Golden Tilefish
Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
How to tell it
Blue-gold flanks with yellow spots and the odd head crest.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No size limit | 20-fish reef fish aggregate | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Delaware | No size limit | 8 per day | Open year-roundDE DNREC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | 1 per person within 3-grouper aggregate | State waters open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | 2 fish or 100 lb per person, whichever is greater | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 1 per person per day within 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate | 2026 season Jan 1 - Mar 26; quota-closed Mar 27 - Dec 31, 2026SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Closed |
| Louisiana | No size limit | 20 per person in reef fish aggregate | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Maryland | Federal rules apply | Federal rules apply | Open year-roundMD DNR 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | No size limit | No individual limit (within 20-reef-fish aggregate) | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| New JerseyFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 8 per person per trip | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked | Open |
| New YorkFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 8 per person per trip | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 1 per person per day within 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate | 2026 season Jan 1 - Mar 26; quota-closed Mar 27 - Dec 31, 2026SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Closed |
| South Carolina | No size limit | 1/day, within 3-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| TexasFederal rule (Gulf federal waters) | No size limit | Within 20-reef-fish aggregate (20 per person per day) | Open year-roundNOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked | Open |
| Virginia | No size limit | 8 per person | Open year-roundVMRC 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 35 lb 5.6 oz | 2014 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Connecticut | 62 lb 9.6 oz | 2025 · West Atlantis Canyon | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 · Exotic Marine Species Category (Harvested) |
| Delaware | 56 lb 3.2 oz | 2025 | DNREC Delaware Fishing Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 62 lb | 2009 · Baltimore Canyon | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Atlantic division record |
| Mississippi | 28 lb 8.96 oz | 2024 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| New Jersey | 63 lb 8 oz | 2009 · Lindenkohl Canyon | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| New York | 68 lb 4 oz | 2021 | NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| North Carolina | 52 lb | 2021 · Off Oregon Inlet | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| South Carolina | 28 lb 3.2 oz | 2020 · Charleston, SC | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 41.8 lb | 2022 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 58 lb | 2017 · Norfolk Canyon | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Excellent — crab-sweet.
In the app
Point the camera at a golden tilefish and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about golden tilefish
What is the size limit for golden tilefish?
It depends on the state. Maryland: Federal rules apply.
How many golden tilefish can you keep?
Alabama: 20-fish reef fish aggregate; Delaware: 8 per day; Florida (Atlantic): 1 per person within 3-grouper aggregate; Florida (Gulf): 2 fish or 100 lb per person, whichever is greater; Georgia: 1 per person per day within 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate; Louisiana: 20 per person in reef fish aggregate; Maryland: Federal rules apply; Mississippi: No individual limit (within 20-reef-fish aggregate); and more in the table above.
When is golden tilefish season?
Georgia: 2026 season Jan 1 - Mar 26; quota-closed Mar 27 - Dec 31, 2026; North Carolina: 2026 season Jan 1 - Mar 26; quota-closed Mar 27 - Dec 31, 2026.
What is the record golden tilefish?
68 lb 4 oz in New York (2021). Other states’ records are in the table.