GROUPER, BROOMTAIL
A large Pacific Grouper that can attain a weight of 100 pounds or more this grouper has flesh more coarse than its Atlantic counter part. The Broomtail Groupers are found in reefs, rocky areas, and mangrove estuaries at depths up to 225 feet. They reach a maximum length of 150 cm (59 inches) and weigh up to 45.4 kg (100 pounds). Although widespread, they are not abundant and little is known about their behavioral patterns.
The Broomtail Grouper is characterized by its overall light brown coloration, with elongated dark brown blotches on its face and sides that show a clear spot in the middle, giving them appearance of "lipstick kiss marks." The Broomtail Grouper's gill covers are notched and strongly serrated. The tail fin is jagged with streamer like edges, for which the fish is named.
Fishing methods include bottom bouncing, chumming, drift fishing, saltwater jigging and still fishing. Bottom bouncing is done from a drifting or trolling boat, and it’s a great way to attract or locate fish during most seasons and times of day. Use a buck tail jig or natural bait and drag it along the bottom. To attract fish or get them biting again, you can throw “chum” into the water where you’re fishing. You can use ground-up bait fish, canned sweet corn, dead minnows in a coffee can (for ice fishing), pet food, even breakfast cereal. Drift fishing allows you to fish over a variety of habitats as your boat drifts with the currents or wind movement. You can drift fish on the bottom or change the depth with a bobber or float. Natural baits work very well but jigs, lures and scented artificial baits will produce good results, too. When drift fishing with multiple baits and rods, it is always a good idea to set out each bait at a different depth. For bait you can use crabs, cut bait, jigs, live bait, shrimp and squid.
International
The Broomtail Grouper is found is found within the eastern central Pacific and ranges from San Francisco Bay, California to southern Peru. The holotype was reported from the Galápagos Islands and this is the only record from there; it is more than likely that the specimen has been mislabeled and is probably actually from Peru.