Skip to main content

Red Grouper

Red Grouper

The Red Grouper

The Red Grouper, Epinephelus morio

Overall light or rusty red with whitish spots and large blotches. No black mark on caudal peduncle fleshy area between tail and posterior dorsal fin.

SIZE

Common at 1-10 pounds; maximum perhaps 40 pounds. World record 42 pounds, 4 ounces; Florida record 42 pounds, 4 ounces.

FOOD VALUE

Good.

GAME QUALITIES

One of the toughest-fighting Groupers, pound-for-pound. Although Reds will “hole up” like other Groupers, many are hooked on light and fairly light tackle in areas where cover is well scattered, and this gives them the chance to demonstrate their toughness to best advantage.

TACKLE AND BAITS

The standard tackle is a boat outfit with 40-pound line or more, but heavy spinning and baitcasting tackle with 15- or 20-pound line can easily do the job in water less than 100 feet deep. Reds will hit all the baits and lures recommended for Gag and other Groupers, but they are also very fond of crustacean baits, particularly shrimp and crab. They are ready strikers on leadhead jigs, fished with light tackle.

FISHING SYSTEMS

Still Fishing; Drifting; Trolling.

Recommended


OTHER NAMES

Mero Cherna De Vivero

RANGE

Common throughout Florida; also present in Bahamas and common in some areas.

HABITAT

Widely distributed from close inshore in many areas of Florida to ledges and wrecks in up to 300 or so feet of water. Great majority of sport catches are made in 10-100 feet.  

Double Red Grouper

Forum member larrwitt and friend show off two nice red grouper caught in the Gulf.

Dylan's Grouper

Dylan Bennett with a 20 pound red grouper.

Spending Spring Break Right

Savannah Elam spent her spring break right, by catching some nice fish, including this red grouper.

17lb Red Grouper

Dock Full of Fish!

Tim Smith, Bill Sheehan, Jack Flenor, Jerry Vescovo,John Kreusch, Mitch Dreisbach show off their impressive haul while fishing 100 miles off the coast of Crystal River.

Red Grouper

Amber's Red Grouper

Amber of New Port Richey helped catch these red groupers offshore of Pasco county.

Everglades City Grouper

Forum member blewitupsir snagged this red grouper in a live bottom area in about 40' of water south of Everglades City

Year End Red Grouper

A beautiful red grouper shared by forum member AKORVs that was snagged off of Marathon Key

Red grouper

Another picture from forum member KKlimas with a nice size red grouper caght on a fishing trip with his buddy.

Cape Coral Red Grouper

Florida Sportsman Forum Member Hawkboat pulls in this fat Red Grouper while fishing offshore.

Bandit with a grouper

Florida Sportsman member Reef Bandit holds this monster grouper while fishing offshore.

Gulf Grouper

A summer day fishing in Venice Fl, with my dad Ron Spieman in the gulf. About 7 miles out On a reef we caught a nice keeper red grouper (22in) on a pin fish. We also caught many smaller red grouper on some squid . In all a great day spent out on the water!

Chuck's Grouper

Chuck caught this personal best 23 pound red grouper in 117 feet of water.

A Good Day

Good Day on the Water

The morning low tide didn't make catching pinfish easy. So we headed out to 60ft in choppy seas without much bait. Bounced around a couple spots until we located the fish. Hit a spot in 62ft and boxed 11 keeper Red Grouper up to 28" in about 45 minutes. Made a couple more stops to finish out our limit by 3:00 when the seas slicked off. We headed inshore with about an hour to kill so Trout were on the chopping block. Caught 12 legal Trout on gulp in about 30 minutes until the storms rolled in.

Gulf Red Grouper

Drake and Mitch Noble, of Naples, Florida; caught this red grouper during a fishing trip in the Gulf.

Red Grouper and Friends

Captain Chris Ensing brought friends Tony & Donna Athens, from California to experience some red grouper fishing aboard the Maka Koa.

