If you’re shopping around Florida’s west coast for a fall fishing charter, Anna Maria Island is like poetry on a boat. Autumn is some people’s favorite time of year for the Sarasota-Bradenton area in general. And for AMI charter boat captains like me, every new change in season always makes me super excited for the new fish we can expect to find!
Autumn Anna Maria Island Fishing: Juvenile Tarpon and Redfish
As the summer spawns start to slow down and the fish in the northern Gulf of Mexico start trickling back down through our area, we can expect certain juvenile species—especially tarpon—to make their presence known inshore in estuaries and creeks. We call tarpon “silver kings,” so you can think of the juveniles as teenagers with bad attitudes and lots of energy. They’re super fun to fight, but they’re usually not too much fish for kids and inexperienced anglers.
You’ll also hear a lot about redfish (or red drum) this time of year, and there is a great reason for that. They’re big, plentiful, and delicious. And, thanks to effective population management, we can bag redfish all year round on Anna Maria charters.
Autumn AMI Fishing: Gag Grouper season Sept. 1-15, 2024
Gag grouper, on the other hand, have only a two-week season this year, from Sept. 1-15, 2024. On the bright side, this is because the recreational gag grouper catch was so wildly successful in 2023—good times! But unfortunately for us this year, fisheries management decided to play it safe and keep the season short.
So before gag grouper season 2024 passes us by, let’s dive into what makes this species so special.
What are gag grouper?
When you think of “Florida fish,” you probably think of “grouper.” That’s because grouper of many varieties are among the most common and widespread saltwater fish all around Florida—both in the water and on menus and dinner tables. So what makes gag grouper stand out from all the other varieties?
Gag grouper live a long time—almost 30 years—and they take that time to get big and strong. They all start off as female and mature that way at about four years old. As they get older and bigger, some gag grouper then become males instead. (So if you land a male, it’ll usually be at least eight years old.)
Minimum bag length is 24 inches, and they often reach up to three feet and 50 lbs. So if you hook one, you’re going to be hauling a lot of fish.
Where to fish for gag grouper from an Anna Maria charter?
Gag grouper are especially representative of Florida, because you find this particular grouper species all around our state, especially in the Gulf of Mexico, but not in the Caribbean. They’re also one of 10 fish in the “shallow water grouper complex,” so while you’ll find them offshore up to 500 feet deep, you’ll also fish for gags nearshore and even inshore (especially for juveniles) in waters as shallow as 45 feet.
Gag prefer hard bottoms, structures, and shipwrecks, and they like to hang out right at the bottom. So whatever depth you’re fishing in, you can expect them to make you reel in every inch of it. That being said, we also see younger gag in grass flats and oyster beds.
Why are gag grouper so popular?
In addition to the challenge of approaching gag grouper with the right tackle and technique (something your AMI fishing charter captain is happy to help you with), gag grouper are—you guessed it—delicious!
They’re mild, white meat big thick chunks, and some people say they even stand out above other species of grouper for their flavor, firmness, and versatility.
But since gag grouper season is going fast, if you want to try these fantastic fish for dinner, you’re going to have to book your Anna Maria Island fishing charter today!
