Gag grouperin Florida (Gulf)
Mycteroperca microlepis
Also called Gray grouper.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for gag grouper in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
For-hire captain and crew may not retain.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: Gulf 4-grouper aggregate.
Measured as total length (TL): snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.
FWC 2026· checked Open
Beyond 9 miles: federal waters
A different rule past the 9-mile line, written by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Where the two differ, the water you are in decides.
Season set annually by quota projection; 2026 window confirmed by NOAA bulletin.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for, and their Florida (Gulf) 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 | 2 per person within 4-grouper aggregate | 2026 Gulf season: Sep 1-30 |
| Black grouperRectangular dark blotches, brassy spots.Tell them apart | 24 in TL min | Up to 4 within 4-grouper aggregate | Open year-round |
Florida (Gulf) 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 (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appGag grouper in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for gag grouper in Florida (Gulf)?
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 (Gulf)?
2 per person within 4-grouper aggregate. It counts toward an aggregate: Gulf 4-grouper aggregate.
When is gag grouper season in Florida (Gulf)?
2026 Gulf season: Sep 1-30. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the Florida (Gulf) record gag grouper?
80.38 lb, Destin (1993).
How current is this Florida (Gulf) 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.