A Grouper Jig for Coastal Anglers:  The Barefoot Crab Decoy Jigs

December is well known for gag fishing on the east coast. As the month winds down, the fishing grounds are active for these bottom dwellers. When the winds allow boats to get out of the inlets off the beaches, gag grouper fishing has been consistent with cigar minnows on Barefoot Decoy jigs.

Barefoot Crab Decoy Jigs baited with cigar minnows produce many gags, reds, and scamp grouper. The Barefoot Crab Decoy’s stinger hook found a home in this gag’s jaw (photo at the end of this article). It’s a Mustad assist hook on a braided tether slightly smaller than the jig hook, snaring short-striking grouper and other bottom fish.

Live baits like jigged-up cigar minnows are candy for grouper.

As seen in the video “North Carolina Gag Fishing using Barefoot Crab Decoy Jigs Rigged with Cigar Minnows,” the rigging is quite simple. Once the jig descends, minimal movement of the rod suspends the bait right where the gag grouper wait.

Barefoot Crab Decoy Jig rigged with a cigar minnow
The Barefoot Crab Decoy's stinger hook found a home in this gag's jaw.

This featured video show how the 4 oz. Crab Decoy Jig is the “weight and bait” all in one. At just 4 ounces it gets to the bottom with a bait attached, and only a fluorocarbon leader. It’s the cleanest tackle possible.

Black sea bass fishing with Crab Decoy Jigs.
This video shows how to properly rig and bait a Crab Decoy Jig using live and frozen cigar minnows for bait.

NOTHING OUT-FISHES A BAREFOOT CRAB DECOY JIG FOR GAGS … PERIOD!

SALTWATER TACKLE YOU MAY WANT TO TRY:

7/0 and 11/0 J-Hook Chin Weights: Target fish include Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi or Common Dolphin, King Mackerel, Wahoo, and more. Easy to rig!

4 oz. Crab Decoy Jig: Target fish for Striped Bass, nearshore Drum, Snook, Grouper, west coast bottom fish, and more.

4 oz. Tuna Squid Decoy Jig: From the eastern, western, Alaskan, and gulf coasts, target fish include: Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo, Fluke, Flounder, Striped Bass, Seabass, Amberjack (east coast), Yellow Tail (west coast), California White Sea Bass (west coast), Grouper, Snapper, Halibut, Ling cod, and all Alaskan bottom fish.

8 oz. - 12 oz. 10/0 Squid Decoy Jig: Catch BIG Grouper, Amberjack, Giant Stripers, and more.