Gag Grouper Fishing in Sarasota, FL
Structure brutes that must be turned in the first five seconds or they win. Live bottom, wrecks, and heavy tackle.
Typical season in Florida
- January: also fished
- February: also fished
- March: also fished
- April: also fished
- May: peak
- June: peak
- July: peak
- August: peak
- September: peak
- October: peak
- November: peak
- December: peak
Peak months: May to December. Also fished: January to April.
In Atlantic federal waters, shallow-water grouper is closed January through April.
Peak months are general guidance for the region, not regulations. Always check your state's current rules and ask us before you book.
Species guide
Gag Grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis)
- How to identify
- Gray-brown with darker worm-like squiggles, a big mouth and a square tail.
- Size
- Grow to more than 3 feet and up to 50 pounds
- Lifespan
- As long as 30 years
- Habitat
- Adults live offshore on hard-bottom structure such as reefs and wrecks; juveniles use structured estuary habitat.
- Range
- Western Atlantic, primarily from North Carolina to the Yucatan Peninsula, including the Gulf of America.
- Diet
- Fish, crabs, shrimp and squid
Did you know? Gag begin life as females, mature around age 4, and change to males around age 8.
Source: NOAA Fisheries