Louisiana state waters, out to 3 miles
Possession prohibited in or outside Louisiana waters.
LDWF 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Same rule
The same size, bag and season past the 3-mile line, written by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
How to tell it
Enormous rounded tan-brown grouper with small eyes and faint bars; can top 500 lb. More on the goliath grouper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Goliath grouper in other states11 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask2
Can you keep goliath grouper in Louisiana?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Louisiana. Release it in the water where you can. Possession prohibited in or outside Louisiana waters.
How current is this Louisiana goliath grouper rule?
Source: LDWF 2026, last checked Sep 7, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a goliath grouper in Louisiana and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the app