Grouper season in Atlantic state waters in Florida is May 1st until December 31st. Grouper are managed differently in Gulf versus Atlantic and in state versus federal waters. Here are the regulations for Atlantic state waters, which are from shore to 3 nautical miles.
Size Limits
The minimum size limit for gag and black grouper is 24” total length, the minimum size for red, scamp, yellowfin, and yellowmouth grouper is 20” total length, and there is no minimum size for rock hind/red hind, coney/graysby, yellowedge/misty, warsaw, or snowy grouper.
The total length is the maximum length of the fish, with the mouth closed and the tail fin pinched together.
Bag Limits
Harvest is prohibited for goliath and Nassau grouper. An aggregate bag limit of 3 grouper per person per day is allowed with some stipulations. You are allowed 1 gag or black grouper withing the 3-grouper aggregate, and 1 snowy grouper within the 3-grouper aggregate. For warsaw grouper, you are allowed 1 per vessel per day. For red, scamp, yellowfin, yellowmouth, rock hind/red hind, coney/graysby, and yellowedge/misty, you are allowed up to 3 per person per day within the 3-grouper aggregate.
This information is subject to change by the FWC. For more information, visit the FWC Website.
Written by Lacey Hagler
