Skyway Grouper

jguiseppi · 11-20-2009, 05:33 PM

Specks last week-end Grouper this week-end;

Decided to hit under the bridge today since the weather has been so nice,

John

**helomech** · 11-20-2009, 05:36 PM

Sweet, never seen that kind, but grouper is great eating.

jguiseppi · 11-20-2009, 05:43 PM

Gag grouper...look very similar to Black Grouper

honeykeeper · 11-20-2009, 06:20 PM

Nice grouper!
I speared and cleaned a yellow fin grouper one time on my boat in the Bahamas.......then read my fishing book and decided not to eat it.........it was in a remote area and I didn't want to take the chance getting ciguatera.
My favorite part to eat on a grouper is the cheeks but it takes a good size one.....mmmmmmmm!

jguiseppi · 11-21-2009, 01:05 AM

I've never really heard of ciguatera in grouper, but I suppose it may be inherent in some... I've mainly heard of it in larger toothy fish, like barracude, and king fish. Yes the cheeks are the tastiest part, but only a small chunk of meat there.

honeykeeper · 11-21-2009, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jguiseppi

I've never really heard of ciguatera in grouper, but I suppose it may be inherent in some... I've mainly heard of it in larger toothy fish, like barracude, and king fish. Yes the cheeks are the tastiest part, but only a small chunk of meat there.

You learn something new everyday !lol......Of course it takes a 20 lb. up grouper or jewfish to get a good cheek steak.

While I was identifying it I found out black grouper and yellow fin groupers commonly have ciguatera:

Harmful Algal Blooms: Ciguatera Fish Poisoning: Home | CDC HSB

About Ciguatera
Ciguatera fish poisoning (or ciguatera) is an illness caused by eating fish that contain toxins produced by a marine microalgae called Gambierdiscus toxicus. People who have ciguatera may experience nausea, vomiting, and neurologic symptoms such as tingling fingers or toes. They also may find that cold things feel hot and hot things feel cold. Ciguatera has no cure. Symptoms usually go away in days or weeks but can last for years. People who have ciguatera can be treated for their symptoms.
Basic Facts
Fish Identification [opens in new window]
Barracuda, black grouper, blackfin snapper, cubera snapper, dog snapper, greater amberjack, hogfish, horse-eye jack, king mackerel, and yellowfin grouper have been known to carry ciguatoxins.

jguiseppi · 11-21-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeykeeper

You learn something new everyday !lol......Of course it takes a 20 lb. up grouper or jewfish to get a good cheek steak.

Ahhh, there's the problem, LOL, I catch these probably less than a mile from shore. I've never caught one that close in weighing even close to 20#....

Oh, and BTW, jewfish (goliath grouper) are protected...better no get a cheek steak from them..LOL.

You can't even take them out of the water for a photo....

Shane06fl · 11-21-2009, 08:25 PM

Any warm water reef fish can contain ciguatera. You have to pay attention the area algae blooms. right now the water around skyway is cool enough that you don't have to worry too much. I have caught Grouper trolling in the Indian river in the dead of summer and the meat smelled so bad I could keep it. Don't know why.

[T.J.] · 12-05-2009, 03:28 PM

nice grouper man. i been hittin the skyway groupers hard until a couple months ago. i can only handle the dolphin stealin my pinfish off all 10 poles i got every 30 minutes for so long. i've been hittin the Queen Fleet day charters recently and man we been limiting out and even having to use the captains and mates limit to bring all our fish home. and you don't have to worry about flipper out that far for the most part.

next time you hit the skyway send me a message if it's on the weekend. i been killin the tarpon and goliaths out there too. i got a freezer full of blue runners and ladyfish if you wanna get on some too. also got a cpl 5 ft sharks and cobia.

gweasel77 · 12-05-2009, 05:11 PM

Nice! There's some monster fish hiding sown there around the Skyway! Never know what you'll catch!

[T.J.] · 12-05-2009, 05:30 PM

here's a few fish i've caught....

the 3 gags and 3 reds were from the charter last Sunday.

the one is a Ramora stuck to the side of my truck a friend caught on the skyway lol.

and the last 2 is my truck and a ladyfish on the skyway.

[T.J.] · 12-05-2009, 05:33 PM

here's a few more.... mostly of the catch last Sunday.....

the last pic is a shark from the skyway.

jguiseppi · 12-05-2009, 06:07 PM

Those are some pigs TJ... I haven't been out on any of those head boats for awhile... I use to go out on the queen fleet a lot. Then I went out on Hubbards over nighter several times, but that was a few years ago.

I just have to pick and choose my days under the Skyway carefully. I have a 17' flats boat now (Hewes RF16 Redfisher). It's preety stable, but still it's relatively low to the water and only a 16'5" boat.

JG

[T.J.] · 12-05-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jguiseppi

Those are some pigs TJ... I haven't been out on any of those head boats for awhile... I use to go out on the queen fleet a lot. Then I went out on Hubbards over nighter several times, but that was a few years ago.

I just have to pick and choose my days under the Skyway carefully. I have a 17' flats boat now (Hewes RF16 Redfisher). It's preety stable, but still it's relatively low to the water and only a 16'5" boat.

JG

hell yea i like Hubbards too. last time out i caught the biggest amberjack and won a free overnite trip, i still have the card for it.

if you ever need somebody to help catch bait or help pay for gas one weekend i'm down.

you ever get into any trouble with ur boat in the bay? like any rouge ways come over the bow? lol.

gweasel77 · 12-06-2009, 04:59 PM

I got stuck in a thunderstorm out in Tampa Bay one time, fishing w/ my dad in his 26' Glassmaster. It snuck up on us & we were way out there & had to go across the bay. On the way back we nearly drowned, scariest boat ride of my life. Waves were breaking over the bow & crashing down on us. The whole time i was just thinking of how many hammerhead shark's there were, just waiting for something to hit the water.