Red Grouper
Epinephelus morio
How to tell it
Brick-red mottle, pale blotches, sloped straight head profile; inside of mouth washed red.
- Not a red snapper? That one snapper is brighter red with a snapper jaw and forked tail. (Red Snapper)
- Not a red hind? That one smaller, covered in discrete red spots. (Red Hind)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 20 in total length minimum | 2 per person within 4-grouper aggregate | Open year-round; state waters follow federal openings/closuresAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | 20 in TL min | Up to 3 within 3-grouper aggregate | Open May 1-Dec 31FWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 20 in TL min | 2 per person within 4-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | 20 in total length | 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate | NC/SC federal waters: June 1 – Dec 31 (closed Jan 1 – May 31); GA/FL: May 1 – Dec 31SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | 20 in total length | 4 per person in grouper aggregate, max 2 red grouper | Open year-round; closed Feb. 1–Mar. 31 seaward of the 20-fathom lineLDWF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | No size limit | 1 (all groupers combined) | Open year-roundMD DNR 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | 20 in total length minimum | 4 per person per day (grouper aggregate) | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) | 20 in total length | 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate | NC/SC federal waters: June 1 – Dec 31 (closed Jan 1 – May 31); GA/FL: May 1 – Dec 31SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | 20 in total length | Within 3-grouper aggregate | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| TexasFederal rule (Gulf federal waters) | 20 in total length | 2 per person within 4-fish grouper aggregate | Open year-round except Feb 1 - Mar 31 shallow-water grouper closure seaward of the 20-fathom breakNOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 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, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 34 lb 9.6 oz | 2002 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 42.25 lb | 1997 · St. Augustine Inlet | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 26 lb 6.4 oz | 2021 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Louisiana | 21.4 lb | 2022 · Venice | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 22 lb 12 oz | 2024 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| North Carolina | 37 lb 14.4 oz | 2019 · Wilmington | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| South Carolina | 33 lb 13 oz | 2022 · Little River | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 25 lb | 2020 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Excellent.
In the app
Point the camera at a red grouper 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 red grouper
What is the size limit for red grouper?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 20 in total length minimum; Florida (Atlantic): 20 in TL min; Florida (Gulf): 20 in TL min; Georgia: 20 in total length; Louisiana: 20 in total length; Mississippi: 20 in total length minimum; North Carolina: 20 in total length; South Carolina: 20 in total length; and more in the table above.
How many red grouper can you keep?
Alabama: 2 per person within 4-grouper aggregate; Florida (Atlantic): Up to 3 within 3-grouper aggregate; Florida (Gulf): 2 per person within 4-grouper aggregate; Georgia: 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate; Louisiana: 4 per person in grouper aggregate, max 2 red grouper; Maryland: 1 (all groupers combined); Mississippi: 4 per person per day (grouper aggregate); North Carolina: 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate; and more in the table above.
When is red grouper season?
Florida (Atlantic): Open May 1-Dec 31; Georgia: NC/SC federal waters: June 1 – Dec 31 (closed Jan 1 – May 31); GA/FL: May 1 – Dec 31; North Carolina: NC/SC federal waters: June 1 – Dec 31 (closed Jan 1 – May 31); GA/FL: May 1 – Dec 31.
How do you tell red grouper from red snapper?
Red Grouper has this: Brick-red mottle, pale blotches, sloped straight head profile; inside of mouth washed red.. Red Snapper snapper is brighter red with a snapper jaw and forked tail.
What is the record red grouper?
42.25 lb in Florida (1997), St. Augustine Inlet. Other states’ records are in the table.