Florida gag grouper season

For gag grouper fishing in the gulf, its important to note what county youre embarking from. Grouper are managed differently in gulf versus atlantic and in state versus federal waters. Gag grouper season open in certain florida grand view. Mar 22, 2019 gag grouper season open in certain florida counties gag grouper is one of the most popular saltwater fishing species anglers enjoy catching each year in the gulf of mexico. Dry tortugas snapper and grouper season 5, episode 10 rtfs duration. Gag grouper season to open for recreational fishing in.

Recreational regulations florida fish and wildlife. Fwc approves gag, black grouper size limit florida fishing. Howto catch articles and videos, wheres the bite, regulations, and more. Open recreational harvest for gag grouper off the coast of gulf and franklin counties is announced. Gag spawn in large groups along the continental shelf. Reef fish florida saltwater fishing regulations 2020. Grouper fishing charters, clearwater fl grouper fishing charters in the gulf of mexico.

Florida saltwater fishing regulations reef fish eregulations. May 21, 2016 reel time florida sportsman crystal river gag grouper on topwater season 4, episode 8 rtfs. They eat a variety of fish, crabs, shrimp, and squid. Females spawn multiple times per season, releasing between 60,000 and 1. One of the fish we target in this area of florida most often is the grouper. Gag season starts june 1 in gulf federal and most state. Gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, scamp, snowy grouper and more, plus hogfish are now back on the keeper list for south atlantic anglers until jan. Participation mandatory to fish for grouper in gulf waters.

June 1, 2019, for federally permitted headcharter boats american red snapper and gag grouper season opens. Spotted seatrout western panhandle re mains catchandrelease. For many people the idea of gag grouper and shallow water do not go hand in hand. The gag grouper recreational harvest season in gulf of mexico state waters, not including franklin, jefferson, wakulla and taylor counties, opened june 1 and will remain open through dec. Gag grouper season will open june 1 for recreational fishing across most state waters of the gulf of mexico, and across all federal waters in the gulf. Gag grouper possession in closed federal season florida. State waters in the gulf start from shore and extend out 9 nautical miles. Jul 10, 2015 it was opening day of the gag grouper season and we were ready to go after some big rusty bellies. Scroll down for regulations by coast and by species.

Gag grouper mycteroperca microlepis is a highly prized catch in the florida keys. Gag and red grouper are the most widely distributed of the florida groupers. Once the season opens, most grouper species can be speared or caught on hook and line, as long as they are the allowable species and the correct length. Western boundary of the 4county gag grouper recreational harvest region. We have a very unique fishery that allows us to catch quality gag grouper in less than 20 ft of water. Monroe county follows the atlantic season for gag grouper and is currently open. Note that there are some species of grouper that are open year round. Goliath and nassau grouper are protected from harvest in florida waters. For counties of franklin, wakulla, taylor and jefferson in the panhandle area from apalachicola to steinhatchee there is open season in state waters from april 1 to june 30, and again from september 1. For more information about thunder coast custom spearguns, getting your own custom gun or about any. If you are in possession of gag grouper in federal waters while federal season is close but while state season is open and you get pulled over by fwc in federal water can they write you a state violation when in fact the season is open in state waters and you are currently in federal waters. The same day, several species of grouper will also close to recreational and commercial harvest in. Florida keys grouper season 2019 for many, may 1st is just the start of spring, but for avid fishermen in the keys, may 1st means grouper season is open. Grouper season opens wednesday after a fourmonth closure, and many south florida anglers and divers will head offshore to try to catch or spear what is considered to be one of the regions best.

Residents of the westcentral florida coast in franklin, wakulla, jefferson or taylor county can start fishing for gag grouper on wednesday. Grouper fishing charters clearwater fl fisheye sportfishing. Apr 30, 2020 gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, scamp, snowy grouper and more, plus hogfish are now back on the keeper list for south atlantic anglers until jan. Grouper closures start january 1 florida sportsman. Federal fishing regulations gulf of mexico fishery management. However, the most common grouper species that keys anglers are targeting are the black grouper, the gag grouper, and the red grouper. Spawn between january and may with some of the more tropical species spawning yearround. Gag grouper regional season about to open tampa bay times.

