Skyway Pier Grouper Are Almost IMPOSSIBLE to Catch

[@StephanieBassora-q7x]

Hey thonny you did a really good job in this episode really did enjoy it and it's always so much fun fishing for grouper😊😊

[@JacobWalker918]

Fishing is a weird and spontaneous sport, Last year I was fishing in a local canal and I couldn’t catch a snook to save my life for months, then in the span of two weeks I caught 4 or 5 snook and my pb snook at that same canal. That’s what makes it so exciting though. Much love man nice vid.

[@Thonny]

They do move around 😅 gotta love it though! 💪

[@StephanieBassora-q7x]

Hey thonny episode was really good really did enjoy it special you catching the grouper look like a lot of fun especially fishing at the skyway is always a lot of fun good job buddy 👍💯

[@lawrencevalentin3646]

It's so nice video to see how to fish the mighty grouper... thanks Thonn..

[@StephanieBassora-q7x]

Hey thonny episode was really good I really did enjoy it episode was really good that grouper caught was real nice fishing at the skyway is always a lot of fun😊😊

[@joangeddes380]

Very enjoyable video with nice fishing with some great catches 💯💯💯💯🥰👌👋🏻🤗✌🏻😍👍🏻🐟🎣🐠💯💯💯💯

[@StephanieBassora-q7x]

Hey thonny you did an amazing job fishing that was a really nice size grouper everytime me and my wife goes fishing we always get grouper but we get stuck on the rocks😊😊

[@StephanieBassora-q7x]

It's always so much fun going fishing at the skyway or fort desoto hopefully one day soon we can get to meet you we really enjoyed watching your episodes😊😊

[@saedfajardo8956]

It was so nice to finally meet you! Ur the best 😊

[@Thonny]

Likewise 👊

[@GODSWORD5]

There were days when I’d go out with my dad and we’d absolutely kill gags there. Now I’d be lucky to get one keeper over the 2 week season.

[@StephanieBassora-q7x]

Hey thonny definitely going to buy the fishing rod that you use I love it cool bro 😊😊

[@MrSandomir]

They hard to catch! Great video! Thanks!😀

[@jahmeykan]

Good video and info. Thanks for the content and expertise, Thonny. Tight lines and screaming reels!

[@Thonny]

Thanks for watching!

[@hookedbykali]

new subscriber here. I love your videos! audio and color grading are top tier. keep dropping content!🎣

[@Thonny]

I appreciate it! More content coming 💪

[@BlakeCresswell]

Thank God, I wasn’t the only one who’s having bad luck at the skyway.😢😂

[@Thonny]

It has been a grind!

[@StephanieBassora-q7x]

Hey thonny it's me Vinny I really enjoy this episode was very good that was a really nice size grouper I always like to use a big pain fish or sand perch is good for grouper good job buddy 😊😊

[@Thonny]

Glad you enjoyed it! 💪

[@StephanieBassora-q7x]

@@Thonny your welcome 🤗

[@StephanieBassora-q7x]

Yeah groupers definitely a good fighting fish specially when you're trying to get it out the hole and they are really fast so the best thing to do is real real quick😊😊

[@chris6054]

Lived here my entire life man, but I've NEVER fished the Skyway. Between you and Bush I definitely want to try soon. Is my 30lb braid gonna be enough or should I aim a lil higher?

[@Thonny]

I’d go minimum 50lb braid! 160 yards plenty

[@FishOnChannel]

Nice catch we still have time for another keeper

[@Thonny]

Oh yeah 💪

[@jimbro7861]

Give the people what they want!

[@TheSlojack]

What brand/model rod are you using? I need me a broomstick type spinning rod.

[@Thonny]

Shimano Terez 7’8 100lb class

[@jeffreyrosales7779]

What rod where you using? Add the link plz!

[@Thonny]

Discontinued! It’s a Shimano Terez 7’8 100lb

[@fishingwithlos8191]

Agree 💯

[@KurimeYT]

Came out there 2 days in a row, lost probably 40+ pinfish to dolphins and rocks. It's been really rough this season. Not sure why FWC made it this short tbh...

[@cawbaird5711]

Because they don't want you to catch anything

[@silvestrepalacios9009]

Because they want Grouper to populate a little more before no one gets to take anything he a few days is better then no days

[@touka6456]

@@cawbaird5711and then y’all complain there’s no bites smh

[@GODSWORD5]

I went out on a hubbards 10 hour trip last week and there wasn’t a single gag, keeper mangrove, or keeper scamp caught among the whole boat

[@cawbaird5711]

@@touka6456 used to be plenty before everyone moved here

[@cawbaird5711]

If you didn't grow up here you don't respect it. They leave line and beer cans everywhere they go

[@JacobWalker918]

Not necessarily true, many people who aren’t from here pick up trash and respect the scenery.

[@dudekdudek9095]

We were fishing a deep mangrove wall inside New Pass by the bridge ,,,This area gets alot of boat traffic and pressure but we stopped to try it ,,,My wife hooked a big fish in a shrimp on a lead head,,,She said it was stuck but could feel it pulling ,,,So i told her to give it slack and naybe it will swim out ,,,She did and a keeper Gag swam into the channel away from the mangroves and she caught a Keeper Gag!!! We were beach camping so we motored back to our campsite and had fresh grilled Gag as we watched sunset with our friends!!! Also landed keeper Gags at the dock at Cayo Costa State Park a awesome island State Park on Boca Grande Pass with camping n great fishing!!!

