Federal rule (South Atlantic federal waters) · Georgia lists none of its own
Off GA and east FL the closure is Jan 1 – Apr 30 (opens May 1).
SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Red snapperSnapper is brighter red with a snapper jaw and forked tail. Tell them apart
Red hindSmaller, covered in discrete red spots. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Georgia state record
GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · 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 states11 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for red grouper in Georgia?
20 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red grouper can you keep in Georgia?
3 per person per day within 3-grouper aggregate. Aggregate: 3-grouper/tilefish aggregate.
When is red grouper season in Georgia?
NC/SC federal waters: June 1 – Dec 31 (closed Jan 1 – May 31); GA/FL: May 1 – Dec 31. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the Georgia record red grouper?
26 lb 6.4 oz (2021).
How current is this Georgia red grouper rule?
Source: SAFMC / NOAA SERO 2026, last checked Sep 16, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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