Alabama state waters, out to 3 miles
No more than 2 red grouper in the 4-grouper aggregate; federal quota closure possible.
AL MRD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Feb-Mar closure applies only beyond 20 fathoms.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Red snapperSnapper is brighter red with a snapper jaw and forked tail. Tell them apart
Red hindSmaller, covered in discrete red spots. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Alabama state record
Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Brick-red mottle, pale blotches, sloped straight head profile; inside of mouth washed red. More on the red grouper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Red grouper in other states11 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for red grouper in Alabama?
20 in total length minimum. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red grouper can you keep in Alabama?
2 per person within 4-grouper aggregate. Aggregate: Grouper aggregate (4).
When is red grouper season in Alabama?
Open year-round; state waters follow federal openings/closures.
What is the Alabama record red grouper?
34 lb 9.6 oz (2002).
How current is this Alabama red grouper rule?
Source: AL MRD 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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