[@Thonny]

Wow that’s awesome! That was the plan if I caught a keeper! 😅

[@dudekdudek9095]

Cayo Costa dock was great catch pinfish on the inside of the dock and put them out on the Bayside where the Big Tour boats pull up so it's deep and like I mentioned close to Boca Grande Pass ,,, I caught a 2 or 3 Gags and lost a Big Guy I couldn't stop from getting into the pilings n breaking me off !!! The Gag my wife caught was total luck using a 12lb spinning outfit we had No Idea she would get a Gag!! Plus it getting stuck and the Give it Slack trick actually working !!! Sometimes you get lucky if you take enough casts is what I always say !!! Keep the videos coming 💯🎣Good Stuff and the fishing up you're way I'm Tampa /. Clearwater/.St Pete seems bad ass Alot of land based opportunities for dinner !!!

[@GamerPong28]

How do you run 7ft leaders without getting wind knots? If i allow the leader knot to pass through the guides on my spinning rods i always get wind knots. I however do not get the same issue when using a bait caster.

[@Thonny]

What kind of rod and reel do you have and what pound braid are you running?

[@GamerPong28]

@@Thonny 4000 size Diawa BG on a MH offshore angler with 50llb braid. A 4000 size KastKing Kapstan on a M Kast King Estuary with 40llb braid. MH Penn Fierce 3 combo with 30llb braid. A medium Ugly Stick combo with 20llb braid. And even my ultralight Mr. Trout combo with 6llb braid.

[@mrdoodiehead1642]

Do you tie an FG knot going from braid to leader?

[@PassivePortfolios]

I fished last year for grouper and caught 1 cobia and a large redfish over 3 days of fishing. No keeper grouper, just a few small ones. Used up a ton of pinfish and grunts.

[@Thonny]

What time of year? Usually it’s better in the winter time

[@PassivePortfolios]

@@Thonny January and February are the best months for inshore grouper. The bigger gag grouper move inshore, hang out around any structure and they are hungry. They will bite on cut bait too. We have caught them on cut shrimp around the intracoastal docks,, while fishing for sheepshead.

[@zackriden79]

its over fished

[@cawbaird5711]

Yes it has been getting worse for the last 20 years

[@fishermandan69]

overfished is one word

[@michael4712]

Yeah but if you’re going for slot mackerel it’s pretty easy imo. Even get a snook once in a while

[@CurtCatchemFishing]

At this point all the line in the water is worse than the damn dolphins. Mind blowing how people don’t think about what they are leaving in the water. Good vid bro. 🤙🏾

[@Thonny]

Yeah man! We need to do better. I’ve seen empty beer cans laying around dead baby jacks and a baby trout. Not cool 👎

[@ryan198787]

The dolphin bites red hot on the skyway 🤷🏻‍♀️ they love pin fish !!!!

[@pathua7692]

Depends on what type of grouper. Gag is pinfish. Red is stinky big chunk of dead bait. Honestly offshore grouper, any live bait that is not natural to that area (pinfish, croaker, etc.)

[@Thonny]

Thanks for the info! 👊

[@mychaelmitchell4632]

So if something isn't working change it. If the current is moving hard use a weight. For skyway and current use a knocker rig or carolina. I've caught 10 to 1 shallow water grouper fishing with weight. I feel the current is moving to much the live bait doesn't get down and the grouper don't like chasing in heavy current. This is my opinion. I do like live bait free lining or light weight when I'm mostly up and down fishing in less current. Your bait wants to stay up in moving water. Also on free lining you have so much slack in line that when the grouper do grab it they already rocked up by the time you see the bite or the line paying. I do like the presentation of free line when situation dictates.

[@Slightly-annoyed-fish]

Nothing and I mean NOTHING has frustrated me as much as fishing for gags this season at the skyway Dolphins, dumb birds, picky pinfish, contaminated water, careless people casting on top of my line (constantly), short season.. I’ve only seen 3 people pull gags in over the past week fishing ever outgoing tide… and I was one of them. Way too much work haha

[@Thonny]

A lot of work for sure!

[@cawbaird5711]

It's been tough. the water sucks. Overfished. Plus downscan and side imaging they're not safe anywhere

[@rickhensley2251]

Do you think some of that line could have been from someone getting spoiled?

[@StephanieBassora-q7x]

Hey thonny buddy good job buddy 👍💪

[@fishhunterflorida]

Nice catch

[@nicholasgreidanus544]

Croakers are the best bait from the east coast 100%

[@ClintWalker-w5z]

I fish out there a good bit i started with 80lb i moved up to 125lb mono and ive had way better odds of pulling them out with the 125lb mono

[@PassivePortfolios]

I use 65 lb braid. Too light ?

[@ClintWalker-w5z]

I use 80lbs power pro v2​@@PassivePortfolios

[@TheStpeteboy]

I use 90 lb and sometimes my line snaps like nothing lol

[@RABBIT-EDC]

And go by the bait house you'll get more bites and it's deeper

[@Tom-cp6yj]

I just received my new Spyderco Para 3 👊

[@Thonny]

Love spyderco knives!

[@cawbaird5711]

I can't remember the last time I crushed it😂

[@RABBIT-EDC]

You need a high speed reel and a 9 foot rod with a backbone and reel reel reel

[@RABBIT-EDC]

Wait the fish out too

[@Rich_hr_ser]

60-80lb is good

[@snizookslizayer5379]

fuckin rookies leaving all that line in the water. thats what kills birds. pisses me off brother.

[@Hognut]

That pier died 10 years ago.

[@frostizz2072]

Only thing good there are pinfish and mackeral

[@mrdoodiehead1642]

Hey Thonny, you said when you tie FG you do 20 wraps. Do you get all your wraps to cinch down? I stop at 14 bc that's all I can get to cinch.

[@MrMcNasty44]

Bro have you gotten taller? Lol