New and Proposed RulesNew federal regulations for shallow-water grouper species in the Gulf of Mexico took effect May 18, 2009. New rules for Gulf grouper that are consistent with the federal regulations took effect in state waters on August 27, 2009. These rules are intended to help reduce fishing pressure so that grouper fishing in the Gulf can improve in the future. New regulations for grouper species in Atlantic federal waters off Florida took effect July 29, 2009. The FWC proposed a draft rule that would make grouper regulations in state waters of the Atlantic consistent with federal regulations at its September meeting. A final public hearing on the proposed federal consistency rule for Atlantic grouper will be held during the December FWC meeting in Clewiston. Visit the Atlantic Grouper section below for more details. Current Recreational Regulations
- Gag, Black, Red Grouper -
(State and Federal Waters) State and Federal Waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Except All Waters of Monroe County) * | Gag | Black | Red | Minimum Size Limit | 22" TL | 22" TL | 20" TL | Bag Limit | up to 2 Gag within the 4 grouper aggregate | up to 4 Black within the 4 grouper aggregate | up to 2 Red within the 4 grouper aggregate | Closed Season** | Feb and March | Feb and March | Feb and March | Capt/Crew | charter captain/crew - zero bag limit |
*Note: Gear rules require circle hooks, dehooking and venting tools to be used in the Gulf reef fish fishery **Closed season in Gulf waters applies to all shallow-water grouper species (Red, Black, Gag, Yellowfin, Yellowmouth, Rock Hind, Red Hind, and Scamp). Atlantic Ocean * (Including All Waters of Monroe County) | Gag | Black | Red | Minimum Size Limit | 24" TL | 20" TL | Bag Limit* | State waters: up to 2 Gag or Black individually or in combination within the 5 grouper aggregate
Federal waters: up to 1 Gag or Black within the 3 grouper aggregate | State waters: up to 5 within the 5 grouper aggregate
Federal waters: up to 3 within the 3 grouper aggregate | Closed Season** | Federal waters: Jan-Apr | Federal waters: Jan-Apr | Federal waters: Jan-Apr | | Capt/Crew | Federal waters: charter captain/crew - zero bag limit |
*See Atlantic Grouper section below for further details **Closed season in Atlantic federal waters applies to shallow-water grouper (Gag, Black, Red, Scamp, Rock Hind, Red Hind, Coney, Grasby, Yellowfin, Yellowmouth, and Tiger). Gulf of Mexico (Except All Waters of Monroe County)New Regulations Effective August 27, 2009
- Shallow-water Grouper - Updated: August 27, 2009 New rules for grouper in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico (excluding all waters of Monroe County) that are consistent with federal Gulf grouper regulations went into effect August 27, 2009. These rules: - Establish a Feb. 1 through March 31 closed spawning season for all recreational harvest of shallow-water groupers (Red, Black, Gag, Yellowfin, Yellowmouth, Rock Hind, Red Hind, and Scamp) in all Gulf state waters,
- Decrease the daily recreational aggregate bag limit for all grouper in the Gulf from five fish to four fish per person per day, and
- Reduce the commercial minimum size limit for Gulf Red Grouper, and for all importation and sale of Red Grouper, from 20 inches to 18 inches total length.
For more information:
Atlantic Ocean (Including All Waters of Monroe County)Federal and Proposed State Regulation Changes
- Shallow-water Grouper - Updated: September 10, 2009 New grouper regulations took effect July 29, 2009 in federal waters of the Atlantic. These rules: - Decrease the recreational aggregate bag limit for grouper from 5 fish to 3 fish,
- Establish a January-April shallow-water grouper (Gag, Black, Red, Scamp, Rock Hind, Red Hind, Coney, Graysby, Yellowfin, Yellowmouth, and Tiger Grouper) closed season for all recreational and commercial harvesters
- Require persons fishing for snapper-grouper species to possess and use a dehooking device as needed to remove hooks from fish with minimal damage, and
- Establish a zero grouper bag limit for captain and crew of charter vessels and headboats.
Charter and headboats that hold federal snapper-grouper permits are required to abide by federal rules, even in state waters. The FWC proposed a draft rule that would make grouper regulations in state waters of the Atlantic (including all waters of Monroe County) consistent with these new federal regulations at its September Commission Meeting. A final public hearing on the proposed federal consistency rules for Atlantic grouper will be held during the December FWC meeting in Clewiston. For details on the changes to Atlantic grouper regulations, click on the links below. |
