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Gulf Red Grouper Season Closes July 1, 2024

FWC issued an executive order to close recreational red grouper harvest in Gulf state waters, excluding Monroe County, on July 1, 2024 consistent with the Gulf federal closure.

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GULF GAG GROUPER SEASON OPEN SEPT. 1 – SEPT. 15, 2024

FWC issued an executive order to modify the 2024 recreational gag grouper season in Gulf state waters, excluding Monroe County, to be Sept. 1-15, consistent with the Gulf federal season.

Atlantic Gag Grouper Season Open May 1-June 14, 2024

FWC issued an executive order to modify the 2024 recreational gag grouper season in Atlantic state waters, including Monroe County, to be May 1- June 14, consistent with the Atlantic federal season.

Learn more

STATE REEF FISH SURVEY

Have you signed up yet? Participation mandatory to fish for grouper in Florida waters.

Gulf of Mexico 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

nassau grouper

Harvest Prohibited

Goliath Grouper

Harvest Prohibited without Permit

For more information on obtaining a permit through the Goliath Harvest Program, please visit MyFWC.com/Goliath.

gag

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

State and Federal: Open September 1 through September 15, 2024

black grouper

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

red grouper

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

Open Jan. 1 – June 30

scamp

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

yellow fin grouper

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

yellow mouth grouper

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

nassau grouper

Harvest Prohibited

goliath grouper

Harvest Prohibited without Permit

For more information on obtaining a permit through the Goliath Harvest Program, please visit MyFWC.com/Goliath.

gag

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

Season

Open May 1- June 14, 2024

 

black grouper

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 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

red grouper

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

 

scamp

Min. Size Limit

20" TL

Daily Bag Limit

Up to 3 per person within 3 grouper aggregate

Season

Open May 1-Dec. 31

yellow fin grouper

Min. Size Limit

20 in. TL

Daily Bag Limit

Up to 3 per person within 3 grouper aggregate

Season

Open May 1-Dec. 31

yellow mouth grouper

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

Season

State: Open May-June 30

Federal: Open May-June 30

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

Shallow water grouper map

20-Fathom Map

Click for a larger PDF.

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.

Gag Grouper 2023 Regulation Map

Gag Grouper Management Map

Click for a larger PDF.