🌊 Best on the any💨 Likes calm wind📅 Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
- Water temp
- 61–82°F
- Depth
- 7–49 ft
- Max weight
- 22lb
- Day vs night
- ☀️ 🌙
Gag grouper are mostly an offshore fish, but young gags spend time inshore on seagrass beds, rocky ledges, bridge rubble, jetties and deep docks, especially along the Gulf coast from the Big Bend down to Tampa Bay. They move into shallower water as it cools in the fall and winter, which is when land-based anglers have their best shot from bridges, jetties and rocky shorelines. Gags live tight to structure and bolt for cover the moment they are hooked, so stout tackle is essential: 30 to 50 lb line, 40 to 60 lb leader, a 3/0 to 6/0 circle hook and a heavy drag locked down. A live pinfish or pigfish on a knocker or Carolina rig dropped beside the rocks is the standard bait, and diving plugs trolled or cast along ledges work in some areas. Turn the fish's head away from the structure immediately. Gag are prized eating, and their rules change often, so check current FWC rules before keeping one; if releasing a fish pulled from deep water, handle it quickly and follow FWC's release guidance.
Best bait for gag grouper
- 1 Live Pinfish
- 2 Live Pigfish
- 3 Pilchards (Scaled Sardines)
- 4 Diving Plug
- 5 Cut Mullet
Rigs that work
- 1 Knocker Rig
- 2 Carolina Rig
- 3 Freeline Live Bait
