It’s that time of year again… I feel like a kid on the way to the candy store. Like a kid on Christmas Eve. Like a dog sitting by a sliding glass door, waiting for someone to to let him out. Coiled up like a spring. Well, you get my drift..?! That’s right, after four long months of “spawning” closure, the shallow water grouper complex is set to open on May 1. To me, that’s like Christmas, Easter and my birthday rolled up one! Hopefully, some groupers missed the memo and stayed in town to take an express ride back to Port Canaveral.
You all know the grouper routine by now, so I’ll keep it short and sweet. Get yourself some big, lively, live baits. Go to your favorite bottom spots. Drop said baits to bottom. Repeat until you’ve caught a sufficient amount of grouper. Or until your arms fall off from catching the elusive red snapper. Or until you catch an amberjack that makes you cry. Then, go home, clean yourself up, have a fat grouper dinner, get some sleep and repeat as many days as your husband, wife and body will allow.
When the bottom fishing starts feeling too much like work, do a little trolling for mahi, sailfish and wahoo. He bite has been mediocre, so you should have some time to rest up, have a toddy and may seven catch a little dinner. Ballyhoo, lure, blah, blah, blah… You know the deal.
If you want to shift gears again, do a little live baiting on the reef. The bite has been steady to red hot, so don’t think this is going to be any less work than the bottom fishing. Live pogies, stinger rigs, and so on and so on…
If you have any time remaining, try saving a tourist and catch a shark or two on the beach. Feet and legs appear to be the best bait…
Gotta go,I think I see a crack in the sliding glass door.
See ya on the pond!!
Thanks and tight lines!
Scott