bottom

Gag Grouper

Mycteroperca microlepis

Cold-side bias compared to red grouper. Live bait on bottom.

Preferred depth60–250 ft

Holds onlimestone ledges, wrecks

In our regions

Northeast Florida — AtlanticCentral/Southeast Florida — AtlanticMiami & Keys — Atlantic sideSouthwest Florida — GulfFlorida Panhandle — GulfBig Bend — GulfNorth Carolina (Outer Banks + Cape Lookout)South Carolina CoastGeorgia CoastAlabama GulfMississippi GulfLouisiana GulfTexas Gulf

Regulations

⚠️ BETA: best-effort current as of May 31, 2026. Confirm with the linked FWC / NOAA source before keeping a fish.

Showing 12 of 12 regulations

SC_ATLANTIC

South Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · SCDNR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit

1 / angler / day

Vessel limit

2 total / vessel / day

Minimum

24″ TL (total length)

Season

Invalid Date → Invalid Date

2025 closed Jun 26 - Dec 31; 2026 closed Jan 1 - Apr 30. Within 3-grouper aggregate.

SC gag: 1/day, 24" TL, narrow open window.

TX_GULF

Texas — State waters (0–9 nm) · TPWD

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit

2 / angler / day

Minimum

24″ TL (total length)

Season

Invalid Date → Invalid Date

Per Gulf federal season.

Texas gag: 2/day, 24" TL.

NC_ATLANTIC

North Carolina — State waters (0–3 nm) · NCDMF

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit

1 / angler / day

Vessel limit

2 total / vessel / day

Minimum

24″ TL (total length)

Season

Invalid Date → Invalid Date

Within 3-grouper aggregate. Federal Jan-Apr closure.

NC gag: 1/day, 24" TL.

MS_GULF

Mississippi — State waters (0–3 nm) · MS DMR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit

2 / angler / day

Minimum

24″ TL (total length)

Season

Invalid Date → Invalid Date

ROLP required.

Mississippi gag: 2/day, 24" TL, Sep 1-15 season.

BAHAMAS

Bahamas — Department of Marine Resources

Currently CLOSED (seasonal)Seasonal

Bag limit: 2 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 6 total / vessel / day
Minimum: 20″ TL (total length)

Closed during Nassau-aggregation window (Dec–Feb). Venting tool + dehooker required by Bahamian regulation when releasing groupers.

GA_ATLANTIC

Georgia — State waters (0–3 nm) · GA DNR

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit

2 / angler / day

Minimum

25″ TL (total length)

Season

Invalid Date → Invalid Date

GA state 2/day, 25" TL. Closed Jan-Apr per federal.

Georgia gag: 2/day, 25" TL.

AL_GULF

Alabama — State waters (0–3 nm) · AL CNR-MRD

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit

2 / angler / day

Minimum

24″ TL (total length)

Season

Invalid Date → Invalid Date

Per Gulf federal rule.

Alabama gag: 2/day, 24" TL, 2-week Sep season.

FEDERAL

Federal Gulf (9–200 nm) — GMFMC

Currently OPENSeasonal

Bag limit

2 / angler / day

Minimum

24″ TL (total length)

Season

Jun 1, 2026 → Dec 31, 2026Closed Jan 1 – May 31 in federal Gulf.

Federal Gulf: 2/angler within 4-grouper Gulf aggregate, 24" TL min, closed Jan-May.

STATE

FL Gulf — State waters (0–9 nm)

Currently CLOSED (seasonal)Seasonal

Bag limit

2 / angler / day

Minimum

24″ TL (total length)

Season

Sep 1, 2026 → Nov 10, 2026Approximate — FWC sets Gulf gag season annually, often Sept-Nov window.

FEDERAL

Federal Atlantic (3–200 nm) — SAFMC

Currently OPENSeasonal

Bag limit

1 / angler / day

Minimum

24″ TL (total length)

Season

May 1, 2026 → Dec 31, 2026Closed Jan 1 – Apr 30 in federal South Atlantic.

Federal South Atlantic: 1/angler within snapper-grouper aggregate, 24" TL min, closed Jan-Apr.

STATE

FL Atlantic — State waters (0–3 nm)

Currently OPENSeasonal

Bag limit

1 / angler / day

Minimum

24″ TL (total length)

Season

May 1, 2026 → Dec 31, 2026

Counts toward 3-fish aggregate grouper bag limit in FL Atlantic.

LA_GULF

Louisiana — State waters (0–3 nm) · LDWF

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit

2 / angler / day

Minimum

24″ TL (total length)

Season

Invalid Date → Invalid Date

Within 4-grouper aggregate. Federal closure may shorten.

Louisiana gag: 2/day within 4-grouper aggregate.