Mississippi state waters, out to 3 miles
MS DMR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
The water you are in decides. the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council writes the rule past the line.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Mississippi state record
MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Rectangular dark blotches over brassy-bronze spots; gently rounded preopercle (no gag notch). More on the black grouper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Black grouper in other states11 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for black grouper in Mississippi?
24 in total length minimum. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many black grouper can you keep in Mississippi?
4 per person per day (grouper aggregate). Aggregate: 4-grouper aggregate.
When is black grouper season in Mississippi?
Open year-round.
What is the Mississippi record black grouper?
11 lb 0.16 oz (2000).
How current is this Mississippi black grouper rule?
Source: MS DMR 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a black grouper in Mississippi and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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