Tiger Grouper
Mycteroperca tigris
How to tell it
Slim reef grouper with oblique tiger bars sweeping down and back along the body.
Often mistaken for
Three fish that get called tiger grouper, and what gives each one away.
- Black grouper: Rectangular blotches, brassy spots. Tell them apart
- Gag grouper: Gray marble, no oblique bars. Tell them apart
- Yellowfin grouper: Yellow outer pectoral third. Tell them apart
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 | Within grouper aggregate (3 Atlantic / 4 Gulf) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | Within grouper aggregate (3 Atlantic / 4 Gulf) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Maryland | No size limit | 1 (all groupers combined) | Open year-roundMD DNR 2026 · likely · 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, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 19.5 lb | 2022 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Good; ciguatera caution on big Keys fish.
In the app
Point the camera at a tiger 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 tiger grouper
How many tiger grouper can you keep?
Alabama: 4 per person within 4-grouper aggregate; Florida (Atlantic): Within grouper aggregate (3 Atlantic / 4 Gulf); Florida (Gulf): Within grouper aggregate (3 Atlantic / 4 Gulf); Maryland: 1 (all groupers combined); Virginia: 1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined).
How do you tell tiger grouper from black grouper?
Tiger Grouper: Slim reef grouper with oblique tiger bars sweeping down and back along the body. Black grouper: rectangular blotches, brassy spots.
What is the record tiger grouper?
19.5 lb in Texas (2022), Gulf of America. Other states’ records are in the table.