The author's large Broomtail caught on a Salas 7x jig in Panama
Broomtail Grouper
Mycteroperca xenarcha
Broomtail Grouper Description
Broomtail Grouper are a distinctive member of the Grouper family that are a prize catch. They are found throughout the Eastern Pacific from California (very rare) to Peru. They get their name from the filaments that come off their tails as they get larger (see pic below). They generally live in reefs and, when hooked, will make a powerful run to their favorite hole and break you off on the rocks if they can just like most Grouper. They don’t have a lot of stamina, but that initial surge can permanently embed the butt of the rod deep in your gut if you aren’t paying attention. For this reason, even relatively small Grouper often require fairly heavy tackle because of the amount of drag necessary to keep them from their reef. This species can exceed 100lbs.
Although they are widespread, they are not particularly numerous and not much is known about them. When they are juveniles, they can be found in estuaries, and as they grow they move to the inshore reefs that become their permanent home. Like most Grouper, they are quite tasty.
Broomtail Grouper Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 7 out of 10 on the Saltwater Scale
Broomtails, like most groupers, make a mad dash for their rocky homes when hooked. That initial run is very powerful, and you need to do everything you can to keep them from getting to the rocks and breaking you off. Once you get them off the bottom, your chances of landing them get very good, but that first run is very dicey.
Broomtail Grouper Culinary Rating - High
They are slow growing and not super numerous, so I generally release them. However, I have eaten one or two and they were delicious just like all groupers.
Broomtail Grouper Tackle
This is not a light tackle fish unless you are going for small ones in estuaries in areas that are far from rocks and mangroves. Braided line is a big advantage because of its no-stretch qualities. A reel with a quality drag that has a lot of stopping power is a must. If you are fishing in a shallow reef area you may not be able to give the fish any line at all. I would fish 65b braid with no less than a 40b leader on a heavy action rod.
Broomtail Grouper Techniques
Broomtail Grouper can be caught on lures, live bait, and dead bait. When you get a bite, you cannot give these fish any chance to get back to the rocks. Pull hard and don't stop until they are in the boat.
Broomtail Grouper Lures
These fish are generally caught on the bottom, so jigs are effective. My favorite is the Salas 7x heavy jig. It gets down fast but has a nice action. I imagine some soft plastics probably also work well for them if you can get them deep enough, but I have not tried that.
Broomtail Grouper Baits
The best bait for most Grouper is a live fish of some sort. Whatever large baitfish are prevalent in the area should work. If it is legal where you are fishing you can just hook a smaller reef fish of whatever sort is biting, put a big hook in it, and drop it back down. Grouper also like crustaceans such as shrimp and many will eat squid. They are not all that picky, as their large mouths would suggest.
Where to get the big Broomtail Grouper
Panama has some nice ones. Spring is a good time to target them and a non-windy day in March or April is when you have the best shot. You need to get away from the heavily populated and fished areas to find ones that have been left alone enough to get to a decent size.
Other Broomtail Grouper Resources
These guys in Panama can help you find some: http://panamafishingtour.com/cebaco/
Mycteroperca xenarcha
Broomtail Grouper Description
Broomtail Grouper are a distinctive member of the Grouper family that are a prize catch. They are found throughout the Eastern Pacific from California (very rare) to Peru. They get their name from the filaments that come off their tails as they get larger (see pic below). They generally live in reefs and, when hooked, will make a powerful run to their favorite hole and break you off on the rocks if they can just like most Grouper. They don’t have a lot of stamina, but that initial surge can permanently embed the butt of the rod deep in your gut if you aren’t paying attention. For this reason, even relatively small Grouper often require fairly heavy tackle because of the amount of drag necessary to keep them from their reef. This species can exceed 100lbs.
Although they are widespread, they are not particularly numerous and not much is known about them. When they are juveniles, they can be found in estuaries, and as they grow they move to the inshore reefs that become their permanent home. Like most Grouper, they are quite tasty.
Broomtail Grouper Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 7 out of 10 on the Saltwater Scale
Broomtails, like most groupers, make a mad dash for their rocky homes when hooked. That initial run is very powerful, and you need to do everything you can to keep them from getting to the rocks and breaking you off. Once you get them off the bottom, your chances of landing them get very good, but that first run is very dicey.
Broomtail Grouper Culinary Rating - High
They are slow growing and not super numerous, so I generally release them. However, I have eaten one or two and they were delicious just like all groupers.
Broomtail Grouper Tackle
This is not a light tackle fish unless you are going for small ones in estuaries in areas that are far from rocks and mangroves. Braided line is a big advantage because of its no-stretch qualities. A reel with a quality drag that has a lot of stopping power is a must. If you are fishing in a shallow reef area you may not be able to give the fish any line at all. I would fish 65b braid with no less than a 40b leader on a heavy action rod.
Broomtail Grouper Techniques
Broomtail Grouper can be caught on lures, live bait, and dead bait. When you get a bite, you cannot give these fish any chance to get back to the rocks. Pull hard and don't stop until they are in the boat.
Broomtail Grouper Lures
These fish are generally caught on the bottom, so jigs are effective. My favorite is the Salas 7x heavy jig. It gets down fast but has a nice action. I imagine some soft plastics probably also work well for them if you can get them deep enough, but I have not tried that.
Broomtail Grouper Baits
The best bait for most Grouper is a live fish of some sort. Whatever large baitfish are prevalent in the area should work. If it is legal where you are fishing you can just hook a smaller reef fish of whatever sort is biting, put a big hook in it, and drop it back down. Grouper also like crustaceans such as shrimp and many will eat squid. They are not all that picky, as their large mouths would suggest.
Where to get the big Broomtail Grouper
Panama has some nice ones. Spring is a good time to target them and a non-windy day in March or April is when you have the best shot. You need to get away from the heavily populated and fished areas to find ones that have been left alone enough to get to a decent size.
Other Broomtail Grouper Resources
These guys in Panama can help you find some: http://panamafishingtour.com/cebaco/
My friend Gary with a stunning specimen caught on a jig in Panama. Note the tail that gives the species its name.
The Salas 7x jig strikes again