Groupers
Grouper are managed differently in Gulf versus Atlantic and in state versus federal waters.
Gulf state waters are from shore to 9 nautical miles.
Atlantic state waters are from shore to 3 nautical miles.
Scroll down for regulations by coast and by species.
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)
Daily Bag Limit
4 per person
Harvest Prohibited
Min. Size Limit
24” TL
Daily Bag Limit
2 per person within 4 grouper aggregate
State only: 0 fish bag limit for Charter Captain and Crew
Season
State: June 1-Dec. 31 (excluding Franklin, Wakulla, Taylor, Jefferson counties)
April 1-June 30 and Sept. 1-Dec. 31 in state waters off of Franklin, Wakulla, Taylor and Jefferson counties
Federal: June 1 – Dec. 31
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
Open 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
Open Season
State: Closed Oct. 11, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2021.
Federal: Closed Sept. 15 through Dec. 31, 2021. Closed annually Feb. 1-March 31 seaward of 20 fathoms
"The Edges" closed Jan 1 - Apr 30
Min. Size Limit
16" TL
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate
Open 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
Open 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
Open 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
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 4 per person within the 4 grouper aggregate
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
1 of each per vessel within 4 grouper aggregate
Open Season
Open year-round
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 4 per person within 4 grouper aggregate
Open Season
Open year-round
State: Must have heads and fins intact through landing
Federal: Use prohibited
Gear rules require circle hooks and dehooking tools in Gulf waters reef fish fisheries.
Monroe County state waters managed under Atlantic regulations
Atlantic Regulations (state and federal waters unless specified; includes all state waters of Monroe County)
Aggregate bag limit
3 per person
Harvest prohibited
Min. Size Limit
24” TL
Daily Bag Limit
1 gag or black within the 3 grouper aggregate
Open Season
Open May 1-Dec. 31
Min. Size Limit
24” TL
Daily Bag Limit
1 gag or black within the 3 grouper aggregate
Special regulations apply for this species when fishing in Biscayne National Park.
Open 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.
Open Season
State and federal waters: Open May 1-Dec. 31
Min. Size Limit
20" TL
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 3 per person within 3 grouper aggregate
Open Season
Open May 1-Dec. 31
Min. Size Limit
20 in. TL
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 3 per person within 3 grouper aggregate
Open Season
Open May 1-Dec. 31
Min. Size Limit
20" TL
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 3 per person within 3 grouper aggregate
Open 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.
Open 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.
Open Season
Open May 1-Dec. 31
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
Up to 3 per person within 3 grouper aggregate
Open 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
Open Season
State: Open year-round
Federal: Harvest prohibited
Min. Size Limit
None
Daily Bag Limit
State: 1 per person within the 3 grouper aggregate
Federal: 1 per vessel per day within the 3 grouper aggregate
Open Season
State: Open year-round
Federal: Open May 1 – Aug. 31
Reef fish as bait
must have heads and fins intact through landing
Note: In the Atlantic reef fish fishery, gear rules require dehooking tools, and as of Jan. 1, 2021, non-stainless steel hooks in all state waters, and non-offset circle hooks N. of 28 ° N. latitude.
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.
GPS Boundaries: Franklin-Taylor Regional Gag Season
| Location | Longitude | Latitude |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Pass | 85 degrees 13.76 minutes west | 29 degrees 40.71 minutes north |
| Offshore Indian Pass | 85 degrees 13.71 minutes west | 29 degrees 30.32 minutes north |
| Offshore Steinhatchee | 83 degrees 34.52 minutes west | 29 degrees 31.62 minutes north |
| Steinhatchee River | 83 degrees 24.53 minutes west | 29 degrees 40.03 minutes north |
Gulf Gag Management Zone Details
