Catching limits of Grouper for everybody on the boat in hot summer don’t happen for me very often. Grouper fishing in shallow water gets tough after the water temperature passes 80 degrees and for every degree above 80 it seems like my catch shrinks about 5%. I’m fishing tomorrow and I don’t expect to catch a lot of big Grouper but I’ll come in with a box of fish because I‘ll work my "hot water game plan." With my "hot water game plan" Grouper are targeted but I am using a "shotgun" approach for other fish too.

When the water is hot, I fish the biggest spots I can find with tall ledges, wrecks, and rocks being best. On a typical "hot water" day Barracuda often provide the most action and certainly the most spectacular. ‘Cudas hang out over high rocks and wrecks, picking off stragglers from bait schools and often fish off your hooks. Ye! ah, I hate to loose a good fish to a ‘Cuda but, for folks that have never seen it happen, it just might be the most exciting part of the trip.

To land a ‘Cuda, you either have to get mighty lucky with a mono leader or have a 3’ length of #2 wire. The #2 wire is only 27# test and mighty hard to see. No weight or float is needed. Live Sardines, Cigar Minnows or a 2’ long Spanish Mackerel all get bit by the ‘Cudas. Spinning tackle or heavy freshwater bait casting gear is all that is needed. Expect lots of high jumps and screaming runs. ‘Cudas are docile in the boat so use a lip gaff if you want a picture or, better yet, release them at boat side. I’ve eaten many ‘Cudas but be advised that they can carry Ciguaterra poisoning.

Spanish Mackerel, Cobia, Sharks, and an occasional Kingfish grab this line too. A large Pinfish hooked behind the dorsal fin on 30-50# gear with no weight or leader catches lots of big Grouper if the current isn’t running too hard. First and 3r d quarter moon phases usually have slow enough tides for this technique to work. The Pinfish tries to get to the bottom but the drag of the current against the line keeps him from making it most of the time. He can, however make it down into the strike zone. Grouper that are used to seeing baits tethered to 4-8 oz sinkers find an unweighted Pinfish hard to resist. Probably the most common catches on this rig will be Gag Grouper, Mangrove Snapper, and Jack Crevalle bigger than you might want to hook. Expect Cobia just about every trip.

Then there is the basic bottom rig with a circle hook and live Sardine or Cigar Minnow. I said live and I do mean live. Dead bait catches Grunts, Seabass and, I’ll admit an occasional Grouper and Snapper. Most days in shallow, hot water, if it ain’t live, you can forget Grouper. Cigar Minnows or Blue Runners really shines here. They are strong, active, and mighty attractive to big Grouper. Again, Cobia grab this bait often. If you can find a shrimper culling his catch, try to get a few dozen Rock Shrimp and small crabs. Fish these on a basic bottom rig and expect Hog Snapper. (Hogfish) Hogfish are seldom caught along the Gulf Coast with most being speared. They are excellent eating, maybe the best fish of all. A large Rock Shrimp or a 2" crab really gets their attention where they darn near never take any other bait.

Another rod rigged with a 6 foot wire leader and 10/0 hook baited with a fillet from a Jack Crevalle or Bonita is sure to get a Shark bite. Most or the Sharks we catch are less than 6’ but once last summer we caught a Hammerhead that was close to 12’. Hammerheads, Blacktips, Bulls, Nurse and an occasional Tiger Shark provide excitement nearly every trip. Occasionally a big Grouper or Cobia grabs the Shark bait too.

Last but certainly not least is the "BIG GUN." I use a 6/0 Penn Senator with 200# mono, 4# dive weight for a sinker, 16/0 Circle hook and a live 3-6# Jack Crevalle for bait. You don’t get many bites per day on this rig but when you do, it takes 3 men to get the rod out of the holder. Brute strength is needed to haul a 200-400# Jewfish up. Catch and release only for these fish. You need to trim the top lobe of the Jack’s tail or it will swim all over the place pulling the 4# dive weight with him. Removing the top lobe of the tail also slows him down to the point that even the laziest Jewfish can catch him. Jewfish aren’t pretty, just big.

Hot water fishing is usually productive for me because I use my "hotwater game plan" unless I have folks who want Grouper only. The folks who want Grouper! only don’t know what they are missing. When I come in with 5 or 6 Grouper, a Cobia or two, several Spanish Mackerel and maybe a couple of Hogfish, I’ve had a pretty good day for mid summer. The dozen or so other fish that aren’t brought back to the dock plus a "sea monster" or two that got away are just bonuses. If you measure the success of your catch by the total pounds of fillets, you’d better wait until cool weather or fish with somebody who knows something I don’t know.