Graysby
Cephalopholis cruentata
How to tell it
Small brown grouper with 3–5 dark dots along the dorsal base.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No size limit | 4 per person within 4-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | Up to 3 within 3-grouper aggregate | Open May 1-Dec 31FWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | Up to 4 within 4-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate | May 1 – Dec 31 (spawning closure Jan 1 – Apr 30)SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | No size limit | 1 (all groupers combined) | Open year-roundMD DNR 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate | May 1 – Dec 31 (spawning closure Jan 1 – Apr 30)SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | No size limit | Within 3-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Virginia | No size limit | 1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined) | Open year-roundVMRC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Texas: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 lb 5.8 oz | 2025 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 2 lb 2.24 oz | 2024 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Mississippi | 1 lb 9.93 oz | 2018 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| North Carolina | 3 lb 8 oz | 2026 · Off Southport | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| Texas | 2.31 lb | 1998 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Very good.
In the app
Point the camera at a graysby 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 graysby
How many graysby can you keep?
Alabama: 4 per person within 4-grouper aggregate; Florida (Atlantic): Up to 3 within 3-grouper aggregate; Florida (Gulf): Up to 4 within 4-grouper aggregate; Georgia: 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate; Maryland: 1 (all groupers combined); North Carolina: 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate; South Carolina: Within 3-grouper aggregate; Virginia: 1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined).
When is graysby season?
Florida (Atlantic): Open May 1-Dec 31; Georgia: May 1 – Dec 31 (spawning closure Jan 1 – Apr 30); North Carolina: May 1 – Dec 31 (spawning closure Jan 1 – Apr 30).
What is the record graysby?
3 lb 8 oz in North Carolina (2026), Off Southport. Other states’ records are in the table.