The grouper story

We in the Florida Keys are now into the third month of our four month grouper ban. Last year was the first time we were not able to take any grouper of any type for four months and for a lot of locals that hurt. The upside of the ban we have seen a massive increase of numbers just about every where. Yesterday Robs first day was far from ideal, winds near 30 but in the Keys we fish so of we went to 7 mile bridge at the west end of our island and fished a small wreck in a channel near the bridge. It always amazes guys on our fishing holidays that we can do this and I feel sorry for people in the south of the UK who are blown out all to often. In the cut we only had 1 to 2 ft seas well over 4 ft on the way down so very fish-able. I have a small wreck in just 6 ft in this channel so with a strong tide and lots of weed we had to float baits down going the same pace as the weed.

Grouper a plenty I lost cont gag and black and even fish this size pull very hard and as with all grouper all they want to do is get back to the wreck and some did so game over. We also had some nice porgies also hard fighting fish and very good on the table but all went back. So is the ban making a difference well from my experience yes very much so it just goes to show how good fish are at making a come back. Yes we are very lucky in Florida with little or no commercial fishing and very heavy controls fish are here to catch and enjoy. The other up side is during the ban we are eating a lot of other fish and finding some very good ones we would not have tasted without the ban. The weather is due to get better all week I have been given some more marks in the bay can’t wait to drop the pick.