Ft. DeSoto Red Grouper

Ashely Fleming caught this red grouper while fishing offshore of Ft. DeSoto, Florida.

Red Grouper

Redfield caught this red grouper offshore and measured it at 25 inches.

Can't Get Enough Red Grouper

Florida Sportsman member, Sololobo30, took a two day fishing trip with a group of friends and caught many red grouper. The largest grouper was 30" and was caught by one of the lady anglers.

Red Groupa'

Rob caught this red grouper on light tackle.

Red Grouper Record?

The fish of the day was landed by Chris and is a potential IGFA record. This red grouper went 22lb 5 oz on 10lb braid. This fish was weighed and certified back on land at Sunrise Marina and will be submitted to IGFA for the applicable line category as the current record is nearly two pounds lighter.

Laurie's First Red Grouper

Laurie with her very first red grouper caught in Steinhatchee, Fl.

Kristian's Red Grouper

Kristian Lockyear, age 11, bagged this red grouper while fishing with Dad (Steve Lockyear) and Grandpa (Mike Bonewitz) 16 miles out from Big Marco Pass.

Red Grouper

Red grouper caught off Marco Island, Fl.

Red Grouper

Shawn displays a fat red grouper brought up from the depths.

Red Grouper

Rachel caught this big red grouper while bottom fishing with a Gulp!

Colorful Red Grouper

Florida Sportsman member troutman shows off his red grouper catch.

Key West Red Grouper

This red grouper was caught 15 miles out of Key West toward Boca Grande by Dr. Kasey Cornell on her dad's boat the Ahhkimbo.

Red Grouper

Team Elite's Red Grouper

Leo's Red

Leo Plenski Jr. aboard 'Hi Ceas'in Treasure Island with his 8 lb. red grouper

Red Grouper

This 16-pound 12-ounce red grouper was landed on 4-pound braid with ultra light tackle. It was a great battle in 300 feet.

Record Red Grouper

Chris (Light_Tackle) landed this potential IGFA record. The red grouper went 22 pounds 5 ounces on 10-pound braid. This fish was weighed and certified back on land at Sunrise Marina and will be submitted to IGFA for the applicable line category as the current record is nearly two pounds lighter.

Panama City Red grouper

FS Member Beck posted this red grouper from off Panama City.

Snapper and Grouper

FS Member reel stamas caught this large mixed bag off the Panhandle.

Crystal River Red Grouper

FS Member Dragon60 posted this red grouper caught off Crystal River.

Red Grouper

Red Grouper

Anna Maria Island Red Grouper

Roger Danziger and Natalia Rizzo celebrate the catch of a 32" red grouper 30 miles off of Anna Maria Island

Wiggins Red Grouper

FS Member allout posted this red grouper caught by Brandi, out of Wiggins.

Red Grouper

Big Carlos Pass Red Grouper

FS Member roozterdvx caught this red grouper off Big Carlos Pass.

Bonita Springs Red Grouper

FS Member Rusty Trumpet posted this red grouper out of Bonita Springs.

Bonita Springs Red Grouper

FS Member Rusty Trumpet posted this red grouper catch out of Bonita Springs.

Bonita Springs Red Grouper

FS Member Rusty Trumpet shows off a nice big red grouper he caught off Bonita Springs.

First Keeper Red Off Palm Beach

Florida Sportsman member choppy posted this photo of his son Jett with his first keeper red grouper, caught off Palm Beach.

Fish Quest Red Grouper

FS Member Tipbone posted this red grouper photo, caught on Fish Quest Charters.

Key West Red Grouper

FS Member JimboT posted this red grouper, caught off Key West.

Key West Red Grouper

FS Member Got TA Go posted this red grouper photo from off Key West.

HSB Red Grouper

FS Member keypad posted this red grouper photo from HSB.

Redfish Pass Red Grouper

FS Member nuclearfishn caught this red grouper in 60 feet of water out of redfish pass.

