Captain’s Corner: Ed Walker

The Tampa Bay Times

By Ed Walker

November and December are the best months for gag grouper fishing. For years anglers have looked forward to the cooler months when this prized benthic species becomes more active in coastal waters. Fall is regarded as “grouper season” by many on the Gulf Coast.  

The existing theory as to why fishing gets better in fall is that gags move closer to shore to feed when the water temperatures drop. Some science, however, does not support this belief. A 2017 research study by FWC found that sampled fish moved around far less than previously thought.  Most gag grouper tagged with acoustic telemetry “pinger” tags were found to stay around the same structure for over 150 days with some staying on the same spot for over a year.

In mid-November this year we landed two adult gags with dart tags on them. They turned out to be fish we tagged on the same small rock exactly one year earlier. Statistically, most tagged gags are recaptured in the same area they were caught and released.  

Improved catches give the appearance that large numbers of fish have suddenly moved in or gathered into large schools, but it may be that these fish were already there and were triggered into feed mode by water temperature sensitivity. 

Whatever the reason, now is the time to enjoy what may be the last fall gag season for a while. An interim rule requested by the Gulf Council, and soon to be implemented by the National Marine Fisheries Service, will close gag grouper season in November and December for 2023.