How to Find and Catch Keeper Grouper in Tampa Bay Skyway Shipping Channel

Gag grouper and Red Grouper are two favorite bottom reef fish species in the Gulf of Mexico. Tampa Bay is home to both species and they are available year round if you know where to find them. In this video segment I show you the best method to catching keeper grouper in Tampa Bay. If you live in an area with a similar bottom structure this will also apply to you.
Fishing Charter Website : www.hff.fish
Call 727 433 4508
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Please watch: "Artificial Lure tips for Tampa winter Trout and Snook"
• Artificial Lure tips f...
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[@Darth_DMack]

I am a new, self taught fisherman... I wouldn't even call myself that. We are testing things, trying things, and I must say... your video has cleared some mistakes we are making. Thank you for putting out a no B/S video. We have a boat, are local, and I must say, I'd definitely go out with you to learn. Thank you so much for your informative videos!

[@HeadFirstFishing]

You are very welcome. Its alot easier once you get a few spots dialed in. Winter and spring are very productive. Visit www.hff.fish to check out a fishing charter.

[@kyleowens6044]

Excellent presentation!

[@mrenner01]

My wife got rocked up by a big Gag, I took the pole, released the line and sat up on my cooler for 10 minutes before he started swimming out. Pulled a really nice 32" gag, patience won the day. Great video!

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Thanks! Was that due to you watching this video or you already knew the trick?

[@mrenner01]

I had seen that trick on one of the many fishing shows we watch. I'm using lighter tackle fishing for Hogfish in 50 FOW off Egmont, so we get rocked up frequently.

[@2663apr]

Thank you for giving tips in grouper fishing.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Very welcome

[@miamiwax5504]

Wow i've never seen anybody making kayak videos in the shipping channel

[@HeadFirstFishing]

People will kayak to the bridge area of the channel.

[@danieltaylor2113]

Fantastic informative video! Best one I've watched on KZbin in a long time! What knot do you like for flo/mono to braid? FG knot?

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Fg

[@penrosesausage]

Getting ready for a move down to the Clearwater area and i am LOVING how informative your videos are..THANK YOU!!!

[@HeadFirstFishing]

+penrosesausage Thanks for watching!! We appreciate our viewers.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Keep us posted with your progress

[@dustinlandau3563]

Thanks for the video. Heading to Tampa in mid June. We got Penn Spinfisher VI 5500 and Okuma Azores Z80S spinning reels and older but in top shape Penn Senator 113H 4/0 and Penn 114H conventional. Way more experience with spinning reels. Would both of those spinners suffice as it pertains to this video? Thanks again.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Sounds good except for the 5500. Recommend 6500 and up

[@strongbackmfg15]

Hey bud, thank you so much for this video, I needed the help. Very good video!

[@HeadFirstFishing]

No problem, thank you for commenting. Report back with your catches!

[@hrmthermalimage]

Very Good Video. I enjoyed it a lot! and learned a lot too ..

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@marktaylor4960]

Outstanding advice, thank you.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

You're welcome Mark. Anything else just ask.

[@rwalkertrs1]

Great Info, thank you for sharing.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

You're very welcome.

[@garyalan1961]

That was great thank you for your insight. I fish nothing but the flats and now I'm ready to take the next challenge.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Gary Alan Give us a report later.

[@jimshellisnyder1371]

Very informative! Thank you.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

This type of fishing is becoming incredibly popular.

[@jackdixon9263]

Lot of channels just show catching, learn so much from your channel. Pays off when we go out. Thanks

[@HeadFirstFishing]

You're very welcome, I'm excited you are using the information. Keep us posted.

[@finishstrong7823]

Very informative video. Thanks a lot, brother.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Souljah Medz You're welcome.

[@Samatron-vd4fh]

great video I will use this info when I'm out

[@HeadFirstFishing]

samgaming 298 Let us know how you do.

[@Samatron-vd4fh]

Head First Fishing we went out today and we caught a lot of big grunts and some red grouper

[@HeadFirstFishing]

samgaming 298 Nothing wrong with that. Keep hunting!

[@jamesleon9437]

Great info. Thanks.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

You're very welcome. Hope it helps.

