Recreational gag grouper season will open Sept. 1-30 in Gulf state waters

At its August meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued an executive order to modify the 2026 recreational season for gag grouper in state waters of the Gulf of America, excluding all state waters off Monroe County, to Sept. 1 through Sept. 30. The 2026 recreational season will close at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1.

This season is consistent with NOAA's recently announced season in adjacent federal waters. Maintaining consistent state and federal recreational seasons for Gulf gag grouper will help prevent exceeding the recreational quota and reduce the likelihood of a quota payback in 2027.

If you plan to fish for gag grouper or other specific reef fish species from a private recreational vessel, you must sign up for the State Reef Fish Angler Designation (annual renewal is required). As a State Reef Fish Angler, you could be selected to receive a mail survey component of the State Reef Fish Survey.

Data from the State Reef Fish Survey is now being used for Gulf gag grouper management, and by participating in the survey, you are improving recreational data that is used to provide recreational fishing opportunities in Florida.

To learn more about the State Reef Fish Survey, visit MyFWC.com/SRFS.

To learn more about gag grouper season and regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and select "Recreational Regulations", followed by "Reef Fish" and then "Grouper" and "Gag."