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Gag grouper: Florida size, bag and season

As of / last verified: against official sources · Source: FWC: Gag grouper

Gag grouper limit in Florida: the minimum is 24 inches total length. Gulf state waters, excluding Monroe County, were open September 1-30, 2026, then closed for the rest of the year. The Gulf bag is 2 inside the 4-grouper aggregate. Atlantic waters were open May 1 through August 1, and an executive order closes Atlantic state waters starting August 2.

Quick answer

Rules in flux
Gulf state waters season was Sept 1-30, 2026 and is closed for the rest of 2026; Atlantic closed starting Aug 2 by executive order.
Size
24" total length, Gulf and Atlantic
Gulf bag
2 per person within the 4 grouper aggregate. Charter captain and crew: 0
Gulf season
Open September 1-30, 2026, then closed for the rest of the year
Atlantic bag
1 gag or black within the 3 grouper aggregate. Vessel limit 2 gag per vessel per day
Atlantic season
State and federal open May 1 – August 1. Atlantic state waters closed starting August 2
Gag grouper: side view for identification
Gag grouper. Credit: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC. Public domain
Total length vs fork lengthTotal length runs from the tip of the closed mouth to the tip of the squeezed tail. Fork length runs from the tip of the snout to the center of the tail fork.How FWC measures fishTOTAL LENGTH: mouth closed → tip of squeezed tailFORK LENGTH: snout → center of tail forkTL species include: red drum, snook, spotted seatrout, weakfish, snappers, groupers, flounder, sheepsheadFL species include: pompano, permit, Spanish & king mackerel, cobia, amberjacks, hogfish, dolphin
Measure in a straight line with the fish on its side; don't follow its curve. Gag grouper are measured in total length. Source: FWC Fish Measurement. Original graphic.

Gag grouper limits

WatersSizeBagSeason
Gulf state and federal, excluding all state waters of Monroe County24" total length2 per person within the 4 grouper aggregate. Charter captain and crew: 0Open September 1-30, 2026. Closed October 1 for the remainder of the year
Atlantic state and federal, including all state waters of Monroe County24" total length1 gag or black within the 3 grouper aggregate. Vessel limit 2 gag per vessel per day, not to exceed the daily bag limit. For-hire captain and crew retention prohibitedState and federal: open May 1 – August 1. Executive order closes Atlantic state waters starting August 2

Gulf aggregate: no more than 4 grouper per person per day. Atlantic aggregate: no more than 3 grouper or tilefish per person per day. Reef fish gear rules apply, and grouper must be landed with head and fins intact. FWC says participation in the State Reef Fish Survey is mandatory to fish for grouper in Florida waters. The Gulf 20-fathom closure listed for red, black, scamp, yellowfin and yellowmouth is not listed in the gag section.

Rules in flux. Gulf state waters season was Sept 1-30, 2026 and is closed for the rest of 2026; Atlantic closed starting Aug 2 by executive order.

How do you identify Gag grouper?

Look-alikes

Where and when to catch Gag grouper in Florida?

Gag live in coastal water near rocky bottoms, reefs and drop-off walls deeper than 60 feet. Juveniles use estuaries and seagrass. They are born female and can later become male. FWC says gag and red grouper are the most widely distributed Florida groupers, and that goliath and Nassau grouper are protected from harvest. Gag spawn between January and May. They eat fish and invertebrates. Typical boat fishing is bait near the bottom. Gulf rules exclude Monroe County state waters; those waters follow the Atlantic gag rules.

Piers and bridges

Regions

Related rules on this site

Frequently asked questions

Is gag grouper open in the Gulf in October 2026?

No. FWC set the 2026 Gulf state-waters season, excluding Monroe County, to September 1-30, consistent with the Gulf federal season, and said harvest closes October 1 for the rest of the year.

Is gag grouper open on the Atlantic?

The published state and federal season is May 1 through August 1. FWC also issued an executive order closing recreational gag harvest in Atlantic state waters starting August 2.

What is the gag bag limit?

Gulf: 2 per person within the 4-grouper aggregate, with a zero bag for charter captain and crew. Atlantic: 1 gag or black grouper within the 3-grouper aggregate, with a vessel limit of 2 gag per vessel per day, and for-hire captain and crew retention prohibited.

How do you tell a gag from a black grouper?

Gag have a strong serrated spur on the cheek. Black grouper have a gently rounded cheek, rectangular black blotches, and brassy spots.

Official sources

Last verified: October 14, 2026.

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Disclaimer: This page is a plain-English summary for general information. It is not legal advice. Rules, seasons and boundaries can change at short notice, including by emergency order. Always check the current regulations on MyFWC.com before you fish.