 I guess you could say there are three ways to Grouper fish. The wrong way, the right way, and the "YEAH RIGHT WAY" This article is about doing it the "YEAH RIGHT WAY". We are a charter company here in Southport, NC and the name of our company is "YEAH RIGHT SPORTFISHING CHARTERS" and our web site is  www.yeahrightcharters.com   I get so many emails about how we grouper fish I thought I would write an article on one way we do it, so here goes!!!
First order of business if you are real serious about Grouper fishing is obtaining bait. Always put some frozen cigar minnows in the cooler, just in case live bait has disappeared that morning. Live bait is very attractive to a big grouper and he can hardly resist them!!
If pogys are easy to get on the way out, by all means, these are some of the best baits to have. Live Pin fish are excellent, catch these the evening before or put out a pinfish trap overnight. If the pogys and/or Pinfish are not available, stop on the offshore buoys and use a #12 Sabiki rig and jig up live cigar minnows and/or Spanish sardines. 
Now I’m not saying live bait is the only thing they will bite, I’m just saying it is usually the best. But, I have seen days when all they would hit was cut bait. Guess they are like us, we like hotdogs, but not all the time!!
OK, you have your bait, now let’s head offshore!! Hopefully, if you are new to this you have talked to some other fishermen and have an idea  where you are going to start your hunt. Let’s say you went to the Frying Pan Tower which is approximately 34 miles offshore from where the Cape Fear River in North Carolina empties into the ocean. I would go into at least 80’ or more of water, grouper like deeper water. Now, pay attention to the way the current is running, let’s say the current is running to the West, this will be the direction you will want to travel especially if looking for ledges. You will want to look for drops (ledges) that drop off from hi to low, not low to hi. The drop from hi to low will provide a current break on the drop, if you see some fish markings here, you may be in business. Only way to tell is to anchor up and find out. You must be anchored up on the drop, in this fishing; close usually will not get the job done!!!
You have your bait and are anchored up on a drop with fish showing on the scope, now lets rig up for catching some grouper, we hope!! A good “stand up” rod in the 50 to 80 lb. class makes a good grouper rod. As for the reel you can do just fine with a PENN 114 (6/0), but, if you have access to a heavy two speed reel, that’s even better. I spool up with 50 lb. line, a 16 oz egg sinker and then I tie a 300 lb. test barrel swivel using a Palomar knot. To the other end of the swivel, using a Trilene knot I put about 3 feet of 150 to 200 lb. test leader and use a 10/0 PENN CIRCLE HOOK. I like the PENN hooks because they are offset at the factory and they are heavy wire. The heavy leader is used to help combat the abrasion your line will encounter while fishing the structure for grouper.
Now, take your live bait and hook him just in front of the anal fin. This will allow your baits to swim in a natural fashion. Next put your rod in the rod holder and start letting your bait down a few feet and stop a few seconds, continuing doing this until you get to the bottom. If you just free spool all the way down, your bait will "helicopter" and get wrapped up your main line when it reaches the bottom. Having the rod in the rod holder and the weight on the bottom, crank up 2 to 3 turns on the reel. When the grouper finds your bait you may get a couple of tugs on the line, just leave it alone. When he takes the bait, you will know. When the rod doubles over from the pull of a big grouper, leave the rod in the holder and crank until you have all the stretch and excess line taken up on the reel. At this point you can remove the rod from the holder; it is advisable to have a "fighting belt" on to place the rod butt in. Grouper are powerful fish that can leave you with a big bruise without one!! There is no need to set the hook with a circle hook, and if you do, when you drop the rod in conventional style fishing, your grouper is back in the rocks and it’s game over, that grouper just won the battle. This way, there is no stretch left in your line and when you pull the rod out of the holder he is already coming your way. The first few feet in grouper fishing is the most critical; you have to get him out and away from the structure!! 
Even using this method you are still going to loose the battle sometimes, but, this has helped us land more grouper. When you break a grouper or two off, you may as well move to a new spot.  Remember not to over fish your grouper spots, you can fish them out. I like to hit my good rocks about once a year. Again, I’m not saying my way is the best way, it just works for me. Put your time in, ask questions, pay attention to the little details, experiment and soon you too will find what works best for you. I hope this will help you catch more grouper in the future and if you don’t get a bite your next trip out, it’s still better than a good day at work!!!
FISH ON!!!!
Capt Butch Foster
