Red grouperin Florida (Atlantic)
Epinephelus morio
The rule in Florida (Atlantic)
Florida (Atlantic)’s own rule for red grouper in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
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 Open
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.
Off GA and east FL the closure is Jan 1 – Apr 30 (opens May 1).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red grouperThis page. | 20 in TL min | Up to 3 within 3-grouper aggregate | Open May 1-Dec 31 |
| Red snapperSnapper is brighter red with a snapper jaw and forked tail.Tell them apart | 20 in TL min | 2 per person (within 10-snapper aggregate) | State waters currently open; federal waters closed |
| Red hindSmaller, covered in discrete red spots.Tell them apart | No size limit | Up to 3 within 3-grouper aggregate | Open May 1-Dec 31 |
Florida (Atlantic) state record
42.25 lb, St. Augustine Inlet, 1997. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · 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 states
In the app
Point the camera at a red grouper in Florida (Atlantic) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appRed grouper in Florida (Atlantic): the questions
What is the size limit for red grouper in Florida (Atlantic)?
20 in TL min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red grouper can you keep in Florida (Atlantic)?
Up to 3 within 3-grouper aggregate. It counts toward an aggregate: Atlantic 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
When is red grouper season in Florida (Atlantic)?
Open May 1-Dec 31. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the Florida (Atlantic) record red grouper?
42.25 lb, St. Augustine Inlet (1997).
How current is this Florida (Atlantic) red 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.