The grouper is one of the most popular game fish in the United States. Found in the southern coastal waters of the Atlantic region–especially Florida and states bordering the Gulf of Mexico–the grouper comes in many different sizes and designs.
If you are going to pursue this species, you need to understand the different grouper seasons.
When is Grouper Season?
“Grouper season” is not a consistent time of year across the entire U.S. Different states each have different regulations and seasons for the fish. Unfortunately, it gets even more complicated when you consider there are numerous types of groupers that can be caught. So not only do you have different grouper seasons from state to state, but you also have different seasons for each species.
There is, however, a bit of good news: most grouper fishing is available year-round.
Grouper Season in Florida and More
To simplify things, let’s look at the grouper seasons for one state. In this case, we’ll look at the state of Florida, which is possibly the best state for grouper fishing. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission provides specific information, bag limits, and seasons on 12 different categories of grouper, including gag grouper, red grouper, and the ever-fascinating Goliath grouper.
Each category has a listed season and bag limit. Fortunately, most of the groupers are available for fishing year-round: grouper, red grouper, and yellowfin grouper, to name a few, are available for fishing all year for most areas.
Federal Closures for Groupers
But, just in case things seem too simple, there are federal closures for some of these species. For example, the red grouper, one of the most popular of all grouper species, is closed annually from February 1st through March 31st for areas seaward to 20 fathoms. The “edges,” an area off the Gulf Coast, is closed to red grouper from January 1st through April 30th.
Goliath grouper has a unique season all its own. This fish is actually available to catch all year long, but with one important clause: you can’t harvest a Goliath grouper. So while you can travel to Florida and other states and fish for Goliath grouper to your heart’s content, you can’t harvest one; it has to be catch-and-release only. However, Goliath grouper fishing is a popular pursuit even though anglers can’t keep their catch. This massive fish creates an exciting fight, one that excites even the most experienced anglers.
The Best Grouper Season
While there are legally-specified seasons for grouper, there are better times than others. For most locations, the best grouper season is the summer and fall, usually from about late May through early October.
Grouper fishing, however, is excellent all throughout the year for most species. If you are going to pursue this species, you should understand the different types of groupers, as well as the various seasons for pursuing this fish.
Get the Perfect Boat for Grouper Season!
Grouper season can be one of the most exciting times in an angler’s calendar. But you need the right boat for the task. Visit ScoutBoats.com to find excellent boats that are perfect for offshore and nearshore fishing. You’ll be able to catch the fish of your dreams, including the massive Goliath grouper, and you can do it all in comfort and style when you own a Scout!
