Goliath Grouper and Gags on the ledges

This Fort Myers fishing report highlights another unforgettable offshore trip into the Gulf of Mexico targeting grouper and other hard-fighting reef species.

No vacation down to Florida is complete without doing a fishing trip! They got to enjoy the beautiful beaches while staying on Sanibel, and it served as the perfect launch point for our fishing trip. This father and sons trip headed out from the Punta Rassa boat ramp in search of some big tugs and to make memories for a lifetime.

We had decent conditions and made the 40-mile run offshore before pulling back the throttles on the Salty Beast, our 33' World Cat. We set up over the rock and ledge area and it wasn't long before we had some action. We had a just-short scamp grouper come up, followed by a beautiful gag grouper, unfortunately out of season. A few big hits and breakoffs along with a few juvenile amberjacks made their presence known before we picked up and moved to the next spot. The young guys kept talking about asking about the Goliath grouper, so I knew where we needed to head.

Our next spot was filled with BIG fish! We cut up chunks of threadfin and sardines and were drifting them back with the tide. We saw a few nice snapper darting around, and a much bigger shadow... Cast back a jig head with some cut bait and the bait was inhaled by a giant cobia! It peeled off a ton of line and we were making progress getting it back in (we were on light tackle fishing for the snapper) and unfortunately the cobia popped the line.

On the bottom, the young boys dropped down baits and got taken to town several times by some large grouper, some of which were likely red and gags. Then the Goliaths showed up and after several full 90's at it and getting taken back into the ledge, we were successful in landing this beast!

The adventure wasn't over yet. The young boys had one more request—to jump in the water and swim with the giant Goliath grouper before releasing it. After a quick safety briefing, they climbed in and got to experience one of the coolest moments you'll ever have offshore. It is a memory they won't soon forget.

Trips like this are what offshore fishing is all about. Great fishing, unforgettable experiences, and making memories with family that will last a lifetime.

Ready for your own offshore adventure?

Whether you're looking to battle powerful grouper on the ledges, target snapper for the dinner table, or experience the thrill of seeing a giant Goliath grouper up close, Southwest Florida has plenty to offer.

Now booking offshore fishing charters out of Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Sanibel. Come make memories with us aboard the Salty Beast!