Hogfish fishing has become a fall staple for nearshore fishermen off the Gulf Coast of Florida. In the last decade or so, the pursuit has become particularly popular on a stretch of Florida coast from St. Petersburg to Sarasota, and captains are also targeting them on the Gulf side of the Florida Keys.
As the days grow shorter and temperatures begin to drop, minds conjure images of the red and orange colors of turning leaves. These hues just happen to be the colors of hogfish. With cooling water temperatures, hogfish show up on reefs, ledges and hardbottom areas in 35-foot depths. They congregate into larger groups to prepare for spawning season, which stretches from late fall to spring.
Why is it Called Hogfish?
Hogfish, sometimes called hogfish snapper, are an interesting species. They are a wrasse, not a snapper, and the name hogfish is thought to come from the way they feed. With elongated snouts and protractile mouths, their jaws extend and retract as they dig around in the sediment for crustaceans, like hogs rooting in the dirt.
Probably because of this rooting behavior, hogfish were once thought to be impossible to target effectively with a rod and reel. Spearfishers used to be the only ones who enjoyed their mild, sweet fillets. Not anymore. Hogfish have become the prized catch of fall, because hogfish fishing trips are typically full of action and provide some of the best eating ever.
How to Find Hogfish
In fall, larger dominant males gather up a harem of multiple females and defend a territory. Younger, smaller fish are thought to live in separate groups. When you find hogfish, there will be a number of them, along with numerous other species that inhabit the same structure…