The season in that fourcounty region opened april 1 and. The gag grouper season in the remainder of gulf of mexico state waters and federal waters is open june 1 through dec. Gag grouper will remain open in most gulf waters except state waters off franklin, wakulla, jefferson and taylor counties through dec. The changes include additional protections for gag grouper while increasing the bag limit for red grouper. Latest version of the final adopted rule presented in florida administrative. Zero bag limit for captain and crew of forhire vessels applies to gag, black, and. We made a 2 hour run offshore into the gulf of mexico and fished in 150 feet of water. The florida fish and wildlife conservation commission fwc recently announced that it is going to change how gag and red grouper are managed in gulf of mexico state waters. Gag grouper season to open for recreational fishing in gulf. Reel time florida sportsman crystal river gag grouper on. Seasons if no seasonal information is provided, the species is open yearround. Gulf grouper aggregate bag limit all species of grouper in the gulf are included in a 4 fish per harvester per day aggregate bag limit in any combination of grouper species. For counties of franklin, wakulla, taylor and jefferson in the panhandle area from apalachicola to steinhatchee there is open season in state waters from april 1 to june 30, and again from september 1 to december 31.

Mangrove snapper, available yearround as shallow as 10 or 15 feet, spawn in late summer in 50 to 70 feet. Note that gag grouper season is different in taylor, jefferson, wakulla and franklin counties than the rest of florida gulf state waters. Young gag inhabit estuaries from massachusetts to cape canaveral. Shallowwater grouper season closes february 1 in gulf state waters and reopens april 1.

Increases in florida grouper gulf limits bdoutdoors. Jul 03, 2014 to learn more about gag grouper season regulations, visit the grouper page on the florida wildlife and conservation commission website. Florida keys grouper season 2019 marathon islamorada key. Sep 21, 2017 gag grouper go shallow in winter and spring when fish you usually catch in 50 to 100 feet of water move to 20 to 30foot depths, where they are susceptible to trolled deepdiving plugs. Gag grouper fwc florida fish and wildlife conservation. Grouper fishing regulations in the florida keys and key west.

Dec 26, 2018 gag grouper will close to recreational harvest in gulf state and federal waters jan. Mar 17, 2020 for gag grouper fishing in the gulf, its important to note what county youre embarking from. Gulf state waters off franklin, wakulla, jefferson and taylor counties. The gag grouper is the most widely distributed grouper in the region, with adults present from north carolina to brazil over low and highprofile hard bottom in waters 60500 feet deep. John martin and i, bob harbison, are both florida natives who have been fishing the waters of the sunshine state our entire lives. Grouper fishing reopens may 1 in the florida keys anglers grouper fishing in florida state and federal waters of the atlantic, including state waters off monroe county florida keys, will be able to take home some of their catch starting may 1, when the season for several species reopens to recreational and commercial harvest. Atlantic state waters are from shore to 3 nautical miles. American red snapper and gag grouper season opens florida. Florida fish and wildlife announced that open season will start april 1 this year and remaining. Adult gag grouper live in similar places to most grouper species. Florida sportsmans 50 favorite sportfish of florida. Gag grouper will open for recreational harvest in most state gulf of mexico waters and all federal gulf waters june 1, and will remain open through dec.

Jan 02, 2020 grouper season is closed until may 1, so no gag grouper, red grouper, black grouper, scamp, snowy grouper or hogfish, among others, may be harvested. Dec 22, 2011 season closures for red and gag grouper, as well as other shallowwater groupers, are also nearing. When gag and black grouper season opens later this year they will have a minimum size limit of 24 inches in both federal and florida state waters. Marine life organisms from the eez harvested or possessed by florida residents or landed in florida are subject to floridas marine life rule. However, they are not uncommon in shallow water grass bottom right out to 200 plus feet of water where they may be found frequenting ledges, reefs, and wrecks. Florida saltwater fishing regulations 2020 eregulations. Even so, the average catch is in the same 520 lb bracket as black grouper.

Special seasons and limits help keep populations in check. There are a number of grouper species found in the waters of clearwater florida, gag, red, scamp and goliath grouper are the most common species that we fish for. Thunder coast custom spearguns is a custom speargun and diving accessories manufacturer and distributor. Gag grouper season open in certain florida grand view outdoors. Gag grouper opening day offshore fishing in florida mahimahi. Grouper fishing in the florida keys and key west is open to recreational anglers from may 1st until december 31 st. The species is found in the gulf of mexico but not in the west indies. Florida gulf gag grouper closures continue bdoutdoors. Franklin, wakulla, taylor and jefferson counties are excluded from this opening because they have their own season from april 1june 30 and sept. In atlantic state waters, including monroe county, the season closes january 1 and reopens may 1. Federal fishing regulations gulf of mexico fishery. Grouper season opens wednesday after fourmonth closure. Gulf state waters are from shore to 9 nautical miles.