orange spots throw me.

You can always grab them from the top holding a tag or towel, those fin spines are sharp, infection is always a possibility from them.

Like my dad taught me with bluegill, grab from the head and work back so you are pressing down the dorsal fin.

that's how I have been attempting to teach my son as well and I tried but every time it touched his spine it freaked out I ended up grabbing him by the gill plate like this.... Oh and forgive the dumb looking pt belt I hadn't gotten a chance to take it off yet there mandatory when in civilian clothes I forgot who was commenting on it last time.

[Bassn Blvd]

I might be wrong but that looks like a strawberry grouper, which don't get any bigger than the one you caught. Super, super delicious.