Texas state waters, out to 9 miles
TPWD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 9 miles: federal waters Different rule
Season set annually by quota projection; 2026 window confirmed by NOAA bulletin.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Black grouperRectangular dark blotches, brassy spots. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Texas state record
TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Box-shaped worm markings in gray marble; darker fins with white edge on the anal. More on the gag grouper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Gag grouper in other states11 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for gag grouper in Texas?
24 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many gag grouper can you keep in Texas?
2.
When is gag grouper season in Texas?
Open year-round.
What is the Texas record gag grouper?
69.4 lb, Gulf of America (2003).
How current is this Texas gag 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.
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