Species guide · Mississippi

Gag grouper fishing in Mississippi

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 62.

Season now

Shoulder season

Where it's scoring now All Mississippi waters

Season 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 · 1

Mississippi bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's gag grouper score this hour.

62Good

Mississippi Sound

Best window today 7-9 PM (62) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (65) · 81 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

MDMR saltwater regulations Buy a Mississippi fishing license License types

Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. Synced with MDMR Sep 18, 2026.

No reviewed gag grouper rule for Mississippi is on file yet. Check with MDMR before you keep one.