Recreational harvest of shallow water grouper in Atlantic state waters closes Jan. 1

Recreational harvest of shallow water grouper closes in Atlantic state waters (including all state waters of Monroe County) on Jan 1. The shallow water grouper complex includes black, gag, yellowfin, scamp, yellowmouth, red, coney, graysby, red hind and rock hind. This annual spawning season closure begins Jan. 1 each year to help protect species during spawning activities. Harvest for shallow water grouper will reopen to recreational anglers in Atlantic state waters (including Monroe County) on May 1, 2025.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is committed to collecting critical recreational harvest fishing data to inform the management of popular reef fish, such as gag grouper. The State Reef Fish Survey provides the FWC with a clearer picture of stock health. Please make sure you are signed up as a State Reef Fish Angler. This designation is required for recreational anglers and spearfishers who intend to fish for or harvest certain reef fish species from a private vessel in Florida. To learn more about the State Reef Fish Survey, visit MyFWC.com/SRFS.

For current recreational grouper regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on "Recreational Regulations," "Reef Fish" and then "Grouper" or download the Fish Rules App.