Gag grouper fishing out of Port St. Joe centers on offshore reefs and wrecks, worked in about 120 ft. Local boats fish live bait and butterfly jigs. The best-known mark is the Empire Mica, a WWII British tanker in 110 ft, 21 miles due south of Cape San Blas. Region-wide coverage is in the wider Gulf of Mexico guide.
When gag grouper are around Port St. Joe
Gag grouper are fished on the offshore structure off Port St. Joe whenever the recreational season is open. The agency sets the open days, and they change. The Regulations section below points to them.
Biology and seasonal movement are covered in the gag grouper guide.
Where boats run and how far
Cape San Blas is the reference point for measuring the run. Every site below is off the coast of Gulf County, and each has a GU number you can save as a waypoint.
Offshore reefs and wrecks
Grouper effort goes to offshore reefs and wrecks in about 120 ft. The one confirmed run is the Empire Mica, 21 miles due south of Cape San Blas. The port sits on St. Joseph Bay, and the run starts there.
Gulf County’s artificial reefs carry GU numbers:
- GU-6 for the Empire Mica
- GU-4, GU-5, GU-13 and GU-14 for the four Twin Ridges sites
- GU-15 through GU-22 for the remaining named reefs, wrecks and barge
Plot these sites against the Chart Contours layer in Breakpoint. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Reading conditions
NOAA tide station 8728912 (Port Saint Joe) is the tide reference. Judge the run by wind speed, wave height and period from the official NWS marine forecast. Check observations against the forecast before committing to a 21-mile run.
Grounds and structure off Port St. Joe
The sites below are ordered by type: the wreck first, then the deep reef group, the barge, and the material reefs.
| Site | GU | Structure | Depth / distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Mica | GU-6 | WWII British tanker | 110 ft, 21 mi due S of Cape San Blas |
| Twin Ridges NE, SE, NW, SW | GU-4, GU-5, GU-13, GU-14 | Northeast Gulf deep water reefs | – |
| Gatewood Barge | GU-18 | 70 ft steel barge | – |
| Virginia Reef 1 | GU-22 | Boat hull, metal crates, concrete rubble | – |
| Jaycee Reef 1 | GU-17 | Concrete rubble, steel containers | – |
| C of C Reef | GU-20 | Concrete rubble, prefabricated concrete | – |
| Pompano Point | GU-15 | – | – |
| LST Port St Joe | GU-21 | – | – |
Empire Mica (GU-6)
A WWII British tanker in 110 ft, 21 miles due south of Cape San Blas. That depth sits just inside the roughly 120 ft band where gag grouper are worked here.
Twin Ridges (GU-4, GU-5, GU-13, GU-14)
Twin Ridges NE, SE, NW and SW are listed as northeast Gulf deep water reefs. They are four separate GU sites, so save four waypoints.
Gatewood Barge (GU-18)
A 70 ft steel barge.
Virginia Reef 1 (GU-22)
Boat hull, metal crates and concrete rubble.
Jaycee Reef 1 (GU-17)
Concrete rubble and steel containers.
C of C Reef (GU-20)
Concrete rubble and prefabricated concrete.
Pompano Point (GU-15) and LST Port St Joe (GU-21)
Two more GU sites to plot: Pompano Point (GU-15) and LST Port St Joe (GU-21).
How gag grouper are fished here
Two methods carry the local fishery: live bait and butterfly jigs, fished in about 120 ft. Wider technique and the other bottom species on the same structure are covered under reef fish fishing on this structure.
Live bait
Live bait is a local method for gag grouper on these reefs and wrecks at about 120 ft.
Butterfly jigs
Butterfly jigs are the other local method at this depth, and both methods can be fished on the same stop. The Empire Mica and the Gatewood Barge are the wreck-type sites, which give a jig distinct vertical structure to drop on.
Who fishes them
Private boats running their own numbers to the GU sites.
FAQ
How far offshore is gag grouper fishing out of Port St. Joe?
The Empire Mica, a key wreck, is 21 miles due south of Cape San Blas. The fishing is on offshore reefs and wrecks.
What depth do you fish for gag grouper off Port St. Joe?
About 120 ft. The Empire Mica sits in 110 ft.
What methods work for gag grouper here?
Live bait and butterfly jigs. Both can be fished on the same stop.
What is the Empire Mica?
A WWII British tanker, Gulf County artificial reef GU-6, in 110 ft, 21 miles due south of Cape San Blas.
Where do I find gag grouper season dates?
FWC sets them, and they change. Check the state regulations page and the federal reef fish rules, both linked in the Regulations section, before you fish.
