The Tampa Bay Times
Hogfish heaven is located just off the coastline of the mid-western shores of Florida. Local fishermen and spearfishermen are finding great populations of hogfish in this eastern Gulf of Mexico arena. Hogfish are not normally targeted by fishermen, but with gag grouper season closed and keeper sized red grouper in deeper water, fishermen and divers have applied more pressure to hogfish collection. Another reason for this hogfish pressure is that they don’t have to venture too far offshore to find a good tasting fish like the hogfish. Fishermen from head boats to private charters are targeting hogfish. The technique for hogfish fishing is a little different than grouper fishing. Most of the hogfish fishermen work with lighter line and tackle than they use for grouper. They don’t use cut or life fish bait. They use shrimp while targeting hogfish. Spearfishermen don’t use bait. They simply swim along the edges of the limestone reefs and the sand and look for the hogfish that are moving along and across the ledge drop-off. Hogfish are “harem” fish and the larger male hogfish is usually on the move, looking for the many females in his harem. Both sexes of hogfish move over the limestone reefs and in and out of the undercuts. Divers find them in both places. It is not unusual to swim along the top of the reef break and not see Hogfish, but on the swim back to the boat, and while using an underwater flashlight, a surprise hogfish or two could be hiding in dark hallows of the undercut.
- Jay Mastry - March 26, 2024
- Captains Corner, Gorta - March 23, 2024
- Dave Zalewski - March 12, 2024
