It’s time to talk a little more about my favorite all-around fish: hogfish.
As I mentioned earlier, hogfish are hands-down my favorite fish to eat. And I’ll tell you about why. But the thing is, before you can enjoy a hogfish filet, first you have to catch them…
All About AMI Hogfish
Let’s be real: Hogfish are absolutely crazy-looking. They have a prominent nose (hence the name), and their tall, pink/orange profile is adorned with elaborate dorsal spines and elegant tailfin.
Hogfish season in the Gulf of Mexico runs year-round, and keepers have to be at least 14 inches fork length—so no, you can’t cheat and measure to the end of their fancy tails. But not to worry, because now is absolutely peak hogfish season. They’re active this time of year anyway, and the cold fronts have moved the adults in a bit to shallower waters. And that’s helpful because wherever they are, they like to hang out right at the bottom.
The Challenge of AMI Fishing Winter Hogfish
The fun of running an Anna Maria Island Fishing Charter is getting to fish year-round. Of course, it’s always awesome when your job is to take folks out on the water. But what I especially love is the challenge of year-round fishing. From one day to the next, it’s never the same. I get to deploy all my knowledge and skills.
Rarely are these skills tested as much as they are when we go after hogfish. And I say, bring it on! Ask any other AMI fishing guide and I bet they’ll say the same thing. I’ve spent years purposefully going after these big boys, in these waters, during this time of year. I’ve developed a good sense of how to track them down, and I have a few tricks and secret spots up my sleeve that only my clients get to know about.
What I will say is that we’ll usually go around six miles out, in 35-foot waters. And that’s challenge No. 1, because unfortunately we do have to bow to the weather some days. If it’s windy, it might not be a hogfish day.
We’ll bait with live shrimp and sink them all the way down to the bottom. People like to say that patience is key when fishing this species, but the truth is, a hogfish charter actually makes for an exciting and productive day of fishing. That’s because live shrimp is king this time of year, and at this depth that bait is appealing to all kinds of great species. So while we’re waiting for the hogfish bite, we might be landing all kinds of other awesome offerings.
Just be aware that when the hogfish hits, you’ll have a fight on your hands. That’s another reason they’re one of my favorites overall. They’re way stronger than you’d expect.
And that’s all part of the challenge, which is what makes Anna Maria Island fishing charters so awesome!
Your Delicious Hogfish Reward
After a successful catch, I’ll be sure to send you home with some clean, evenly carved filets. That way, you don’t have to take my word for it. Seared, grilled, or roasted, you can find out firsthand how delicious they are!
The first step? Book your winter Anna Maria Island charter fishing trip today. After that, we’ll be on our way!
