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Grouper season opened; Dolphin have been showing for anglers trolling

ed killer, treasure coast newspapers
·5 min read

Grouper season opened Wednesday in Atlantic waters, including the Treasure Coast. But this won't be like any grouper season before it.

Gag grouper harvest will be cut short on June 15. It won't re-open until May 1, 2025. It's all about rebuilding the grouper stock, or how many fish are being found in their usual haunts. According to NOAA's marine fisheries service, this closure will help rebuild the stocks to levels fishers haven't seen since the 1980s.

It should be good weather for the weekend enabling anglers to get out and fish for those grouper in 160 to 200 feet of water offshore. Dolphin have been around, too.

Rosa Fox of Stuart caught her personal best dolphin while trolling ballyhoo April 26, 2024 in 90 feet of water northeast of the St. Lucie Inlet.
Rosa Fox of Stuart caught her personal best dolphin while trolling ballyhoo April 26, 2024 in 90 feet of water northeast of the St. Lucie Inlet.

Florida fishing regulations and fishing season opening and closing dates:

  • Gag grouper: Recreational harvest in Atlantic waters will be open May 1 through June 15, 2024. Harvest will then close for gag grouper from June 16 through May 1, 2025.

  • Other grouper: Harvest opens May 1 in Atlantic waters. Includes red grouper, black grouper, scamp, yellowfin grouper, yellowmouth, coney, graysby, red hind and rock hind. Harvest closes Jan. 1, 2025.

  • Greater amberjack: Harvest opened May 1.

  • Red porgy: Harvest open May 1. Closes June 30.

  • Snowy grouper: Harvest open May 1. Closes June 30.

  • Blueline tilefish: Harvest open May 1. Closes July 18.

  • Hogfish: Harvest open May 1. Closes Nov. 1.

  • Alligator: Application dates for hunt season (Aug. 15-Nov. 1) limited entry permits begin May 3. More info here: MyFWC.com/license/limited-entry/apply

  • Red snapper: No season dates have yet been announced by NOAA National Marine Fisheries.

  • Bass: Bass at Headwaters Lake is strictly catch-and-release.

  • Golden tilefish: Harvest closed March 1 in Atlantic waters. Season re-opens Jan. 1, 2025. Harvest closed based on annual catch limit set by NOAA.

  • Lobster: Harvest closed March 31. Sport season (mini-season) will be July 24-25, 2024.

  • Snook: Harvest open through May 31 on Atlantic coast. Harvest closed June 1-August 31.

  • Spotted seatrout: Harvest opened Jan. 1. Harvest closed Nov. 1-Dec. 31.

  • Cobia: Bag limit: Two fish per vessel. Size limit: 36 inches fork length. No closed season.

  • Redfish: Harvest of redfish has been banned in the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon since Sept. 1, 2022. FWC will reevaluate in the future.

  • Dolphin: Bag limit is 5 fish per day per angler. Vessel limit is 30 fish per day. Captain and crew may not be included in limit. Regulations in state waters began May 1, 2022.

  • Flounder: Harvest opened Dec. 1, 2023. Harvest closed Oct. 15-Nov. 30.

For complete fishing regulations in Florida go to MyFWC.com.

IR Firefighters 3rd Offshore Tournament

When: June 7-8; Fishing June 8. Where: Sebastian Saltwater Marina and Restaurant. Entry: $250. Potential purse: $14,000 paid out. Species: Grouper, kingfish, dolphin, snapper. Format: Big board. Information to become a sponsor or to fish: Brad Eskew 772-643-1361, Matt Bloch 772-532-2569 or bradeskew@bellsouth.net.

Indian River County

Offshore: Grouper can be caught out along the deep reefs and ledges in 160 to 200 feet of water off Sebastian Inlet. Use dead sardines or squid and conventional tackle. If fishing north of 28 degrees north latitude, federal law requires the use of non-offset non-stainless steel circle hooks with natural bait when bottom fishing. Descending devices must be on deck if bottom fishing, too.

Inshore: Big spotted seatrout can be found cruising the shorelines from Harbor Branch to the islands in Grant. Cast a live shrimp freelined or under a popping cork in 1-2 feet of water at daybreak to find them. Live sardines also work well.

Freshwater: Big bass are biting along the edges of Blue Cypress Lake. Wild shiners or worms work well, but you have to bring both with you. Rattle traps or buzz baits also get bites.

St. Lucie County

Offshore: Some of the best grouper fishing is along the 27 Fathom Curve on the rocky hard bottom ledges there. Controlling the boat is a big deal because sometimes there can be a lot of current there or even currents through the water column going in different directions. Red grouper are often on the shallower reefs in 70-90 feet of water.

Inshore: Capt. Mark Dravo of Y-B Normal charters in Fort Pierce guided anglers to catches of snook, trout and redfish. He has his clients pitch live baits to dock pilings, seawalls, the points of mangrove islands all when the tide is sweeping the bait across those areas.

Surf: It's been rough the last couple of days with onshore winds, but better wind conditions should set up for a slow pick of pompano during the incoming tides. Use Fishbites or sand fleas for results.

Martin County

Offshore: Dolphin have been showing up for anglers this week. Rosa Fox of Stuart caught her two personal best dolphin while trolling ballyhoo with husband Leonard in 90-180 feet of water northeast of St. Lucie Inlet last Friday. Other anglers are catching 15-20 pound dolphin in similar zones.

Inshore: Believe it or not there are still pompano being caught by anglers jigging small jigs from the flat bridge on the east end of Jensen Beach Causeway. Both tides are producing catches. Snook fishing with live pilchards is excellent along the docks of Rocky Point and Sewall's Point.

Lake Okeechobee

Crappie season is finally fading and bluegill and shellcracker fishing is getting better. Red worms and live crickets are doing the trick.

Ed Killer is the fishing writer for TCPalm. Send him your fishing photos and reports to ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Grouper season opened; Dolphin have been showing for anglers trolling