Here's How to Find Gobs of Grouper and Snapper

Capt. Larry McGuire of Show Me the Fish Charters reported his anglers this week were catching lots of enormous red grouper. In addition he had catches of amberjack, mangrove and yellowtail snappers, porgys, big sharks and even a kingfish.

“We are even catching and carefully releasing lots of gag grouper and red snappers without even targeting," them because the season is closed, McGuire said.

He added live and cut bait is all working well.  But he said anglers need to head to deep water.

“I recommend to go deep in this summer heat and start out in 125 feet to 150 feet for those big red grouper,” he said. “Seems like they are always on fire in the late summer ," and this seems to be the best time of the year to catch them.

Here’s a tip from McGuire: Target huge red grouper by drifting on some hard bottom (or Swiss cheese bottom) with a couple of different large live and dead baits. Then mark your spot when you hook one and go back and anchor.

 “You might just hit the motherload of these monsters and have a trip of a lifetime like we are having,” McGuire said.

McGuire recommends always keeping a flat-line out for the pelagic species such as kingfish, wahoo, blackfin tuna and Mahi-Mahi.

“This is shark week and we usually celebrate by catching a few big sharks,” McGuire said. “Safety tip: Always stay hydrated, drinking lots of water and other fluids. You will need it fighting all those fish this summer.”

Capt. Larry McGuire of Show Me the Fish Charters can be reached at 941-720-6475 or e-mail captlarrymcguire@verizon.net.