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Rules by state · Florida (Gulf)

Yellowfin grouperin Florida (Gulf)

Mycteroperca venenosa

Also called Fireback, Princess rockfish.

Recreational rule, FWC 2026, checked Sep 20, 2026. The official rulebook is the final word.

Studio photograph of a Yellowfin Grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa), side view, on a white background

The rule in Florida (Gulf)

Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for yellowfin grouper in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.

Size20 in TL min
BagUp to 4 within 4-grouper aggregate
SeasonOpen year-round

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.

Size20 in total length
BagWithin 4-grouper aggregate (4 groupers combined per person per day)
SeasonOpen year-round, except closed Feb 1 - Mar 31 seaward of the 20-fathom contour (shallow-water grouper closure)

NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20

Florida (Gulf) state record

34.38 lb, Key Largo, 1988. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23

How to tell it

Rectangular dark blotches plus bright yellow outer pectoral third. More on the yellowfin grouper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.

Yellowfin grouper in other states

Florida (Atlantic)North CarolinaEvery state

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Yellowfin grouper in Florida (Gulf): the questions

What is the size limit for yellowfin grouper in Florida (Gulf)?

20 in TL min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, with the tail lobes squeezed together.

How many yellowfin grouper can you keep in Florida (Gulf)?

Up to 4 within 4-grouper aggregate. It counts toward an aggregate: Gulf 4-grouper aggregate.

When is yellowfin grouper season in Florida (Gulf)?

Open year-round.

What is the Florida (Gulf) record yellowfin grouper?

34.38 lb, Key Largo (1988).

How current is this Florida (Gulf) yellowfin 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.