Red Grouper off Hillsboro

Florida Sportsman member copout@castaways posted this shot of a red grouper caught in 450 feet off Hillsboro Inlet.

Red Grouper and Tilefish

Florida Sportsman member copout@castaways posted this shot of grouper and tilefish caught in 450' off Hillsboro Inlet

Key Colony Beach Red Grouper

Jeff caught this red grouper with FS Member TeamTeke off Key Colony Beach.

Red Grouper Double

FS Member tg. posted this red grouper double from offshore.

Great Day for Grouper

Shawn Cassey and friends had quite the day bottom fishing for grouper out of Tampa

Great Day for Grouper

Shawn Cassey and friends had quite the day bottom fishing for grouper out of Tampa

Carrabelle Red Grouper

FS Member ranaman caught this red grouper out of Carrabelle.

Cedar Key Red Grouper

FS Member Big Bend Brian caught this red grouper off Cedar Key.

Fort Pierce Grouper

When bottom fish are open to harvest, waters off Fort Pierce are hot.

Sanibel Red Grouper

The swiss cheese bottom off Sanibel are home to delicious red grouper.

Venice Red Grouper

This young angler's red grouper brought a smile to the whole boat.

Red Grouper Reelin'

This red grouper was landed on a headboat trip.

Panhandle Red Grouper

FS Member crcattypc posted this red grouper from the Panhandle.

Red Groupers

Enough red grouper to satisfy a family feast. Check the regs before heading offshore.

Grouper Trooper

This angler takes a look inside an open-mouthed red grouper.

David and his Grouper Buddy

All smiles for David. Even the red grouper was laughing!

Red Grouper




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Long-range binoculars are a great asset on a fishing boat, but the view gets shaky quick. Fujinon has a great solution w...
Videos

Cover Up With Sun-Protective Clothing

Long-range binoculars are a great asset on a fishing boat, but the view gets shaky quick. Fujinon has a great solution w...
Videos

Inflation We Can Live With! Mustang Convertible PFD

Long-range binoculars are a great asset on a fishing boat, but the view gets shaky quick. Fujinon has a great solution w...
Videos

Converting and Re-Arming Mustang Inflatable A/M PFD

Long-range binoculars are a great asset on a fishing boat, but the view gets shaky quick. Fujinon has a great solution w...
Videos

YakAttack Rod Management Systems Set the Bar for Kayak Anglers

Long-range binoculars are a great asset on a fishing boat, but the view gets shaky quick. Fujinon has a great solution w...
Videos

YakAttack Kayak Carts Will Get You There

Long-range binoculars are a great asset on a fishing boat, but the view gets shaky quick. Fujinon has a great solution w...
Videos

YakAttack Tackle Storage Just Got WAY BETTER

Long-range binoculars are a great asset on a fishing boat, but the view gets shaky quick. Fujinon has a great solution w...
Videos

Take Gear and Tackle Storage to NEW HEIGHTS with Outdoor Crates

Long-range binoculars are a great asset on a fishing boat, but the view gets shaky quick. Fujinon has a great solution w...
Gear

‘Magnetic Tethered' Kayak Rods

Long-range binoculars are a great asset on a fishing boat, but the view gets shaky quick. Fujinon has a great solution w...
Gear

Plano Soft Sided Tackle Bags

Long-range binoculars are a great asset on a fishing boat, but the view gets shaky quick. Fujinon has a great solution w...
Gear

NuCanoe Unlimited U10

Long-range binoculars are a great asset on a fishing boat, but the view gets shaky quick. Fujinon has a great solution w...
Gear

What's New in Fly Reels: Hardy

Long-range binoculars are a great asset on a fishing boat, but the view gets shaky quick. Fujinon has a great solution w...
Gear

Fujinon's Ultimate Offshore Fishing Binoculars

Florida Sportsman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

Preview This Month's Issue

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Florida Sportsman App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Florida Sportsman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Florida Sportsman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Florida Sportsman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use