[@ryanraynor3248]

Really informative video, for whatever reason I haven't come across your videos before but I hit subscribe. Thank you for the detailed explanation.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Ryan Raynor Awesome man, glad you liked the video. Thanks for the sub. Lots of info and action on this channel.

[@deepnature6117]

Thanks for the great fishing technique videos. Awesome job. I was in Indian Shores last week and drove over and visited St Pete tackle. That store is awesome. Bought some gear to take back to GA.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

It is a great store with everything you need! Did you mention the videos to them in there?

[@jucaperez9727]

Great informative videos man, keep them coming.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

I surely will! I hope it helped you learn a few things.

[@syedmehdi47]

Your videos are really informative. I caught a grouper in dubai.. cheers!!

[@jimdrechsel3611]

Is it better to fish the top edge, off the edge or on the bottom of the shipping channel when trying to target grouper? Are there more spots east of as opposed to the gulf side of the bridge? It’s a large area to start with. Thank you

[@HeadFirstFishing]

All sides are good, they can show up in different sides on different stages of the tide.

[@liviurotariu1]

We are moving to Clearwater in June, I'm really excited for that, I enjoyed your video, we will like to get more information about your store an fishing stuff, Thank you

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Liviu Rotariu Yes, email [e-mail]

[@Varanormal]

Didnt know Tom Cruise had s doppelganger!

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Haha I've heard this before!

[@solarcats]

NICE! Sharing to the FunCats Facebook page.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@saltwater4892]

Good explanation

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Thanks glad you think so.

[@chillygames1368]

Thank you so much man. Ive been looking everywhere for good spots in tampa bay im usually left catching cats. i havent tried the skyway yet and im ready to go try this stuff out thank you for sharing your knowledge! Tight lines!

[@HeadFirstFishing]

You're very welcome sir. Keep us posted with your progress.

[@chillygames1368]

Head First Fishing We plan to head out this weekend. We still struggle to find reds and snook anywhere on the flats were thinking its our aproach to the fish any tips for finding snook and reds?

[@HeadFirstFishing]

The fish are hiding in the shade and in holes alot this time of year. Alot of the breeder snook are near the passes and beaches.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Right now we have very high tides so take advantage of that and fish oyster bars and current flush points around the high tide and outgoing tide.

[@jimdrechsel3611]

That was a great video. Liked way you reviewed the stress points. It would have been great to finish this video with you live fishing the rig. That large weight next to the hook doesn’t scare them off? Thank you for offering to answer comments and emails.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Thanks. They dont care about it.

[@miamiwax5504]

I bet jigging would be great

[@JorgeMartinez-yu4qw]

excellent video,thank you, can you tell me anything on why my bait fish are not lasting long on my bait well , thanks

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Either the water is tainted or they aren't getting enough volume of flow.

[@Jason-wx7ms]

Great video! Thank you. Question, when you say to patrol and scout the edge of the channel, are you talking about the deep part of the channel right before it starts to get shallow again? Or along the incline?

[@HeadFirstFishing]

All of that

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Even up on the shelf

[@saltyinletfishing379]

What leader are you using?

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Anywhere from 50 to 80 pound mono.

[@dannytruong4326]

When you use the knocker rig for live bait, particularly pinfish, where do you usually hook them?

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Head, under dorsal, or above anal fin.

[@haydenlape3846]

Small butts are great too lolll

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Hahaha

[@domenicp196]

When your looking for these in shipping channel are we talking only in channels near sky way or the shipping channel all the way up to handy bridge area

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Domenic P The whole thing.

[@majidsaeed792]

thanks for that great information. my question is. how do I find rocks . it's different from the normal reefs that i can find almost anywhere. so how do I know. dose the sonar tells that ?

[@HeadFirstFishing]

The sonar will tell you when you are passing over a hard bottom.

[@camboflo727]

Am i too late to start trying this?

[@HeadFirstFishing]

No, now is a great time.

[@imnoaussiediveandfishing]

Do you have any preference fishing the channel either between the Skyway and Egmont or the channel inside the Skyway?

