French GruntorTomtate

Two fish anglers mix up. Here is what separates them, and what each one’s rules are in your state.

Studio photograph of a French Grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum), side view, on a white background — **French Grunt***Haemulon flavolineatum*

Studio photograph of a Tomtate (Haemulon aurolineatum), side view, on a white background — **Tomtate***Haemulon aurolineatum*

Rules for both fish from 4 state rulebooks, checked Oct 29, 2026. Every rule names its source and the day it was last checked; the official rulebook is the final word.

How to tell them apart

French Grunt

Yellow grunt whose blue stripes run straight on top but SLANT below the midline; yellow fins.

Tomtate

Slim gray grunt with a brassy stripe ending in a tail-base spot.

Tomtate, next to french grunt: drab tan with one thin side stripe.

Side by side

	French Grunt	Tomtate
Scientific name	Haemulon flavolineatum	Haemulon aurolineatum
Also called	—	—
Waters	Nearshore	Nearshore
Heaviest state record	—	3.26 lb · Texas (2019)
On the table	Fine panfish.	Good panfish.
Rules of its own in	0 states	4 states

Rules for

Every state, both fish

The two fish are regulated differently in 4 of 4 states with a rule for either. In Florida (Atlantic), tomtate is No size limit, No bag limit (excluded from the 20-fish aggregate) while french grunt has no rule of its own there. Call the fish wrong and you keep a short one or throw back a legal one.

State	French Grunt: size · bag · season	Tomtate: size · bag · season
Florida (Atlantic)	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	No size limitNo bag limit (excluded from the 20-fish aggregate)Open year-roundOpenFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters)SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-10-27
Georgia	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	No size limitNo bag limit (excluded from the 20-fish aggregate)Open year-roundOpenFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters)SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-10-27
North Carolina	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	No size limitNo bag limit (excluded from the 20-fish aggregate)Open year-roundOpenFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters)SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-10-27
South Carolina	Not specifically regulated; the state’s default for unlisted species applies.	No size limit20/day aggregate, max 10 of any one speciesOpen year-roundOpenSC DNR 2026 · likely · checked 2026-10-29

Questions anglers ask

How do you tell french grunt from tomtate?

French Grunt: Yellow grunt whose blue stripes run straight on top but SLANT below the midline; yellow fins. Tomtate: Slim gray grunt with a brassy stripe ending in a tail-base spot. Tomtate, next to french grunt: drab tan with one thin side stripe.

Which is better to eat, french grunt or tomtate?

French Grunt: Fine panfish. Tomtate: Good panfish.

Do french grunt and tomtate have the same limits?

Not everywhere. They differ in 4 state rulebooks. Florida (Atlantic): french grunt no rule of its own, tomtate No size limit, No bag limit (excluded from the 20-fish aggregate); Georgia: french grunt no rule of its own, tomtate No size limit, No bag limit (excluded from the 20-fish aggregate); North Carolina: french grunt no rule of its own, tomtate No size limit, No bag limit (excluded from the 20-fish aggregate); South Carolina: french grunt no rule of its own, tomtate No size limit, 20/day aggregate, max 10 of any one species.