Single-zone SST guide
Red Grouper water temperature at Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa Offshore.
- Epinephelus morio
- Bottom
- August: absent
Typical August SST in Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa Offshore is 82–86°F. Red Grouper prefer 59–75°F with peak activity in 64–72°F.
SST threshold
Red Grouper threshold gauge.
Year-round overlap
Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa Offshore SST × Red Grouper range.
Where Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa 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
| Month | Zone SST | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60–68°F | Peak |
| Feb | 60–66°F | Peak |
| Mar | 62–70°F | Peak |
| Apr | 70–76°F | Peak |
| May | 74–80°F | Outside |
| Jun | 80–84°F | Outside |
| Jul | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Augnow | 82–86°F | Outside |
| Sep | 80–84°F | Outside |
| Oct | 74–80°F | Outside |
| Nov | 68–76°F | Peak |
| Dec | 62–70°F | Peak |
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 Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa Offshore.
Bield: Fish overlays current NOAA CoastWatch SST onto your chartplotter view and alerts you when Florida Middle Grounds & Tampa Offshore hits red grouper's optimal 64–72°F window.
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