Single-zone SST guide

Red Grouper water temperature at Destin & Pensacola Offshore.

  • Epinephelus morio
  • Bottom
  • August: absent

Typical August SST in Destin & Pensacola Offshore is 82–86°F. Red Grouper prefer 59–75°F with peak activity in 64–72°F.

SST threshold

Red Grouper threshold gauge.

50°55°60°65°70°75°80°85°90°Peak 64–72°
Outside toleranceSuboptimalGoodPeak·Dashed line = hard threshold

Year-round overlap

Destin & Pensacola Offshore SST × Red Grouper range.

Where Destin & Pensacola Offshore typical monthly SST overlaps with red grouper's preferred and optimal ranges, the species is in range.

Best months

January, February, March, April, November, December

MonthZone SSTStatus
Jan60–68°FPeak
Feb60–66°FPeak
Mar64–72°FPeak
Apr70–78°FPeak
May74–80°FOutside
Jun80–84°FOutside
Jul82–86°FOutside
Augnow82–86°FOutside
Sep80–84°FOutside
Oct72–78°FFishable
Nov66–74°FPeak
Dec62–70°FPeak

Best months

January, March, November, December

Drop dead bait and live pinfish to live bottom and rocky ledges. Red grouper are less migratory than gag — find the structure, find the fish.

Verify with current SST imagery

These ranges are climatological norms. Actual SST varies year over year — get an SST satellite shot the day before you run.

Live SST imagery for Destin & Pensacola Offshore.

Bield: Fish overlays current NOAA CoastWatch SST onto your chartplotter view and alerts you when Destin & Pensacola Offshore hits red grouper's optimal 64–72°F window.

Start free trial →