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Red Grouper

Epinephelus morio

Warm-side bias. The 'old reliable' on the Gulf side.

Preferred depth80–300 ft

Holds onsand-rubble bottom, swiss-cheese rock

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 GulfBahamas — Bimini & Grand BahamaBahamas — Abaco & AndrosBahamas — Eleuthera, Exuma & Cat Island

Regulations

⚠️ BETA: best-effort current as of May 27, 2026. Confirm with the linked FWC / NOAA source before keeping a fish.

Showing 12 of 12 regulations

BAHAMAS

Bahamas — Department of Marine Resources

Currently CLOSED (seasonal)Seasonal

Bag limit: 2 / angler / day
Vessel limit: 6 total / vessel / day
Minimum: 14″ TL (total length)

Same Nassau-aggregation closure window (Dec–Feb). Use circle hooks; venting tools required for fish released from depth.

STATE

FL Gulf — State waters (0–9 nm)

Currently OPENOpen year-round

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

SC_ATLANTIC

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

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit

3 / angler / day

Minimum

20″ TL (total length)

Season

Invalid Date → Invalid Date

Closed Jan 1 - May 31. Within 3-grouper aggregate.

SC red grouper: closed Jan-May.

AL_GULF

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

Currently OPENOpen year-round

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

Alabama red grouper: 2/day, 20" TL.

TX_GULF

Texas — State waters (0–9 nm) · TPWD

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Texas: defers to Gulf federal rules.

Texas red grouper: per federal Gulf rule.

MS_GULF

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

Currently OPENOpen year-round

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

ROLP required.

Mississippi red grouper: 2/day, 20" TL.

NC_ATLANTIC

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

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit

3 / angler / day

Minimum

20″ TL (total length)

Season

Invalid Date → Invalid Date

Closed Jan 1 - May 31.

NC red grouper: 3/day, 20" TL, closed Jan-May.

GA_ATLANTIC

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

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit

3 / angler / day

Minimum

20″ TL (total length)

Season

Invalid Date → Invalid Date

Closed Jan-Apr.

Georgia red grouper: closed Jan-Apr.

FEDERAL

Federal Gulf (9–200 nm) — GMFMC

Currently OPENOpen year-round

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

Federal Gulf: 2/angler within 4-grouper Gulf aggregate, 20" TL min, year-round.

FEDERAL

Federal Atlantic (3–200 nm) — SAFMC

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 4 / angler / day
Minimum: 20″ TL (total length)

Federal South Atlantic: 4/angler within 5-grouper SA aggregate, 20" TL min, year-round.

STATE

FL Atlantic — State waters (0–3 nm)

Currently OPENOpen year-round

Bag limit: 1 / angler / day
Minimum: 20″ TL (total length)

Within the 3-fish aggregate grouper limit.

LA_GULF

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

Currently OPENOpen year-round

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

Within 4-grouper aggregate.

Louisiana red grouper: 2/day within aggregate.