Virginia state waters, out to 3 miles
SizeNo size limit
Bag1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)Counts toward the Grouper (all species) aggregate
SeasonOpen year-roundOpen today
VMRC 2026 · checked · likely · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Black grouperRectangular blotches, brassy spots. Tell them apartSizeNo size limit
Bag1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)
SeasonOpen year-round
Gag grouperGray marble, no oblique bars. Tell them apartSizeNo size limit
Bag1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)
SeasonOpen year-round
Yellowfin grouperYellow outer pectoral third. Tell them apartSizeNo size limit
Bag1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)
SeasonOpen year-round
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
Slim reef grouper with oblique tiger bars sweeping down and back along the body. More on the tiger grouper page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Tiger grouper in other states5 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for tiger grouper in Virginia?
No size limit.
How many tiger grouper can you keep in Virginia?
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined). Counts toward the Grouper (all species) aggregate.
When is tiger grouper season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
How current is this Virginia tiger 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 tiger grouper in Virginia and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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