Where red grouper hold off Pensacola
Red grouper fishing out of Pensacola centers on bottom structure off Pensacola Pass, from a 43 ft nearshore reef to the 60-200 ft band one local charter lists for the fish. The Pensacola port page covers the pass and getting out, and the red grouper species guide covers the general picture. For the wider coast, see the red grouper fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing guide.
Proud Pelican lists red grouper at 60-200 ft, and Reef Reaper lists red grouper among its reef and wreck species. Together, those listings tie the fish to hard structure in that depth band. The Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge Reef sits at 43 ft, shallower than the band Proud Pelican lists, so plot your depths against both numbers before picking a first stop off the pass.
- Depth band listed: 60-200 ft (Proud Pelican)
- Structure listed: reef and wreck bottom (Reef Reaper)
- Starting point for every run: Pensacola Pass
Named grounds and structure off Pensacola Pass
Two pieces of named structure sit off the pass: a single nearshore reef with a published depth and distance, and a county reef group built in 2026.
| Site | Depth | Distance from Pensacola Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge Reef (Escambia Nearshore East Artificial Reef Site) | 43 ft | About 5 nm southeast |
| Escambia County 2026 reef group (43 sites, 217 concrete modules) |
Plot both on your chart before you clear the pass. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge Reef
The official name is the Escambia Nearshore East Artificial Reef Site. It sits at 43 ft, about 5 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola Pass.
Escambia County 2026 reef group
Escambia County built this group from 217 concrete modules across 43 sites. The county’s 43 new artificial reefs deployed off the pass added to the structure available from this port.
How red grouper are fished here
Deep dropping is the method used locally. Red grouper share reef and wreck structure with other species, as Reef Reaper’s listing shows. For other reef and wreck fish you can work on the same bottom, see the reef fish pages.
Who fishes for red grouper from Pensacola
Two Pensacola charters list red grouper. Their boats and captains show what kind of vessel works these grounds.
Reef Reaper Fishing Charters
Reef Reaper Fishing Charters, LLC runs under Captain Paul Swisher Jr. The boat is a Sea Hunt center console, listed as 27 ft and 28 ft. Reef Reaper lists red grouper among its reef and wreck species.
Proud Pelican Charters
Captain Chris Ruple runs Proud Pelican Charters. The boat, named Proud Pelican, is a 35 ft express sport fisher. Proud Pelican lists red grouper at 60-200 ft.
FAQ: red grouper out of Pensacola
What depth do red grouper hold off Pensacola?
Proud Pelican lists red grouper at 60-200 ft. Reef Reaper lists red grouper among its reef and wreck species, so the fish are tied to hard structure in that band.
What is the Escambia Nearshore East Artificial Reef Site?
It is the official name of the Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge Reef. It sits at 43 ft, about 5 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola Pass.
What is the Escambia County 2026 reef group?
Escambia County describes it as 43 new reef sites built from 217 concrete modules, deployed off Pensacola Pass.
What method is used locally for red grouper?
Deep dropping.
Which Pensacola charters list red grouper?
Two operators list the fish. Reef Reaper Fishing Charters, LLC (Captain Paul Swisher Jr.) runs a Sea Hunt center console listed as 27 ft and 28 ft. Proud Pelican Charters (Captain Chris Ruple) runs the 35 ft express sport fisher Proud Pelican.
