Help for a rookie

[DriftingSun]

Hello all, I have really enjoyed everyone's post and reports here over the last 6 mo or so. I have fished since I was 4 but am pretty new to fishing the gulf coast. I have spent the summer fishing and learning the flats out of St. Marks, trying to stay out of everyones way while having fun with the family. I really want to instill in my youngest son the wonder and beauty of nature that God has blessed us with. Now that the weather's getting cooler I would like to get out a bit and take a stab at a grouper or 2. Not having any local experience in this regard, I have tried to learn as much as possible about the tactics and methods used, mostly from this board (thank you all so much). Where I could use some help is in what my best strategy would be considering I don't have a GPS full of local spots. Should I troll out to public numbers and hope for the best, looking all the while for good live bottom? Will I be wasting valuble time and gas fishing most of these public numbers? With gas prices the way they are the prospect of running all over the Gulf trying to find spots is a little intimidating. I know numbers are among the most valued and closely guarded secrets out there so I'm not expecting THAT kind of help, just help on general strategy considering my situation. I am in Tallahassee so St. Marks to Carrabelle are the areas I would consider the most likely destinations. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

[Atticus]

What kind of boat will you be fishing out of?

[DriftingSun]

21ft Sea Pro CC , not the bay boat, the deeper offshore version, 200 OptiMax.

[sundown]

I'd get a bay map and then head south towards buoy 24 watching my bottom machine for structure and trolling a stretch 25...However, I went out intending to troll some this past Tue and found too much grass...You might want to try one of the reefs closer in with live bait..Grouper fishing should really start to pick up about now. In past years , Ive caught quite a few in sight of the lighthouse trolling .

[Jumptrout51]

You and your family should join North Florida Gulf Fishing Club.
Last nights meeting included a speaker with vast local knowledge on shallow water grouper fishing out of St. Marks.

[DriftingSun]

Thanks for the invite JumpTrout. I checked out the website and it seems you guys have a fine, fine club going. I see membership in my future. I was very impressed by the newsletters which seem to have gone by the wayside?

[birddog]

I was very impressed by the newsletters which seem to have gone by the wayside?

It's hard to find good help DS.

[DriftingSun]

Thanks for the tips sundown. Very much appreciated.

[DriftingSun]

hard to find and even harder to keep birddog, true true

[tin can]

All of the published public numbers have good bottom, but are fished heavily. Pick a public number and start trolling from that number, in any direction. Keep one eye on your bottom machine, and a finger on the MARK button on your GPS. There's tons of stuff out there.

[Reel Cowboy]

Get a Florida Sportsman or Hot Spots map of the area you plan on fishing and start there and work your way out from there. A good topo chart on your GPS and the paper chart is where most folks start. Like TC said these areas see a fair amount of pressure so the fish maybe a little finicky but once you figure out what to look for you should be set.
Just keep a good watch on the compass on the way out, in case the GPS goes out or carry a back-up. You can never be too careful.

[DriftingSun]

Thanks T C and R C. great information. Definitely helps my confidence. With the cooling weather would I be right to assume 12 - 15ft would be MINIMUM depth to start a troll and search for good bottom?