Louisiana state waters, out to 3 miles
Quota closures possible in-season.
LDWF 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Feb-Mar closure applies only beyond 20 fathoms.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
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 apartNot listed by Louisiana: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Louisiana state record
LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · 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 Louisiana?
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 Louisiana?
4 per person in grouper aggregate, max 2 red grouper. Aggregate: 4-grouper aggregate.
When is red grouper season in Louisiana?
Open year-round; closed Feb. 1–Mar. 31 seaward of the 20-fathom line.
What is the Louisiana record red grouper?
21.4 lb, Venice (2022).
How current is this Louisiana red 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 red grouper in Louisiana and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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