bluefish chunks for grouper?

i have a bottom fishing charter in a couple weeks in south georgia and although i have no problem loading up on sea bass and b-liners, i caught several nice bluefish in the surf today and am strongly considering putting large chunks of them down for grouper. has anyone ever tried bluefish chunks for grouper with any success (if they dont get picked off by bsb) or is a nice oily bluefish pretty much just asking for sharks?

Asking for sharks. Use live fish.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper

Live blues work good, but I think you’ll get nothing but sharks on chunks of bluefish. Use live bait for grouper

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PROUD YANKEE

Oyster Baron

NMFS = No More Fishing Season

“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”

Especially frozen chunks. I would try them fresh, but not frozen.

When they are chewing it seems they will eat anything. We got them on small dead croakers today. Pinfish are the way to go.

sounds like i may have to try to get some pinfish or something the night before. i was able to catch grouper on chunk bait and squid in diego garcia, but then again thats also the other side of the world and not 20-40lb fish either. thanks for the input

Pinfish are our usual go to grouper bait generally, but a small beeliner is grouper candy and any grunt will usually work well too.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper

Yeah…if you get a tiny little bee liner while you are fishing, cut his tail back and send him back down. That’s the ticket.

Those are pro tips right there… Match the hatch lol

“mr keys”

I have had good luck on a grunt or bliner this yr. don’t be afraid use a big bait. My best gag of yr was on a legal vermillion.

Rookie question, but how are you hooking the live baits? Thru the nose, in the back? Still learning this offshore bottom fishing stuff. Still trying to figure out where to go to catch them as well. Heading to Edisto on Wed. to go out. Live bottom areas? Thinking of hitting Edisto offshore reef. Any thoughts? Thx.

quote:
Originally posted by FishingDuo

I have had good luck on a grunt or bliner this yr. don’t be afraid use a big bait. My best gag of yr was on a legal vermillion.


Of course it was a legal vermilion, since it would be illegal to use an undersized one for bait, and because you would count that bait towards your bag limit... Because if you did anything otherwise, we would be asking for more rules and enforcement, but as long as we play by the rules, nobody will be peeking in your baitwell... :wink: Baitwell = retention...

By the way, this is a public service message with the following moral… “Loose lips, sink ships”…

I’ve got enough laws to worry about already!!!

And before anyone gets upset with my post for “criticism”, remember my intent is that of a friend, not of a foe… If you read between the lines, then you will see that my post is for your edification… That is, not to suggest that you stop what you are doing, only that you be careful what you bring into the spotlight, or someone else might make you stop what you are doing…

I have found that bluefish chunks (steaks actually) work great on big grunts

We have caught a few gags on half blue fish attached to Barefoot decoy jigs but live bait seems to work better for me

Squid Row II
22 Shamrock WA

Flounder Pounder II
16 Sandpiper Skiff


I wouldn’t suggest using a short for bait. Grouper have big mouths!

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper

well i guess i can always drop a big chunk or a half down anyways and see what happens! i plan on bringing my 9/0 for bigger fish which can put the beating on most anything and if it happens to be sharks i have a few NOAA tags in need of a dorsal fin and the sea bass will go back to swarming 5 seconds after i release said shark. one way or another ill definitely try to get some live and legal baits too…cant argue with that.

Blue, hook the live bait just above the anal fin.

Pioneer 222 Sportfish
Yamaha 250

side note. i have had pretty good success on big snapper and grouper on Burrito sized chunk of Spanish mack. I am talking 2 or 1 bait per spanish. cut in half or just a large piece off the tail for the smaller ones. big baits keep the bsb off and the spanish jaw structure provides excellent holding purchase for a big circle hook. but even better than that is a big piece of little tunny, but it does bring around the sharks.