Virginia state waters, out to 3 miles
VMRC 2026 · checked · likely · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Red snapperSnapper is brighter red with a snapper jaw and forked tail. Tell them apartNot listed by Virginia: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Red hindSmaller, covered in discrete red spots. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
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 ask4
What is the size limit for red grouper in Virginia?
No size limit.
How many red grouper can you keep in Virginia?
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined). Counts toward the Grouper (all species) aggregate.
When is red grouper season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
How current is this Virginia red grouper rule?
Source: VMRC 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 red grouper in Virginia and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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