Key West Catch of the Week - Goliath Grouper
Despite the fact that the summer fishing season is coming to a close, the catches within the past week have been nothing short of amazing, with a whole host of different species brought in on our many fishing charters. Although there were a shocking amount of noteworthy hauls throughout the week, there was one in particular that earned this weeks Key West Catch of the Week award. Eddie, on vacation to Key West from Orlando, FL, was able to reel in an enormous 50 lb. Grouper earlier this week on our Coolwater Charter, a premier Key West fishing charter.
A Grouper fish isn't one type of fish, but rather many types of fish within the subfamily known as Epinephelinae. The Atlantic grouper, in particular, can be found in the waters of Key West, as they are one of the more popular species of fish in the area. They are primarily caught during deep sea fishing, which is what our Coolwater Charter is specifically geared towards. This species of fish is quite peculiar, due primarily to its rather rotund body and large mouth. These large bodies are a hindrance to the Grouper, as they are not particularly adept to fast swimming and can be reeled in quite easily once hooked, depending on the overall size of the fish.
The most fascinating aspect of a Grouper is the wide range of sizes that they can grow to. It's common to catch groupers that are anywhere from 10-100 pounds. However, there have also been reported catchings of much larger Groupers, some weighing in at well over 500 pounds. Though it's not often that an angler spots a grouper of this size, it's something that you should be aware of when you're fishing specifically for a Grouper. Groupers can be found in many different colors, such as red, yellow and black. The bait that is used for catching Grouper can also differ greatly, as large bait should be used for those trying to catch a heavier Grouper, while small bait should be utilized in order to lure in smaller Grouper. On their own, they commonly feed on smaller fish and crustaceans.
September is a relatively great month for catching Grouper, or any deep sea fish for that matter, as the higher temperatures in the mid to upper 80's and a mixture of sunshine and rainy weather allow for a myriad of different fishing situations, all of which offer up a chance at catching a wide range of different species of fish. Cloudy weather, in particular, makes for some fantastic fishing, as even the species of fish that spend their time at the bottoms of the sea will go towards shallow water in order to feed, including the Goliath Grouper. If you're looking to test the various fishing conditions for yourself, travel to Key West and spend some time on our Coolwater Charter, the primary Key West fishing charter for many deep sea anglers in the area. Once again, congratulations to Eddie on his unforgettable catch!