If you’re fishing offshore you can catch both gag grouper & red grouper in water as shallow as 30 ft, but there are plenty of shorts as well.
Also there have been good size sea bass in 30 to 40 ft on hard rocky bottom areas.
If you move out to 50 -60 ft, you will have a better chance of catching more keeper size grouper and the king fish are still around.
We, actually ran into a school of mahi-mahi last weekend in 45 ft of water. I noticed that most of the large bait pods were in 45 to 50 ft of water. We have been using thread fin, hearing, northern mackerel, menhaden and live pin fish for bait.
Trolling stretch 30’s works well too, just watch for the floating grass, if it gets caught up in the line it’s a pain. The water temp has been around 83 to 86, so the bite will slow down, till you go deeper.
I haven’t went after Amberjack yet since they re-opened on the 1st, but live bat will be the trick.
Till next time, tight lines and safe boating
Capt. John blouse
This Cedar Key fishing report is from Cedar Key Marina II and Cedar Key Fishing Guide Hookedup Charters.
A Cedar Key Grouper Caught With Captain John Of Hookedup Charters
Captain John With A Cedar Key Grouper
