Species guide · Florida
Gag grouper fishing in Florida
Mycteroperca microlepis, an offshore species also called gag and gray grouper. Listed for the South Florida and the Keys, Eastern Gulf and South Atlantic regions. Off season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Tarpon Springs to Suwannee River FL out 20 NM at 61, one of 31 Florida bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Off seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
South Florida and the Keys
Off season, about 1 more week- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Off season
- Jun: Off season
- Jul: Off season
- Aug: Off season
- Sep: Off season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Shoulder season
No peak months. In season (shoulder or peak): Oct to Apr.
Research notes, South Florida and the Keys region
Present on Keys reefs and Southwest Florida ledges, best in the cooler months; fewer fish than on the West Florida Shelf. Regulatory: Atlantic and Monroe County waters follow the shallow-water grouper closure Jan 1-Apr 30.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
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.
South Atlantic
Shoulder season, about 5 more weeks- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Off season
- Jul: Off season
- Aug: Off season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Peak season
- Dec: Peak season
Peak: Nov to Dec. In season (shoulder or peak): Sep to May.
Research notes, South Atlantic region
Ledges and live bottom off Northeast Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas in 60-200 ft. Regulatory: shallow-water grouper close Jan 1-Apr 30 for spawning; NOAA sets the gag season length each year from May 1.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 31
Florida bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's gag grouper score this hour.
Best window today 6-11 PM (63) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 2 PM (67) · 131 named spots
Best window today 2-10 PM (61) · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 6 AM (63) · 13 named spots
Best window today 7 AM-9 PM (61) · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 8 AM (63) · 23 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (61) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 2 PM (64) · 195 named spots
Best window today 7-11 PM (61) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 AM (64) · 81 named spots
Best window today 9 AM-6 PM (62) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 2 PM (65) · 24 named spots
Best window today 11 AM-12 AM (60) · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 5 PM (65) · 126 named spots
Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (60) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 2 PM (64) · 20 named spots
Best window today 1-6 PM (58) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 2 PM (64) · 49 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-6 PM (62) · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (64) · 79 named spots
Best window today 9 AM-7 PM (60) · Best day Mon, Sep 28 at 7 AM (63) · 46 named spots
Best window today 12-7 PM (60) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 2 PM (66) · 39 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (43) · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 AM (48) · 11 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 6 AM (38)
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 6 PM (48)
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 7 AM (46)
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 5 PM (48)
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 6 PM (48)
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (35) · Best day Sun, Oct 4 at 7 AM (49)
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20) · 199 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20) · 82 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20) · 22 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20) · 6 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20) · 4 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20) · 21 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20) · 109 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20) · 16 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20) · 88 named spots
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20)
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20)
Best window today 8 AM-12 AM (20) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (20) · 92 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
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Synced with FWC Sep 21, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
2 per day (4 Gulf grouper combined) · Minimum 24 in, total length
Season: Sep 1 to Sep 30, 2026
Changes to closed on Oct 1, 2026
Private-vessel anglers need the State Reef Fish Angler designation. Charter captain and crew bag limit is zero. No more than 4 grouper combined per person per day. Reef fish gear rules apply. Land with head and fins intact. FWC set the 2026 Gulf state waters gag season to September 1 through 30 by executive order, matching the federal season. Excludes Monroe County.
FWC Recreational Regulations: Groupers · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Aug 2 to Dec 31, 2026
FWC closed Atlantic gag grouper, including all state waters off Monroe County, for the rest of the 2026 season (Executive Order 26-10). The 2027 season has not been announced.
FWC news release, May 13, 2026: Atlantic gag grouper closes August 2 (EO 26-10) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Aug 2 to Dec 31, 2026
FWC closed Atlantic gag grouper, including all state waters off Monroe County, for the rest of the 2026 season (Executive Order 26-10). The 2027 season has not been announced.
FWC news release, May 13, 2026: Atlantic gag grouper closes August 2 (EO 26-10) · verified Sep 13, 2026
2 per day (4 Gulf groupers combined) · Minimum 24 in, total length
Season: No closed season on file
Changes to closed on Oct 1, 2026
Captain and crew of a charter boat or headboat may keep none. Excludes goliath grouper. No more than 2 gag or 2 red grouper. Open between the dated closures. NOAA sets the closing date each year. Off Florida, fishing is closed year-round in the Madison and Swanson sites and Steamboat Lumps, and January through April in the Edges, except for highly migratory species such as tunas and billfish (50 CFR 622.34(a)).
50 CFR part 622, subpart B (Gulf reef fish) · verified Sep 13, 2026
No retention
Season: Aug 2 to Dec 31, 2026
The 2026 recreational gag season was May 1 through August 1, shortened because 2025 landings went over the limit. The 2027 season is scheduled to open May 1, 2027.
Federal Register 2026-07792, 2026 South Atlantic gag recreational closure · verified Sep 13, 2026
Other Florida species
- Atlantic croaker
- Atlantic tarpon
- Common snook
- Crevalle jack
- Gray snapper
- King mackerel
- Red drum
- Southern flounder
- Spot
- Spotted seatrout
- Summer flounder
- Black drum
- Black sea bass
- Bonefish
- Cobia
- Florida pompano
- Gray triggerfish
- Greater amberjack
- Little tunny
- Mahi-mahi
- Permit
- Red grouper
- Red snapper
- Sailfish
- Sheepshead
- Spanish mackerel
- Wahoo
- Weakfish
- Yellowfin tuna
- Bluefish
- Striped bass