[@HeadFirstFishing]

I'm No Aussie Dive and Fishing Both areas hold keepers. Even the port manatee channel.

[@aidencarew7240]

June 1st my b-day😇

[@toddmaccallum5824]

Spearfishing?

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Would try it

[@zeke5491]

Back in my day a good fisherman kept his spots secret- so the multitudes didn’t take every last fish

[@ericpieper956]

Caught so many gags undersized that I would catch same one over and over.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

There's alot of juveniles, put down a bigger bait and see what happens.

[@originalShea550]

replying to an old video, but I moved down to Tampa bay in July of 2020. I'm from Saint Louis Missouri, and never really fished up here, but I'm loving fishing in Tampa. I bought a medium light action rod and a shimano 4000 reel. I use 65lbs test braid, with a 35lbs mono leader and 1 or 2 ougt hooks. I usually fish with live shrimp or live greenbacks(or something similar.) I fish from shore, and so far the only thing ive managed to catch of note are a buttload of mangrove snappers. I'm looking to try to expand to species i catch, and I'd love to try for sheepshead, gag groupers, and spanish mackrel or species like that which are real tasty. Any advice for a newer angler like me? maybe I need to change my bait or tackle, or find new spots to fish? The best luck I've had it at the skyway pier, and clearwater bridge.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Send this question to [e-mail] and put in the subject HEY YO CAPTAIN JOE

[@dannytruong4326]

I was freelining a pinfish a few months ago at skyway. Sat several minutes and no strikes, went to grab a drink from the car and came back to a completely spooled reel which had at least 200 yds of line. But I couldn't even retrieve any line back at all because it was snagged with no slack line. Everyone believes it was a dolphin but in my experience dolphins usually clean the bait off the hooks easily without snagging rocks. . It was a livebait feeder reel but there's no way that pinfish could have peeled off all that line and swam into the rocks in the short time I was gone. Wish I had tried the guitar method before breaking off the line. What do you think happened? Is it possible for pinfish to swim deep down into the rocks and get you snagged? Or is that only possible with a hit from grouper?

[@HeadFirstFishing]

The dolphins are pretty bad at the skyway, so it's not unreasonable to think that. There are also large grouper including goliath grouper there.

[@yourfavoriteamputee6605]

I live on saint Pete beach do you have any videos fishing down here Iv cought some nice fish inshore and offshore here.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Kyle Lowman Not on the beach. I'd like to try to video snook on the beach.

[@battlerealestateinvestment2029]

Do you have any recommendations for fishing from land? I don't have a boat.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

David Battle The coastal bridges hold gags.

[@battlerealestateinvestment2029]

Head First Fishing can you elaborate a little bit more please. I've been trying to locate them for a while with no luck so far. I was just at the skyway south pier last weekend and johns pass the weekend before that.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

David Battle There is a well done video on KZbin someone made about fishing the skyway pier. The other bridges like tierra verde drawbridge and johns pass hold them. They are around the the legs and fenders.

[@tanyahanna6523]

How to find and catch grouper..Briar Rose fishing party ....King of Spain with family.. prescription..the brothers Grimm..🧙💤☕

[@HeadFirstFishing]

I am so confused.

[@alexcrews7505]

Hi there capt juat want to know wen fishing Tampa bay lookimg for rock piles an good bottom .I do not own a trolling moto my boat ia a23 Ft do u Anchor down like u fiah the jettie.pleas let me ⚓

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Anchoring works good, I have a gps trolling motor usually so it makes it easier.

[@alexcrews7505]

Thank you capt fror your reply the best anchor is gaff/or sand do not want to lose any best advice please i wil be there in Summer time best is it July like u said your friend Jacksonville⚓🚤

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Search using your main engine. Then anchor when you find it.

[@TheStpeteboy]

Can you recommend me a good conventional setup? I want a high quality reel like Shimano! Thanks!

[@TheStpeteboy]

Sorry this is specifically for Grouper only!

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Penn, Shimano, Avet, Diawa are all good brands. The combo I showed in the video is all you need.

[@biggunna8863]

Do we have any lobster in the tb area?

[@HeadFirstFishing]

We do. Go dive a ledge in 65 ft or so.

