Gag grouper fishing out of Venice
Gag grouper fishing out of Venice falls into two options: the South Jetty deep hole in winter, and offshore hard bottom and ledges reached from New Pass. The jetty hole and Reef 14 are measured from Venice Inlet. The offshore bearings are measured from New Pass, except M-9, which is measured from the New Pass Gulf marker. For the whole coast, see the Gulf of Mexico fishing guide.
This page lists the grounds by distance, shortest run first.
When gag grouper are around Venice
Winter is the season for the South Jetty deep hole at Venice Inlet. The offshore hard-bottom and ledge grounds also hold gags, but no months are listed for them. For biology and seasonal movement, see our gag grouper fishing guide.
| Option | Where | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Inshore | South Jetty deep hole, Venice Inlet | Winter |
| Offshore | Hard bottom and ledges from New Pass | No months listed |
Winter in the South Jetty deep hole
The South Jetty deep hole at Venice Inlet is the inshore option in winter, and it is the shortest run on the list.
Offshore hard bottom and ledges
The offshore hard-bottom and ledge grounds hold gags. Distances for each are in the next section.
Where boats run out of Venice
The table runs from inshore to offshore. Each ground can be plotted as a waypoint from its bearing and distance. Chart layers are not for navigation.
| Spot | Reference point | Distance | Bearing | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Jetty deep hole | Venice Inlet | |||
| Reef 14 (Venice Bridge and Pier) | Venice Inlet | 0.8 nm | 230° | 25 ft |
| Gully ledges | New Pass | about 10.3 nm | 259° | |
| M-9 (tanks) | New Pass Gulf marker | 15.5 nm | 205° | 60 ft |
| Swiss Cheese hard bottom | New Pass | about 18 nm | 250° |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
South Jetty deep hole
The deep hole sits at Venice Inlet and is fished in winter.
Gully ledges
The Gully ledges lie about 10.3 nm at 259° from New Pass.
Swiss Cheese
Swiss Cheese hard bottom lies about 18 nm at 250° from New Pass, the farthest ground on the list.
Reefs and structure near Venice
The sites below run from inshore to offshore, with the structure type for each.
- Venice Reef Site I4 / Reef 14 (Venice Bridge and Pier): 25 ft, 0.8 nm at 230° from Venice Inlet
- Venice Reef Sites 1 and 2: old bridge materials and concrete rubble
- Venice Reef V-1 to V-5: limestone boulders
- M-9: tanks, 60 ft, 15.5 nm at 205° from the New Pass Gulf marker
- M-10: upside-down barge and sailboat hulls
- M-11: reef balls
- M-13: concrete culverts, sites 1 to 5
- M-15a and M-15b: culverts, rubble
For wind, wave height and period, use NOAA C-MAN station VENF1 (Venice, FL) at 27.072 N, 82.453 W. It is a shore station, so its readings do not match conditions 10 to 18 nm offshore. Check the official marine forecast before the run.
How gag grouper are fished out of Venice
The fishery works around 70 ft. For general rigging and technique, see our reef fish guides.
Drifting live bait at Swiss Cheese
Boats drift live bait on the bottom at Swiss Cheese, working it across the hard bottom.
Shrimp and crabs in the jetty hole
In winter, the jetty hole is fished with shrimp and crabs.
Who fishes for gag grouper out of Venice
These local charters list gag grouper.
Top Priority Fishing Charters
The Top Priority Fishing Charters site lists gag grouper. The boat is a 34 ft Yellowfin center console, and the site names Capt. David.
The Miss Venice Deep Sea Fishing
The Miss Venice trips page lists gag grouper. The site text mentions Captain Joe.
Regulations for gag grouper out of Venice
A day out of Venice can combine the inlet jetty hole with grounds 10 to 18 nm out, so both state and federal rules can apply. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sets the state rules; check the Florida regulations page before fishing. For the federal side, see the Gulf reef fish federal rules.
FAQ: gag grouper fishing out of Venice
How far is Swiss Cheese from New Pass?
Swiss Cheese hard bottom is about 18 nm at 250° from New Pass. It can be plotted as a waypoint from that bearing and distance. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Do gag grouper show in the Venice jetty hole in winter?
Winter is the inshore season. The South Jetty deep hole at Venice Inlet is the spot, fished with shrimp and crabs. The offshore grounds are listed without months.
What bait works in the jetty hole?
Shrimp and crabs, in winter. At Swiss Cheese, boats drift live bait on the bottom.
How deep do they fish for gags out of Venice?
The fishery works around 70 ft. Individual sites vary: Reef 14 sits in 25 ft and M-9 in 60 ft.
Where can I read conditions before running offshore?
NOAA C-MAN station VENF1 sits at 27.072 N, 82.453 W and reports wind, wave height and period. It is a shore station, so its numbers do not match conditions 10 to 18 nm out. Check the official marine forecast too.
Which Venice charters list gag grouper?
Top Priority Fishing Charters runs a 34 ft Yellowfin, and its site names Capt. David. The Miss Venice Deep Sea Fishing mentions Captain Joe in its site text.
