Capt. Billy Springer and Rob Grieper hold a big black grouper that Grieper caught fishing on a wreck off South Florida. Grouper season opened May 1 in Atlantic waters. Photo provided
By Steve Waters
May is a special month for many South Florida anglers and divers because the seasons for grouper and hogfish open on May 1.
The grouper season in Atlantic waters has been closed since Jan. 1 and the hogfish season closed on Nov. 1 in local waters.
Both species have restrictive bag and size limits. Black and gag grouper must measure at least 24 inches, and red grouper must be 20 inches. Anglers and divers can keep a total of three grouper per day, but only one can be a black or a gag. The other two, or all three, can be reds.
The limit on hogfish is one per person per day with a minimum size limit of 16 inches measured from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail.
Spearfishers hunting for black and gag grouper must react quickly when they see the fish. Unlike hogfish and red grouper, which often try to hide behind a sea fan when a diver approaches, blacks and gags don’t usually stick around.
This month, a good spearfishing location is the west-facing side of the third reef off Palm Beach County. The top of the reef is about 50 feet below the surface, and the bottom is 60-65 feet. The reef holds a lot of fish, including keeper-sized grouper and hogfish. Wrecks in 65 feet also are good spots to shoot big grouper and hogfish.
Capt. Skip Dana of Deerfield Beach fishes wrecks from 75-240 feet for grouper. The GPS coordinates for Florida’s artificial reefs are available at myfwc.com/media/19397/artificialreefdeploymentlocations.pdf.
Dana noted that wrecks in 75-120 feet are good for gag grouper. Blacks are on the same wrecks as well as deeper ones. Reds can be as shallow as 30-40 feet around rockpiles, ledges and grass patches, and on wrecks.
Lantana Fishing Derby
The Greater Lantana Chamber of Commerce has its 31st annual Greater Lantana Fishing Derby on June 6 out of the Old Key Lime House in Lantana.
The captain’s party is 5:30-8 p.m. June 4 at the Old Key Lime House. Fishing is two days later, with the weigh-in, which is open to the public, at the Old Key Lime House.
Also on June 6 is a Kids Fishing Derby at the Lake Worth Beach Pier from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Lunch and prizes will follow.
The awards party is noon-4 p.m. June 7 at the Lantana Recreation Center. In addition to kingfish, dolphin and wahoo, a snapper category has been added with a top prize of $500.
The early entry fee is $250. After May 23 the entry fee is $350. Proceeds of the event help support local nonprofits and youth programs. Visit lantanachamber.com/lantana-fishing-derby.
Hospice KDW Shootout
The 16th annual Hospice KDW Shootout Charity Fishing Tournament benefiting Trustbridge Hospice Foundation of Palm Beach County has extra meaning this year.
One of the biggest supporters of the tournament, which is June 13, was Sail Inn former owner Rick Janke.
He was manager of the bar for 10 years and then bought and owned it for 21 years before selling it in 2019.
The Shootout’s emcee, Janke died in October while in hospice care, according to tournament director Mike Goodridge.
The entry fee is $300 per boat. The boat catching the biggest fish of the event receives half of the total entry fee.
In last year’s tournament, which raised $11,000 for Trustbridge, the boat Reel Love caught the biggest fish, a 29.54-pound dolphin.
In addition, the Shootout pays out for the three biggest fish in each of three categories — kingfish, dolphin and wahoo — with $1,000 for first, $600 for second and $300 for third.
The biggest fish in the dolphin category last year was a 12.06-pounder caught by Team Hurricane. Frozen Assets had the biggest kingfish at 19.66 pounds and Last Call had the biggest wahoo at 20.26 pounds.
The captain’s meeting is 4:30-7:30 p.m. June 11 at Sail Inn, 657 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach. The weigh-in is at the Palm Beach Yacht Center at 7848 S. Federal Highway in Hypoluxo. Contact Goodridge at 561-703-1907.
Outdoors writer Steve Waters can be reached at steve33324@aol.com.
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