Time to book an AMI Nearshore Fishing Charters and take advantage of our area’s signature fish.
There’s a lot to get excited about when it comes to setting out on an Anna Maria fishing charter:
Experience the thrill of our Nearshore Fishing Charters that specialize in Grouper fishing.
the wind in your hair and the wide-open time on the water
- sightseeing all the natural and manmade beauty of southwest Florida
- finding a great spot and anticipating what we’ll find there
- dropping a line in and waiting anxiously for a nibble
- and of course, the thrill of the fight and the big reveal of what it is you’ve managed to hook and reel in
- plus sometimes even going home with something delicious to make for dinner!
That last point is what inspired me to write this post. Because, when it comes to local seafood here, what naturally comes to mind? Grouper, of course!
Yes, snapper and other plentiful local fish are delicious and they certainly get a lot of attention on local menus. But if you’re going to name-drop a local species, especially for a sandwich, chances are it’s going to be grouper.
So how do we get our hands on these tasty filets? Keep reading.
What is a grouper?
“Grouper” is a blanket term for more than a dozen relatively hefty, tropical, big-mouth fish. Some species get downright huge (an eight-foot goliath grouper comes in at around 800 pounds), but the tastier types that we target just have to be a minimum of 20 inches, which will be about 15 pounds.
They’re predominantly bottom-dwellers and predominantly very tasty. Think firm white meat with slight sweetness.
When’s the best time for grouper fishing off AMI?
Time to get excited: May is a fantastic time for grouper fishing, including the sought-after red and scamp grouper. (Gag grouper are also renowned, but state and federal regulations have kept gag grouper season very limited in recent years. In 2026 the gag grouper season only lasts for the first two weeks in September.)
Right now, scamp and red grouper are super-active. It’s spawning season and they’re really active and feeding a lot.
Where do we catch red grouper in the Gulf?
Unlike a lot of the species we target around here, grouper are known to prefer the waters a bit deeper. That being said, red grouper can also be found near bridges and piers and in the deeper nearshore waters in general. They especially like a hard rock, limestone, or reef bottom.
Obviously, it helps to have a captain who’s super familiar with the local waters. (Hint: Yours truly.)
What’s it like to catch a red grouper?
So this is usually the part of the blog when I compliment smaller fish on how hard they fight. Well, grouper are also renowned fighters, but they’re also tend to be heftier than some of the other species we catch. That means it’s a fantastic time trying to bring them in, and you’ll get a decent workout, too.
Are you ready to catch your dinner?
A lot of people book an AMI fishing charter because they’re only in town briefly and they’re looking for an iconic Florida experience. Fishing off beautiful Anna Maria is probably the best bang for your buck, no matter what you’re catching.
If you get some grouper and bring them back to the rental for the freshest dinner you’ll ever taste? That’s a bucket list experience right there.
