Mississippi state waters, out to 3 miles
Harvest and possession prohibited.
MS DMR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Must be released immediately without removing fish from the water; a limited FWC harvest program exists in Florida state waters only.
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 Mississippi?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Mississippi. Release it in the water where you can. Harvest and possession prohibited.
How current is this Mississippi goliath 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 goliath grouper in Mississippi and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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