Catching Grouper and Snapper in Puerto Rico
Grouper inhabiting deeper waters are much redder than those living near shore
Snappers inhabit tropical and subtropical regions of all oceans
Grouper noted for their ability to change from one to any of a number of other color patterns.
Most Snappers live at depths up to 330 ft near coral reefs, but some species are found up to 1,600 ft deep
Groupers first function as females and later transform into males.
Goliath Grouper can reach a length of 8.2 feet and a weight of about 1,000 pounds
Puerto Rico snappers include Cubera Snapper, Red Snapper , Mutton Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, and Yellowtail Snapper.
Grouper mouths form a powerful vacuum that pulls their prey in from a distance
Grouper swallow prey rather than biting pieces off of them
Where and When to Target Grouper & Snapper in Puerto Rico
Grouper and Snapper are native residents of the coastal reefs and waters of Puerto Rico. On many of our Fishing Charters we target both gamefish at some point. Both species move around a bit when spawning and seasons change. Simply Caught Charters consistently catchs Mutton Snappers anywhere from 65 or less during April and May and then can turn around and jig them in 260 foot. For anglers looking to catch Snappers in shallow waters, there are tons of small fish on grass flats that are great fun to catch on small jigs and spoons with 15 pound lin. Theses species include Lane, Yellowtail, Schoolmaster, Dog, Mangrove, and Silt Snappers. Offshore reefs and ledges always hold larger Yellowtail and Schoolmaster Snapper. Grouper fishing in Puerto Rico is also world class, especially on the West Coast. Red Hind Grouper are one of the most prolific grouper species here. Spawning areas for Red Hinds are Bajo de Sico, Tourmaline Bank, and Abrir La Sierra Bank. These areas are closed to fishing from December to the end of February. Other native Groupers include Nassau, Red, Misty, Snowy, Goliath, Red Hind, Tiger, and Black Groupers. Most of these species of Groupers can be caught year around from waters ranging from 55’ up to 700’ !
Grouper and Snapper tactics in Puerto Rico
Grouper and Snapper fishing on the west coast of Puerto Rico is amazing! The two species often live in similar geographic areas making it possible to catch both species at any given time. This type of sportfishing is generally fast paced and interactive making it great for short attention spans. It is generally a bottom fishing fishery involving vertical jigging and dead or live bait on or near the bottom. Bottom fishing with dead bait involves J and circle hooks ranging from 1/0 to 5/0 with 40 to 80 pound leader. Weight size depends on current and depth. General rule of thumb is lightest weight possible to reach the bottom and maintain feel. Cut squid, & Sardines work well with cut Albacore or Bonito being the ideal cut bait. For larger Grouper we prefer live or dead Chubs, Grunts, or Porgys. A 4/0 circle hook with a 50 pound Carolina Rigged leader and 60 pound braid for the mainline work great for this. We typically use spin rods for all our bottom fishing since we take alot of beginners but jigging rods with lever drags work great too. A stiff backbone in the rod is required to get the Groupers out of the rocks. They are renown for wedging in holes. It is very important to turn their head upon hookup !
Another technique that we use is vertical jigging for Grouper and Snapper. This fishing technique involves a metal spoon tied to 40 pound Fluorocarbon and dropped to the bottom. The jigging spoon is then ripped off the bottom then allowed to flutter back down. The trick to this is not doing the same “jig” over and over but switching up the retrieve and drop. Braid is essential for this type of fishing in order too see for feel the bite. The flutter of the spoon on the drop replicates injured baitfish and is often irresistible to just about any species of saltwater and freshwater gamefish. Shimano Flat-Fall Butterfly jigs, Megabat jigs, JYG, and Rapallo swim jigs all work great. Keep in mind you are going to get bite off and catch rocks so you will loose lures. Finding an affordable jig that works is key ! If you have never tried this style of fishing keep at it, its a lot of fun. You never know what might bite your jig.
