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How to Catch Hogfish-The Ultimate Guide to Hooking Florida’s Delicacy.
The hogfish, also known as hog snapper though not widely known to the general public, is a wildly popular delicacy off the west coast of Florida, where the mass population of this exotic looking fish resides. It is hard not to see some sort of praise for this fish while cruising Florida’s west coast, whether it be on t-shirts or restaurants dedicated solely to this fish. And for very good reason. You have not tasted more delicate, white, tender, mellow, and flaky fish meat until you try… the hogfish.
Hogfish are traditionally harvested by spearfishing divers, but more and more anglers have gotten into the hogfish craze with great success.
Getting a hog on the line is by no means a simple task. As they tend to feed where many other species will be. You could catch 30 grunts or more before hooking a hog. But targeting the hogfish by following the proper technics below in our How to Catch Hogfish Guide, will greatly increase your odds of reeling in your daily limit of this intriguing and delicious fish as efficiently as possible.
Below you will learn…
- Where to find hogfish
- Hogfish behavior
- Characteristics of hogfish
- The proper gear for hogfish
- The best rigs for hogfishing
- What baits to use and how much to bring
- Legal guidelines and catch limits
#1. Where to Find Hogfish
Following these guidelines below will narrow down your search so you can get fresh meat on the table as soon as possible.
- Region- If you want the best possible chance to fish where there are actually hogfish under your boat, there is essentially no better place than the Gulf of Mexico, but more specifically, the west coast of Florida.
- Habitat- Hogfish tend to stick around rough, rocky areas such as coral reefs, ledges, and even wrecks. Where they rummage around in the sand in search of crunchy crustaceans. You can also find them in seagrass beds but this tends to be where younger hogfish stay that are below the legal length requirements of 14 inches from the nose to the center of the tail.
- Depth- Good eating size hogfish tend to be in depths of 25-60 feet, about 12 miles from shore, and the true monsters can be found as deep as 150 feet if you are searching for a trophy.
- Quick Tip– A Go-Pro mounted on a pole with a live feed monitor is a great way to see what’s swimming in a certain area without wasting bait or getting wet.
#2. Hogfish Behavior
Generally, hogfish will always be feeding on the ocean floor using their long, pig-like snout to dig in the sand to find mollusks, shrimp, and crabs which contribute to its sweet mellow flavor. This hunt for food is called “rooting“. Keep this in mind when targeting hogfish as you will not get a bite from one unless your bait is all the way on the bottom. Otherwise less desirable fish will pick your bait clean and waste your precious shrimp.
In the cold winter months, hogfish tend to be more active and move into shallower waters. The fishing action will be best after the first two or three cold-fronts.
#3. Characteristics of a Hogfish
The name hogfish is pretty crude considering how exotic and beautiful these fish actually are.
Named, the hogfish, because of its elongated snout that can extend to find food in the sand.
Characteristics…
- Size-Tend to be 1-4 pounds but can go up to 22 or more if the conditions are favorable to the fish and it survives long enough.
- Long sharp teeth.
- Color-Coloration changes with age. They usually start a darker, greyish color then changes to a more vibrant red around 3 years of age.
- Long streamers at the ends of the tailfin and dorsal fin.
- Elongated snout much like an actual hog.
- A male is identified by a dark, red band from the nose to the dorsal fin and a black spot behind the pectoral fin.
- Blazing bright red eyes.
- Length-Can reach 36 inches in length and live up to 11 years.
(Fun Fact)- Hogfish are mostly all-female at birth but change to males as needed, around 3 years of age.)
Having the right setup and tools for the job is essential when targeting hogfish.
#4.The Proper gear for Hogfish
The following setup will give you the edge you need to catch those hogs effectively.
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- What kind of reel?- A good spinning reel or bait caster will do the trick. Shop reels on Amazon
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- What length fishing rod?– Basically, any normal fishing pole length will work but an 8-foot pole tends to be best for getting the bait a little further from the boat which helps to feel the subtle bites more easily. Shop fishing rods on Amazon
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- What kind of leader?- Use about 18 inches of braided 25-pound test leader. This will give you insurance from the rough, sharp rocks and coral from breaking your line. Shop 25 pound line
- What type of weight?- 5-oz weight is good to get your bait on the bottom fast.
- What hook to use?- A 2-inch circle hook is the best choice for hogfish and are easy to remove
Check how the video below to get a grasp on the proper gear for hogfsih.
#5. The best rigs for hogfishing
When targeting hogfish it is important to use the right rig setup to effectively catch hogfish on the ocean floor.
The best rig for hogfish is a standard knocker rig. Learn how to make one in the video below.
#6. What Kind of Bait to Use and How Much to Bring
The key to catching hogfish is to bring a ton of bait! It might take 10 to 30 catches before you reel in a hogfish.
- What kind of bait to use?-Without a doubt, if you want to catch hogfish you have to use shrimp! The second-best to shrimp would be cubed squid as a cheap alternative. (Please note the shrimp does not have to be alive, just fresh.)
- How much bait should I bring?- About 25 shrimp per hour is a good amount of bait to have per angler. So if you are fishing by yourself for 6 hours, you should bring approximately 150 shrimp to ensure you don’t run out of bait. You will really need this much bait as you will be catching so many other fish in the process such as grey snapper, grunts, and gag grouper to name a few.
(Quick Tip#1)Using half shrimp is a great way to save money and make your bait go further.
(Quick Tip#2) Chumming the water is always a good idea to get hoggies in the are fast. Just make sure you include a good amount of shrimp and crab, their favorite treat.
#7.Legal guidelines and catch limits
Due to the increase in popularity of the hogfish, more and more people are targeting them, putting stress on the overall population of these tasty fish. But thanks to new guidelines introduced by the state of Florida the numbers have greatly bounced back. The regulations have been changing every few years so check them regularly to avoid any issues with the government and to keep the hogfish population in healthy numbers.
Legal Guidelines as of (01/11/2021)
Legal Gear-spears, gigs, hook and line, seine, cast net
Gulf State Waters
-new regulations have gone into effect for Gulf state waters to ensure hogfish are not over-harvested.
-5 hogfish per angler per day
-The minimum size is 14 inches fork length with means from the tip of the snout to the center of the tail, not the length of the streamer extensions on the edges of the tail fin. The season is open year-round
Atlantic State Waters
-Minimum of 16 inches for length
-The daily bag limit is just one per angler
-The season opens May 1-October 31
-In the Atlantic reef fish fishery, gear rules require dehooking tools, and as of Jan. 1, 2021, non-stainless steel hooks in all state waters, and non-offset circle hook N. of 28 ° N. latitude.
Conclusion
Hogfish are without a doubt, Florida’s most tasty fish making the effort to catch them well worth your while. Just follow these guidelines above to ensure you have the best chance of hooking some hogs for the family dinner and have a good time doing it. God Bless.
Author: Duncan Wiley-Hunter/Fisherman/Writer
Want more content like this? Read our How to Catch Mahi-Mahi/Ultimate Guide HERE
