Changes to grouper regulations for the federally-managed waters off Florida are pending for both coasts of Florida. Recently, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council took action for regulation changes that are expected to take effect January 2009. Meanwhile, the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Councils are also contemplating regulation changes for grouper and are scheduled to take final action in September 2008. The FWC is actively participating in these decision-making processes and may address any potential regulation changes for state waters following the Councils' actions. These proposed changes largely affect Red, Gag and Black Grouper.

Current Recreational Regulations
- Gag, Black, Red Grouper -
(State and Federal Waters)

Valid until January 1, 2009

Atlantic Ocean and Monroe County

Gag Black Red

Minimum Size Limit 24" TL 24" TL 20" TL

Bag Limit up to 2 gag or black within the 5 grouper aggregate up to 2 gag or black within the 5 grouper aggregate up to 5 within the 5 grouper aggregate

Gulf of Mexico (excluding Monroe County)

Gag Black Red

Minimum Size Limit 22" TL 22" TL 20" TL

Bag Limit up to 5 gag within the 5 grouper aggregate up to 5 black within the 5 grouper aggregate 1 per person within the 5 grouper aggregate

Capt/Crew charter captain/crew - zero bag limit

Closure Feb 15 until Mar 15 in federal waters

*Note: New gear rules requiring circle hooks, dehooking and venting tools to be used in the Gulf reef fish fishery (including Gulf side of Monroe County) became effective June 1st

Pending Regulation Changes
- Gag, Red, and Black Grouper -

Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council approved final action through an Interim Rule for new regulations pertaining to Gag Grouper in federal waters at their August 2008 meeting. It is expected that these regulations will take effect January 1, 2009 pending final approval by Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The FWC approved draft consistency rules similar to these changes but with some slight differences at their September meeting. Final action on the draft rules for state waters is scheduled at for the December 4, 2008 FWC meeting in Key West and any new state rules could take affect in early January 2009. Additionally, the Gulf Council adopted permanent grouper regulations that will affect Gag and Red Grouper and other shallow-water groupers including Black Grouper, which are expected to be implemented sometime during 2009.

The federal regulation changes are expected to reduce harvest of Gag by at least 25% in order to end overfishing (excessive fishing pressure). For details on the changes to the federal regulations, click on the links below.

Summary of federal grouper regulations (PDF)
New! Summary table of pending recreational grouper regulations (PDF)
New! Summary table of pending commercial grouper regulations (PDF)
New! DMFM Background Report for September Commission meeting (PDF)

For more information, visit the Gulf Council website at www.gulfcouncil.org.

Pending Regulation Changes
- Gag, Red, and Black Grouper -

Atlantic Ocean

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council adopted regulation changes through an Interim Rule for grouper in federal waters of the Atlantic at their September 2008 meeting. These regulations largely affect Gag, Black, and Red Grouper. It is expected that these interim rules will take effect in January 2009 pending final approval. Permanent regulations approved by the South Atlantic Council will take effect sometime in 2009, and will apply to all shallow-water grouper in federal waters of the Atlantic. These permanent regulations will replace the interim rules once implemented.

The FWC will be discussing grouper and snapper regulation changes at their December 4, 2008 meeting in Key West but are not proposing to take action on the grouper interim rules. The FWC will consider consistency rule changes when the federal permanent regulations become final.

For details on the changes to grouper regulations, click on the links below.