JUST THE TIPS

Your fishing report from the start of grouper season

Well, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, not the holidays – it’s grouper season!

May 1 is a pretty big deal around here. Recreational anglers can now keep black grouper (one per person per day within a three-per-person grouper aggregate limit), red grouper (up to three per person per day within the aggregate), gag grouper (one within the aggregate, not to be combined with a black grouper), snowy grouper (one per boat), and blue line tilefish (two per boat).

PEANUT is the owner and operator of Noreaster Sport Fishing in Marathon. A Massachusetts native, Nick fished for bluefin tuna and striped bass before moving to the Keys in 2005.

3-month-old female domestic shorthair. Looking for: A family for me and my brother. Turnoffs: Don’t hold me back – I’m the adventurous one!

This is huge, considering the mahi fishing has been pretty slow thus far. We’re still waiting on that fishery to heat up, so deep dropping offshore gives you another delicious option. Target the blue line tiles in 500 to 750 feet of water, snowies in 650 to 900 feet, rosefish in 800 to 1,200 feet, barrelfish in 900 to 1,200 feet, and yellowedge grouper in 650 to 800 feet. You never know what you might pull up from the depths.

Closer to home, permit are still a fun target as they spawn on wrecks, and the yellowtail bite has been steady with the current in 40 to 80 feet. There has also been steady tuna and sailfish action in 150 to 300 feet on quality live baits slow trolled or from a kite. Trolling probably would be productive in that zone too, if it weren’t for the grass. It’s pretty thick and scattered everywhere, so if you plan on trolling all day, it may seem like you’re cleaning your rigs off every 30 seconds.

When targeting groupers inshore, bigger black groupers hang in 50 to 100 feet and like a big live bait. Make sure your tackle is up to the task, because they pull hard and fast to escape into structure. Your best shot at red groupers is still reefs in 20 to 50 feet. Live pinfish are the go-to here.

Good luck out there, and be sure to keep up on the everchanging size and number regulations. It’s your responsibility to know them and abide by them. “I didn’t know” does not fly with FWC! Visit myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational or use a trusted app like FishRules.

To book a trip with Noreaster Sportfishing, text Capt. Nick at 508-769-4189 or visit noreastersportfishing.com.