Warsaw grouperin Florida (Gulf)
Hyporthodus nigritus
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for Warsaw grouper in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: Gulf 4-grouper aggregate.
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.
Vessel limit, not per-person: no more than 1 warsaw grouper per vessel per day.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Florida (Gulf) state record
436.75 lb, Destin, 1985. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Deep-water giant; the only grouper with 10 dorsal spines and an elongated second spine. More on the Warsaw grouper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Warsaw grouper in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a Warsaw grouper in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appWarsaw grouper in Florida (Gulf): the questions
What is the size limit for Warsaw grouper in Florida (Gulf)?
No size limit.
How many Warsaw grouper can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?
1 per vessel within 4-grouper aggregate. It counts toward an aggregate: Gulf 4-grouper aggregate.
When is Warsaw grouper season in Florida (Gulf)?
Open year-round.
What is the Florida (Gulf) record Warsaw grouper?
436.75 lb, Destin (1985).
How current is this Florida (Gulf) Warsaw 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.