Groupers
STATE REEF FISH SURVEY
Have you signed up yet? Participation mandatory to fish for grouper in Florida waters.
Gulf of America Regulations (state and federal waters unless specified, excluding all state waters of Monroe County)
Aggregate Bag Limit
May only possess/harvest no more than a total combination of 4 grouper species per person/per day
Harvest Prohibited
Harvest Prohibited without Permit
For more information on obtaining a permit through the Goliath Harvest Program, please visit MyFWC.com/Goliath.
Min. Size Limit
24” TL
Daily Bag Limit
2 per person within 4 grouper aggregate
0 fish bag limit for Charter Captain and Crew
Season
Closed - 2025 season TBD.
Min. Size Limit
24” TL
Daily Bag Limit
4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate
State only: 0 fish bag limit for Charter Captain and Crew
Season
State: Open year-round
Federal: Closed Feb. 1-March 31 seaward of 20 fathoms
"The Edges" closed Jan 1 - Apr 30
Min. Size Limit
20" TL
Daily Bag Limit
2 per person within the 4 grouper aggregate
State only: 0 fish bag limit for Charter Captain and Crew
Season
State: Open year-round
Federal: Closed Feb. 1-March 31 seaward of 20 fathoms
- "The Edges" closed from Jan. 1 - April 30.
Min. Size Limit
16" TL
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate
Season
State: Open year-round
Federal: Closed Feb. 1-March 31 seaward of 20 fathoms
"The Edges" closed Jan 1 - Apr 30
Min. Size Limit
20" TL
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate
Season
State: Open year-round
Federal: Closed Feb. 1-March 31 seaward of 20 fathoms
"The Edges" closed Jan 1 - Apr 30
Min. Size Limit
State: 20" TL
Federal: None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate
Season
State: Open year-round
Federal: Closed Feb. 1-March 31 seaward of 20 fathoms
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 4 per person within the 4 grouper aggregate
Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 4 per person within the 4 grouper aggregate
Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate
Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
1 of each per vessel within 4 grouper aggregate
Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate
Season
Open year-round
Reef fish gear requirements apply and must be landed with the head and fins intact.
Atlantic Regulations (state and federal waters unless specified; includes all state waters of Monroe County)
Aggregate bag limit
May only possess/harvest no more than a total combination of 3 grouper/tilefish species per person/per day
Harvest Prohibited
Harvest Prohibited without Permit
For more information on obtaining a permit through the Goliath Harvest Program, please visit MyFWC.com/Goliath.
Min. Size Limit
24” TL
Daily Bag Limit
State: 1 gag or black within the 3 grouper aggregate
Federal: 1 gag or black within the 3 grouper aggregate
- Vessel Limit: 2 gag per vessel per day, not to exceed the daily bag limit, whichever is more restrictive
- For-hire captain and crew retention prohibited
Min. Size Limit
24” TL
Daily Bag Limit
State: 1 gag or black within the 3 grouper aggregate
- Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Federal: 1 gag or black within the 3 grouper aggregate
- Vessel limit: 2 black per vessel per day, not to exceed the daily bag limit, whichever is more restrictive
- For-hire captain and crew retention prohibited
Season
Open May 1-Dec. 31
Min. Size Limit
20" TL
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 3 per person within 3 grouper aggregate
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Season
Open May 1-Dec. 31
Min. Size Limit
20" TL
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 3 per person within 3 grouper aggregate
Season
Open May 1-Dec. 31
Min. Size Limit
20 in. TL
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 3 per person within 3 grouper aggregate
Season
Open May 1-Dec. 31
Min. Size Limit
20" TL
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 3 per person within 3 grouper aggregate
Season
Open May 1-Dec. 31
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 3 per person within 3 grouper aggregate
Special regulations apply for these species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Season
Open May 1-Dec. 31
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 3 per person within 3 grouper aggregate
Special regulations apply for these species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Season
Open May 1-Dec. 31
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 3 per person within 3 grouper aggregate
Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
State: None
Federal: Harvest prohibited
Daily Bag Limit
State: 1 per vessel per day of each species
Federal: Harvest prohibited
Season
State: Open year-round
Federal: Harvest prohibited
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
State: 1 per vessel per day within the 3 grouper aggregate
Federal: 1 per vessel per day within the 3 grouper aggregate
Reef fish gear requirements apply and must be landed with head and fins intact.
Return 'Em Right
A resource for anglers interested in best release practices
20-Fathom Map
Several species of Gulf grouper (red, black, scamp, yellowfin and yellowmouth) are closed Feb. 1-March 31 seaward of the 20-fathom break. Recreational anglers are encouraged to use electronic charting equipment to plot the 20-fathom break by entering the established coordinates listed on the map below into a route.
Monroe County: Several species of Atlantic grouper (red, black, yellowfin, yellowmouth, scamp, rock hind, red hind, coney and graysby) are closed Jan. 1 - April 30 in all state and federal waters of the Atlantic including all state waters off Monroe County (Atlantic and Gulf sides). During this closure, anglers can harvest grouper in open federal waters of the Gulf and return to port in Monroe County by traveling through closed state waters of the Atlantic as long as the vessel proceeds directly to port without stopping to fish.
