Grouper, Gag

The 2025 recreational fishing season for gag in federal waters of the South Atlantic will start at 12:01 a.m., (local time), on May 1, 2025, and end at 12:01 a.m., (local time) on June 26, 2025. Read the Fishery Bulletin

Private recreational vessel limit for gag grouper of 2 fish per vessel per day not to exceed the daily bag limit of 1 fish per person per day, whichever is more restrictive. 

A for-hire recreational vessel limit for gag grouper of 2 fish per vessel per trip not to exceed the daily bag limit of 1 fish per person per day, whichever is more restrictive.

The gag grouper bag limit for captain and crew on a for-hire vessel with a Federal for-hire snapper-grouper permit is zero.

A descending device is required on board all vessels fishing for or possessing snapper and grouper species in federal waters of the South Atlantic. The descending device must be readily available for use and attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 feet of line.

Must be landed with head and fins intact.

This species is part of the shallow water grouper spawning season closure: January 1 through April 30, except for red grouper harvested in federal waters off the coasts of North Carolina and South Carolina, which remain closed until June 1. Shallow-water Grouper Complex: gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind, coney, graysby, yellowfin grouper, and yellowmouth grouper.

If you are bringing fish back to the U.S. from the Bahamas by water, please see Bringing fish back from the Bahamas.

Federally Permitted Charter/Headboats:

• If a federally permitted vessel fishing in federal waters catches a species that is closed to harvest in federal waters, the vessel is not allowed to retain that fish.
• If a federally permitted vessel fishing in state waters catches a species that is closed to harvest in federal waters but open in state waters, the vessel is not allowed to retain that species.
• If a federally permitted vessel fishing in federal waters catches a species that is closed to harvest in state waters but open to harvest in federal waters, they may retain that fish if they do not stop to fish in state waters when returning to port. All gear must be stowed.

Federally Permitted Charter/Headboats must have the following on board:

• the 2019 version of the NMFS document titled "Careful Release Protocols for Sea Turtle Release with Minimal Injury" (document may be electronic).
• NMFS sea turtle handling and release guidelines placard
• Required release and handling gears

See Snapper Grouper Sea Turtle and Smalltooth Sawfish Release Gear Requirements for more information.

For more information on management of South Atlantic federal fisheries, please visit SAFMC or NOAA Fisheries.

Learn how to help more released fish survive and share what you're seeing on the water on the Best Fishing Practices and SAFMC Release webpages.

To see commercial regulations, download Fish Rules Commercial App for iOS devices or Android devices.