Species guide · Alabama
Gag grouper fishing in Alabama
Mycteroperca microlepis, an offshore species also called gag and gray grouper. Listed for the Eastern Gulf region. Shoulder season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in Mississippi Sound at 57, one of 4 Alabama bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Eastern Gulf
Shoulder season, about 1 more week- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Off season
- Aug: Off season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Peak season
- Nov: Peak season
- Dec: Peak season
Peak: Oct to Dec. In season (shoulder or peak): Sep to Jun.
Research notes, Eastern Gulf region
From Tarpon Springs to Cedar Key fish move onto rock piles in 15-20 ft each fall, starting as water drops to about 76 F and peaking near 70 F (Florida Sportsman). Females gather offshore November-February and spawn on the shelf edge in February-March. Regulatory: the Gulf recreational season is short and set yearly (Sept 1-14 in 2025, state and federal waters, excluding Monroe County).
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 4
Alabama bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's gag grouper score this hour.
Best window today 6-9 PM (63) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (66) · 53 named spots
Best window today 12-5 PM (57) · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 5 PM (64) · 33 named spots
Best window today 6-9 PM (60) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (64) · 20 named spots
Best window today 6-9 PM (63) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (66) · 21 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 56°F to 84°F, best between 62°F and 76°F.
- Water depth
- 10 to 250 ft of water.
- Structure
- Ledge, reef, wreck, bank and pinnacle, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with light current.No published tide effect. Light current makes it easier to hold a live bait or trolled plug tight to the rocks; tide stage matters less than finding the right rock pile.
- Light
- Some lift around dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Gag hold on ledges, rock piles and wrecks, from 15 to 40 feet in the fall on Florida's Gulf coast out to 250 feet the rest of the year. Troll deep-diving plugs to find productive rocks, then anchor and drop or freeline live pinfish or pigfish on a strong circle hook. Keep the drag tight and turn the fish in the first few seconds or it will reach the rocks.
- Methods
- bottom fishing, trolling deep-diving plugs, freelining live bait, vertical jigging
- Lures
- deep-diving trolling plugs (30-ft class), bucktail jigs, heavy jigs tipped with squid
- Bait
- live pinfish, pigfish, grunts, cigar minnows, squid, octopus
Regulations
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division. Synced with ADCNR Marine Resources Sep 18, 2026.
No reviewed gag grouper rule for Alabama is on file yet. Check with ADCNR Marine Resources before you keep one.