[@biggunna8863]

Head First Fishing thanks and I subbed

[@fishinfool1234]

Hey im in Tampa from sc on my honeymoon trying to get on some grouper and snapper any particular areas would you suggest looking this time of year the channel close to the skyway or more so futher up the channel

[@fishinfool1234]

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[@HeadFirstFishing]

The skyway and any bridge near there is a good choice.

[@chaserendueles6346]

I usually put in at cockroach bay. what would be the best way to work the channel and which direction? Lol

[@HeadFirstFishing]

+Chase Rendueles. I would work towards the skyway looking at my sonar.

[@chaserendueles6346]

Head First Fishing. Im in search for mangrove snapper. What would be the best bait? Shrimp? Greenies? Chunk bait?

[@HeadFirstFishing]

+Chase Rendueles Shrimp, greenies, and sardine chunks.

[@chaserendueles6346]

Head First Fishing thanks for the tips going out soon to try and put it to action

[@HeadFirstFishing]

+Chase Rendueles let us know how you do

[@robdavis6130]

Nicely done video Joe! Your skills are improving, great presentation. I'd like to have you on my boat again when you have some downtime, I'm still looking for keeper grouper. I'm going to try your methods this weekend. Thanks.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Thanks brother. My parents are coming into town soon, maybe we can all go fishing. Let me know how you do in the bay.

[@DadModeRN]

People who refer to themselves as captain off of the boat just remind me of How I Met Your Mother. I laugh every time.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Nursing317 I missed that episode. Please elaborate. :)

[@DadModeRN]

He's in a few episodes. He even makes his wife introduce him as the captain to her friends.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Nursing317 Haha nice

[@austinburcham0479]

Every time we fish in the bay, the dolphins come and take our snapper

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Austin Burcham04 They do it to me too! Gotta reel em up fast.

[@austinburcham0479]

Head First Fishing gets annoying but when we catch the little grunts, we give them a couple

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Austin Burcham04 Smart move

[@kayakjohn9665]

That happen to me he almost got my rod

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Yes they will do it.

[@bmack2938]

I see you don't guide anymore.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

B Mack Still guiding, just less.

[@allseriousness]

Advice: buy a boat, buy a trolling motor, buy a sonar, buy a gps, buy a gps lock. What can I do for less money?

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Large kayak will work. Just watch out for ships.

[@raleighthomas3079]

James Cockerham hire a guide/charter a trip. You may think what they charge is expensive, but your learning curve is way shorter, and add up the prices of the boat package you posted. Now add upkeep, fuel and ice, insurance, registration, storage options, and a vehicle to pull it.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Sage advice.

[@fedx2185]

I don't care for the local street hood gangster mask.. Unless your a local gang member..

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Brian Epperson I'm not fond of skin cancer. The mask protects you.

[@HeadFirstFishing]

Brian Epperson However, I was in a bass fishing bicycle gang that raided golf course ponds years ago....

[@helicopterjohns]

First many thanks for a very informative video on Grouper Fishing in Tampa Bay and sharing your fishing knowledge and techniques on Grouper fishing. I have a Lowrance HDS7 Gen3 unit with a TotalScan Transducer. i.e. traditional sonar, side scan and downscan capabilities on my boat. I also have a Minn Kota Trolling motor with Spot Lock. I have most of the tools necessary for success and hopefully this video has helped me along with sharing of your knowledge. I am in the process of doing some structure mapping for the first time with my lowrance HDS7 Gen3 unit. I took a few sample scans on one of the many artificial reefs located in Tampa Bay. Please disregard the (Trail) line on the scans as I forgot to turn off the trail function prior to doing the scanning. Here is a link to the sample scans I made. drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cKAFh72KUDvi0j7qfGDvjTAUfd1BC_nj?usp=sharing Question? Do you think this would be a valuable tool for locating structure along the shipping channel? If you would rather not answer in this format you can contact me via e-mail in my channel in the (About) section. Thanks again for a really nice video. John

[@cmoney4653]

Another sell out for internet fame. Gag numbers getting lower and lower in the bay. Lets keep making these vids 👍