Help with grouper out of St. Marks

[jeff95]

My wife and I use to grouper fish out of St. Marks about 5 or 6 years ago. It has been so long, I have forgotten just about everything. I am going to take my kids tomorrow and could use a little help.

I won't ask for numbers or holes. I really need to know about how deep they are at this time of year. If I remember correctly, they come in to between 15 to 30 feet as opposed to the summer when they are deeper. We used to use frozen LYs and squid for bottom fishing off of structure and stretch 20s and 30s for trolling. Is this still the norm? Is there a better time or tide for them to bite?
I just want my kids to have a good time and hook one or two.

Thanks in advance for any help or tips you can provide.

You can post here or email me direct at jlogan4078@comcast.net

Jeff

[Jumptrout51]

Once you get to SM1 bouy drop your trollers and run about 4.5 mph on the gps on a SE heading.
Same baits as before. If you hookup drop a bottom rig.
Good luck.

[jeff95]

Thanks for the reply. That is a little farther out than I was planning on going. I guess if the sea is right, I might head out that far. I am in a 20' cuddy cabin so the closer the better. I have a few spots marked that are about 10 to 15 miles out. I'm not sure if the grouper are in that close right now.
I would appreciate any other input.
Thanks,
Jeff

[wevans]

I don't fish SM much, but SM1 should only be about 4 miles from the light house and if you troll out 4 miles on a bearing of 149 "or there abouts", you should find something in between

[Jumptrout51]

SM1 is about a half mile from the SM tripod.
Wevans is right.
Less than 4 miles from the LH.

[Jhults11]

We killed them this fall in 18 to 25 ft off st marks but with the drastic fall in water temps, we have not had a sniff in that shallow water anymore. In my experiences, once the water temp dips below 58ish, they haul ass back deep. In my previouse years off st marks, once jan 15 hits its time to go deep again...to 35 to 50ft. Just my two cents...good luck....you sound like you know the techniques down...just need to find the proper depth for this time of year....35+...good luck!!