Rock Hind
Epinephelus adscensionis
How to tell it
Olive hind, dark saddles on the back, big blotchy spots.
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 |
| Mississippi | No size limit | No individual limit (within 4-grouper aggregate) | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · 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, 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 | 3 lb 7.2 oz | 2012 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Louisiana | 8.74 lb | 2001 · Vermilion Blk. 200 | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 4 lb 4.8 oz | 2025 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 5.03 lb | 2019 · 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 rock hind 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 rock hind
How many rock hind 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); Mississippi: No individual limit (within 4-grouper aggregate); North Carolina: 3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate; South Carolina: Within 3-grouper aggregate; and more in the table above.
When is rock hind 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 rock hind?
8.74 lb in Louisiana (2001), Vermilion Blk. 200. Other states’ records are in the table.