 Re: want to catch some grouper
I used to wonder why we never caught big Grouper too, then I started Scuba Diving. The big ones are really really smart. They've seen all the tricks, and only hang out in really heavy cover. I fished some rigs for years thinking there were just small fish on them. A few dives later, you know there is a 60# Gag that calls it home.
Most of the Gouper we catch is while amberjack fishing. Live hard tails in water 200' or deeper.
I shot an 80# warsaw on a dive, looked down and there were 8 more. Smallest one could have eaten my 80# fish. Probably averaged 200#s. Were just too deep for me to get to them.
Get close to or over 200' of water and they are there. Getting them to bite, then out of their cover is tough.
Heavy tackle, live bait, and use the boat to pull them out. The first 10 seconds and 20' is critical. Win the first 10 seconds and you've got him. If he makes it back to his hole, he'll open up his gill plates to hold his ground, and you'll never get him out.
Good Luck. | 
