Gag grouper out of Apalachicola at a glance
Gag grouper fishing out of Apalachicola is offshore bottom fishing on structure. FishingBooker’s Apalachicola fishing guide gives an area-wide grouper season from late spring to early winter. Apalachicola Fishing Company’s 40-break trip runs 45 to 55 miles out to water about 250 ft deep. Named reefs and towers closer in sit at 60 to 85 ft. Region-wide coverage is in the wider Gulf of Mexico guide.
This page covers the season window, the run, the named sites and their IDs, who fishes gag from this port, and where to read conditions. Biology and general technique are in our gag grouper guide. Ramps, the inlet and port context are on the Apalachicola port page.
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Run to the 40-break grounds | 45 to 55 miles |
| Depth at the 40-break grounds | About 250 ft |
| Depth of named reefs and towers listed here | 60 to 85 ft |
| Nearest NOAA station | APCF1 (8728690) |
When the fish are around
FishingBooker gives an Apalachicola-wide grouper season from late spring to early winter. No operator gives a gag-specific season.
That window covers grouper in general, so use it for planning rather than as a gag calendar. Before you commit fuel and a day to the run, confirm what is open in the Regulations section below.
- Start of the window: late spring.
- End of the window: early winter.
- What the window covers: grouper as a group, not gag alone.
Where boats run
Distance drives the plan here. The operator grounds are a long run, while the named structure is a shorter trip at much shallower depth.
The 40-break and the 250 ft grounds
Apalachicola Fishing Company’s 40-break trip runs 45 to 55 miles out to water about 250 ft deep, where it says snapper, grouper and reef fish are caught. So the answer to how far offshore boats go for grouper out of Apalachicola is 45 to 55 miles for the operator grounds.
Gag trips from here go one of two ways: the 45 to 55 mile run to about 250 ft, or the named sites in the next section at 60 to 85 ft. Plan fuel and time for whichever you pick. The long run reaches federal waters, and the Regulations section covers what that means.
Reading conditions at APCF1
The nearest NOAA buoy is station APCF1 (station 8728690) at 29.724 N, 84.980 W, Apalachicola. Check its wind, wave height and period readings before the run, and compare them with the official NWS marine forecast for the coastal waters you will cross.
Named grounds and structure
These sites are named structure near the port in the Franklin County artificial reef program (AARA), listed with reef IDs and depths where known. The depths below run 60 to 85 ft.
| Site | ID | Depth (ft) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buddy Ward Memorial Reef | A4N; also A6S | ||
| S Tower | FR0005 | Listed in the AARA Franklin reef area | |
| K Tower | FR0007 | 60 | |
| Yamaha Reef Addition | FR0030 | 85 | |
| City of Apalachicola East | FR0015 | 78 |
Load the reef ID numbers into your plotter or the Breakpoint map before you leave the dock so you can find each site from its ID. Chart layers are not for navigation.
How it is fished and who fishes it
Bottom fishing on structure
The operators list bottom fishing on structure as the local method. The 40-break trip names snapper, grouper and reef fish together, so expect both snapper and grouper on the same trip. Broader technique and the regional reef-fish picture are in our reef fish fishing guides.
Local operators
Two operators anchor the local picture for anglers deciding between their own boat and a booked trip:
- Adventures Aboard The C-ScouT lists gag grouper. Captain Brad Segree and Larry Segree run a 28-foot Mako with twin 200hp Mercury, which gives a sense of the boat size suited to the run.
- Apalachicola Fishing Company runs the 40-break trip described above.
FAQ about gag grouper fishing out of Apalachicola
When is grouper season in Apalachicola?
FishingBooker gives an Apalachicola-wide grouper season from late spring to early winter. No operator gives a gag-specific season. Check the rules before fishing.
How far offshore do boats run for grouper out of Apalachicola?
Apalachicola Fishing Company’s 40-break trip runs 45 to 55 miles out. That run reaches federal waters.
How deep is the water on Apalachicola grouper trips?
About 250 ft on the 40-break. The named reefs and towers listed here run 60 to 85 ft, for example K Tower at 60 ft.
What reefs and towers are near Apalachicola?
The named sites are:
- Buddy Ward Memorial Reef (A4N; also A6S)
- S Tower (FR0005)
- K Tower (FR0007)
- Yamaha Reef Addition (FR0030)
- City of Apalachicola East (FR0015)
They sit in the AARA Franklin reef area as listed.
Who runs grouper trips out of Apalachicola?
Adventures Aboard The C-ScouT lists gag grouper, with Captain Brad Segree and Larry Segree on a 28-foot Mako. Apalachicola Fishing Company runs the 40-break trip.
