Black Grouper

Black Grouper Fishing in Florida

Black grouper is open year round in Gulf state waters outside Monroe County, and May 1 to December 31 in the Atlantic, including all Monroe County state waters, where the limit is 1 gag or black per person.

Florida rules from FWC and NOAA Fisheries, checked Sep 2026

Check before you keep a fish. Seasons and limits change, sometimes in the middle of a season, and a court or an agency can change them overnight. Everything here was copied from FWC and NOAA Fisheries in Sep 2026 and is listed with its source at the bottom of this page. We are not a regulatory authority. Confirm the current rule with your captain or with FWC before you keep a fish.

Florida state record

  • 113.38 lb Dry Tortugas · January 27, 1990 · Donald W. Bone

From FWC Florida Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle), checked Sep 2026. Records are certified by FWC and can be broken at any time.

About the fish

SizeUp to 48 inches and 180 pounds; common to 40 pounds
Where it livesNear structure. Adults over rocky bottoms, reefs and drop-off walls in water over 60 feet deep
What it eatsLarger black grouper, generally found in greater depths, feed on fish and squid.

FWC says black grouper spawn during the winter months.

From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.

Which rules apply to your trip

  • Gulf or Atlantic is the first question, and Monroe County is the trap: all state waters off Monroe County follow the ATLANTIC rules, on both the Atlantic and the Gulf side.
  • In the Atlantic, black grouper shares a limit of 1 per person with gag, inside the 3-fish grouper and tilefish limit.
  • In the Gulf, federal waters beyond the 20-fathom break close to black grouper February 1 to March 31. State waters stay open.
  • In Gulf state waters the charter captain and crew limit for black grouper is 0, and in the Atlantic for-hire captain and crew may not keep black grouper.

Gulf: black: when you can keep one

Gulf state and federal waters, not including any state waters of Monroe County.

  • State watersOpen year roundFWC.
  • Federal waters seaward of 20 fathomsHarvest closed February 1 to March 31Applies to red, black, scamp, yellowfin and yellowmouth.
24 inches total lengthSize limit
4 per personDaily limit. Counts inside the Gulf limit of 4 grouper per person per day.

Atlantic: black: when you can keep one

Atlantic state and federal waters, including Monroe County state waters.

  • All anglersOpen May 1 to December 31FWC. Also closed January 1 to April 30 along with several other Atlantic grouper.
24 inches total lengthSize limit
1 gag or black per personDaily limit. Counts inside the Atlantic 3-fish aggregate, with a cap of 2 black per vessel per day.

Gear rules

Reef fish gear rules apply and grouper must be landed with head and fins intact. In Gulf state waters that means non-stainless, non-offset circle hooks with natural bait, a dehooking device, and a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready. In the Atlantic the circle hook rule splits at 28 degrees north.

Questions about black grouper

How big does a black grouper have to be?

24 inches total length, on both coasts.

How many black grouper can I keep?

In the Gulf, up to 4 per person inside the 4-grouper daily limit. In the Atlantic, 1 gag or black per person.

When is black grouper closed?

In the Atlantic and all Monroe County state waters, January 1 to April 30. In the Gulf, state waters are open year round; federal waters seaward of 20 fathoms close February 1 to March 31, and the federal area FWC calls "the Edges" is closed January 1 to April 30.

Seasons, sizes and bag limits on this page were copied from FWC, grouper regulations and FWC, reef fish gear rules and NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Gulf gag season and NOAA Fisheries, 2026 South Atlantic gag season and FWC, black grouper profile in Sep 2026. Rules change, sometimes mid-season. Check the current rule with your captain or FWC before you keep a fish.