Gag grouperin Florida (Atlantic)
Mycteroperca microlepis
Also called Gray grouper.
The rule in Florida (Atlantic)
Florida (Atlantic)’s own rule for gag grouper in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
Includes Monroe County; for-hire retention prohibited.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: Atlantic 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
FWC 2026· checked Closed
Beyond 3 miles: federal waters
A different rule past the 3-mile line, written by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Where the two differ, the water you are in decides.
Recreational ACL met; closure effective Aug 2, 2026.
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Often mistaken for, and their Florida (Atlantic) rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gag grouperThis page. | 24 in TL min | 1 gag or black combined within 3-grouper aggregate; 2 per vessel | 2026 season May 1-Aug 1 (closed by executive order Aug 2) |
| Black grouperRectangular dark blotches, brassy spots.Tell them apart | 24 in TL min | 1 gag or black combined within 3-grouper aggregate; 2 per vessel | Open May 1-Dec 31 |
Florida (Atlantic) state record
80.38 lb, Destin, 1993. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Box-shaped worm markings in gray marble; darker fins with white edge on the anal. More on the gag grouper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Gag grouper in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a gag grouper in Florida (Atlantic) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appGag grouper in Florida (Atlantic): the questions
What is the size limit for gag grouper in Florida (Atlantic)?
24 in TL min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many gag grouper can you keep in Florida (Atlantic)?
1 gag or black combined within 3-grouper aggregate; 2 per vessel. It counts toward an aggregate: Atlantic 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
When is gag grouper season in Florida (Atlantic)?
2026 season May 1-Aug 1 (closed by executive order Aug 2). As of Sep 21, 2026 it is closed.
What is the Florida (Atlantic) record gag grouper?
80.38 lb, Destin (1993).
How current is this Florida (Atlantic) gag grouper rule?
Source: FWC 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.