April Grouper

[SHOWBOAT]

Did anyone else chase grouper this weekend? Headed out of St. Marks Saturday. Caught a bunch of grouper, but most were shy of 24". Also managed a king and big Spanish. Had a lot of fun playing with the side imaging Hummingbird/KVD unit that came on the bay boat.

[bbb]

How does the side image do in saltwater? I know there is a saltwater mode on the unit. I'm seeing tires, logs and rocks in the river. Gonna be at St Joe later this week and hope to find some fishing spots using the side image.

[SHOWBOAT]

well, I didn't realize that there is a saltwater setting. I'll have to look into that. The imaging is awesome! We ran the bottom machine on half the screen and the side imaging with 50' range on each side. Can mark any structure in that 100' swath and circle back. Clarity was good and you could easily see the different types of structure.

[Salty Gator]

We had similar results around dog island. We found a few keepers but didn't limit, caught a pile of nice red snapper. . 2 guys dove and said the viz was terrible, shot a few nice hogs. Sunday in was much calmer and we went to a public reef in about 70 feet and wore out the ajs and red and black snapper. Lost a bunch to goliaths and sharks. But had fun catching.

[jsaunders]

How far offshore do you have to run to target these fish? I've been wanting to do some offshore bottom fishing / trolling but have very little experience at it.

[bbb]

How far offshore do you have to run to target these fish? I've been wanting to do some offshore bottom fishing / trolling but have very little experience at it.

There is live bottom within sight of Dog Island and St George. So i would say 7-9 miles.

[Salty Gator]

How far offshore do you have to run to target these fish? I've been wanting to do some offshore bottom fishing / trolling but have very little experience at it.

Gag grouper are open in state waters for 4 counties. State waters go to 9 miles out. So, anywhere inside 9 miles if you want to keep gags.