Tampa, Fla. (WFLA) – Scamp grouper is known for its spotted brown spots, flare tails and incredible flavours! They may be one of the most popular groups in the Gulf.
Scamp grouper is another species that requires slightly deeper water and far travel, offshore. Reel Nauti Fishing Charters captain Ryan Amaturo says he has been successful in a depth range of 150 to 250 feet. He also said they were a little closer in the spring spawning months.
Aboard the boat with him, Amanda caught a decent sized scamp in 180 feet of water. Amatero said, “It’s really fun and something open to keep it right now, because you can bring them home, they’re a great table fair.”
It’s tasty, but very beautiful!
“They are good looking fish. Their tails, how they burn like that, they’re so cool,” Amatero said.
They like a variety of baits, both live and cut baits. Amatoro said that live pinfish and greenback work well for him, but he actually has a lot of success with slow vertical jigs.
As for tackles, Amatero said he caught the scamps on all the different sized leaders, as well as everything from old school knocker rigs, fish finder rigs and even chicken rigs.
They are hard-bottomed species rather than sandy leaves. Find sounder structures, such as rocks, shelves, shipwrecks, holes, and more. Anything that gives them a place to hide.
Scampfishera is not as big as many other groups, but what lacks in size makes up for the flavor! It is a delicious fish with very thin meat.
