The Black Grouper
March 17, 2013
By Florida Sportsman Editor
SIZE
The largest of our Mycteroperca groupers, the black frequently exceeds 50 pounds in weight and can top 100 pounds. World record 124 pounds.
FOOD VALUE
Excellent.
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GAME QUALITIES
Considered best of the groupers.
TACKLE AND BAITS
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For all-around work, ocean gear with lines of 30 pound test or higher gets the call. Light tackle fishermen in South Florida, however, have caught many blacks over 50 pounds. One key, besides a huge helping of luck, is to hook the fish while drifting, instead of at anchor. The drift of the boat adds to the power of the tackle and just might help drag the big fish far enough away from his rocky “hole” that he cannot get back. For drifting or still fishing, the best baits are frisky live fish, such as blue runners or other small jacks. Pinfish and pilchards are good too, as are mullet heads and other large cut baits. Best casting lures are leadhead jigs, weighing from 1-4 ounces, depending on depth. Trolling over the reefs with rigged, swimming mullet, feather and strip combos, and large plugs also takes many.
FISHING SYSTEMS
Drifting; Still Fishing;Trolling.
OTHER NAMES
Bonaci Arara Aguaji
RANGE
Sometimes encountered in the deep Gulf and upper Atlantic, but common only in South Florida, the Keys and the Bahamas.
HABITAT
Blacks of many sizes are commonly found around the edges of coral reefs, from about 30 feet of water out to the deepest dropoffs. Even big fish, however, may roam to much shallower patch reefs, especially in cooler seasons. Small blacks may also frequent creeks, especially in the Bahamas.
Black Grouper Black grouper caught by FS member the BEAST.
Cape Coral Black Grouper Florida Sportsman Forum Member Hawkboat pulls in this Black Grouper while fishing offshore.
Miami Black Grouper Forum member Miami Mutton with a beautiful black grouper out of Tavernier.
Gooch23's Grouper Forum member Gooch23 with a stud black grouper.
Black Grouper FS member, Git-R-Dunn, caught this black grouper with the help of his friend Dave during a fishing trip near Homestead, Florida.
Black Grouper Keys Danny fishing with his father by the 7 mile bridge in Marathon
Bimini Grouper Just within eyeshot of Bimini, you catch catch grouper like this!
Islamorada Snapper and Grouper FS Member Captain Easy brought this catch of snapper and grouper back to the docks in Islamorada.
Islamorada Black Grouper FS Member Captain Easy posted this black grouper catch off of Islamorada.
Dry Torugas Grouper FS Member drdre posted this black grouper photo, caught with Capt Yuri off the Dry Tortugas.
Islamorada Black Grouper FS Member Captain Easy posted this black grouper caught off of Islamorada
Reward One Grouper Florida Sportsman member Cudaman posted this grouper, caught on the Reward Won off Miami.
Whistle Buoy Groupers Florida Sportsman member Lucky7Team2 caught this pair o' black grouper off the Whistle Buoy.
Yankee Capts Black Grouper FS Member snappersnatcher posted this black grouper caught on the Yankee Capts off the Dry Tortugas.
Yankee Capts Black Grouper FS Member snappersnatcher posted this black grouper caught on the Yankee Capts off the Dry Tortugas.
Dry Tortugas Black Grouper FS Member duke6543 posted this photo of a black grouper, caught on a Marquesas/Dry Tortuga trip.
Black Grouper Miami Black grouper are a top catch from anglers in Miami and the tropics.
Great Black Grouper! This monster black grouper took three anglers to hold.
Black Grouper This monster black grouper took some work to pull off the bottom.
Black Grouper on a Grunt This black grouper was caught by FS member TeamTeke and it came in about 60' of water on a large grunt. Grouper fingers are on the menu!
