They also grow much bigger than Scamp, meaning you’re in for a real feast if you catch one. Like Scamp, Snowy Grouper are among the tastiest fish out there. Snowy Grouper start to show up around 350 feet down, and have been caught as deep as 800 feet in the past. Now we’re getting into real deep dropping territory. World record: 70 lb, 7oz – Norfolk Canyon, VA Not that we’re complaining – they’re well worth traveling for, and whatever they’re eating down there sure must be tasty! Snowy Grouper You won’t come across them in much less than 100 feet of water, and you can easily find them in three or four times that depth. Your average fish will be well under 2 feet and anything over 5 pounds is a good catch. Scamp are pretty small by Grouper standards. They may even be the tastiest fish, period. World record: 32 lb, 0 oz – Atlantic Beach, NCĪccording to most people who have caught them, Scamp are the tastiest fish in the family. Don’t worry, they won’t be the only fish you find there. They live around rocky bottom up to 1,000 feet down, so you may have to travel 20 miles or more to get to them. The average Red Grouper weighs somewhere in the 5–10 lb range, and anything over 2 feet long is a rare catch. These deep-water hunters are the reason people bother to go offshore when there are so many fish in the shallows. Nothing says “reef fishing in Florida” like a boatful of big, tasty Red Grouper. If you come across one, count yourself lucky for the chance to meet it and make sure it swims off unharmed. Nassau Grouper are critically endangered, and their numbers are still falling. Sadly, this intelligence comes with the same natural curiosity that put Goliath Grouper in hot water. From teaming up with other predators to catch their dinner to reportedly fanning bait out of traps for an easy snack, they’re far brighter than most people give them credit for. However, they may well be the most intelligent fish in the sea. They’re not the tastiest or the most colorful, either. Nassau Grouper aren’t the biggest fish on this list. World record: 38 lb, 8 oz – Bimini, Bahamas Luckily, Goliath Grouper are strictly protected these days, so we recommend you fish for them on a catch-and-release basis only. Their huge size and fearless curiosity made them an easy target, and they were overfished almost to extinction in the late 20th century. They often swim up to divers and spearfishers, to see what they’re up to and maybe steal their lunch. Goliath Grouper are big, and they know it. Young Goliaths will head right into estuaries and look for food around oyster bars. Bigger fish hunt around muddy and rocky coastal waters. Despite their size, they don’t live anywhere near as deep as you might expect. They can reach 8 feet and over 800 pounds. These heavyweights more than live up to their name. World record: 680 lb, 0 oz – Fernandina Beach, FL However, younger Gags can be found in estuaries and even seagrass beds, so don’t be surprised if you hook one while you’re on the hunt for Redfish and other inshore species. Even so, the average catch is in the same 5–20 lb bracket as Black Grouper.Īdult Gag Grouper live in similar places to most Grouper species: reefs, drop-offs, and other rocky structure in 60+ feet of water. They don’t grow as big as Black Grouper, usually maxing out somewhere around 50 pounds. Gag GrouperĬommonly known as “Grey Grouper,” these guys are a staple of reef fishing trips around the Gulf and up the Atlantic. Juveniles stick to these inshore spots until they’re big enough to fend for themselves. They spend their summers spawning in much shallower seas, though, as little as 30 feet deep. Adults hang out in anything from 60 to over 250 feet of water. A 40 lb fish is considered a real trophy.īlack Grouper live around rocky bottoms and reefs on both sides of the Sunshine State. The average catch in Florida is around half that length, weighing between 5 and 20 pounds. They can grow to well over 4 feet and easily top 100 pounds. One of the largest species of Grouper in the Atlantic, Black Grouper are loved by commercial crews and recreational anglers alike. World record: 124 lb – Gulf of Mexico (TX) Find out what they are, where they live, how big they get, and more. In this article, you can learn all about the different types of Grouper in Florida. From monster Goliaths to delicious Scamps, these big bottom-dwellers are a favorite on most Floridian fishing trips.

Groupers are some of Florida‘s most iconic fish species.

Gag grouper