Texas state waters, out to 9 miles
TPWD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 9 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
Texas state record
TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · 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 Texas?
24 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many black grouper can you keep in Texas?
4.
When is black grouper season in Texas?
Open year-round.
What is the Texas record black grouper?
124 lb, Gulf of America (2003).
How current is this Texas black grouper rule?
Source: TPWD 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 Texas and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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