No gag grouper this time next year? Tampa Bay anglers say there are more than ever

This time next year gag grouper will be closed.

The decision, based scientifically to prevent overfishing with a lack of males in the population, was announced earlier in 2022.

The gag grouper must not have received the notice, because since that announcement it seems like more and more are showing up in their normal shallow water haunts that they weren’t at in years past, and anglers have taken advantage.

“A lot of keeper fish inside the bay this year,” said Captain Wes Wildman of Wildman Adventures on Anna Maria Island. “Trolling and live bait has been very productive. I find that after our first big cold front they really start flooding the bay, and of course the following moon after.”

Wildman, like other captains, rely heavily on gag grouper to provide meat on charters during winter months. When flats fishing cools off with colder water, a trip to the bay is a great way to put a keeper fish in the boat for dinner.

“As long as our water quality stays good, I would say it has been one of the better seasons that I have been lucky enough guiding for,” Wildman explained, talking about seeing more gag grouper. “Maybe the storm pushed them around, but I definitely don’t see why there will be a closure.”

To target gag grouper in shallow water, Wildman uses active baits. Live bait, like pinfish, threadfish or big sardines freelined in shallow water will often get a thump from a gag grouper who will then aggressively head back for their structure when the line comes tight.

Heavy tackle helps to prevent their return, but angling skill is definitely needed or heartbreak will ensue.

Trolling for gag grouper remains popular around the bay as well. Big lipped plugs able to dive to a specified depth or planers to get other baits down deep can provide good results. By trolling, a gag grouper rarely gets the chance to turn for home as they are pulled with the boats constant motion.

And not to be outdone, Wildman like many others says the nearshore fishing is starting to pick up. I spoke with one captain who said it’s the best in terms of number of gag grouper he’s seen in a decade inside 10 miles. Wildman said on calm days he’ll run offshore in his 238 Semi V Carolina Skiff.

“It has to be the right day to break the beach, but I have noticed a few of my gag and hogfish spots are starting to show out with the cooler water temperatures.”

When asked what he will do in 2023 when gags close on Nov. 10?

“Adapt and overcome. We will just focus on other species until we can harvest (gag grouper) again. Cobia, hogfish, mangrove snapper, triple tail. That’s the problem with closing down a species completely, it puts more pressure on everything else,” Wildman said.