Species
Grouper Fishing Charters
Grouper live over rocks, ledges and wrecks, from nearshore reefs to deep offshore water; seasons differ by species. 223 captains and guides in 42 towns list grouper. Here is where, and the months it is in season where we have a published calendar.
Key facts
About the grouper
Gag: brownish-gray with faint wavy marks, a deeply notched gill cover and white edges on the tail and anal fin. Black grouper: olive-gray with black blotches, brassy spots and rounded cheeks. Red grouper: reddish brown, pinkish below, with black spots on the cheeks. Scamp ('broomtail'): tan to gray-brown with small, separated dark spots and ragged ray extensions on the tail and fins. Goliath: by far the largest, up to 800 pounds.
- Also called
- Gag (Mycteroperca microlepis), red grouper (Epinephelus morio), black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci), scamp (Mycteroperca phenax), Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara)
- Family
- Grouper family (Serranidae)
- How big they get
- Gag up to about 58 inches and 81 pounds; red grouper almost 50 inches and more than 50 pounds; black grouper up to 5 feet and 180 pounds; scamp up to 43 inches and 36 pounds; goliath grouper about 8 feet and 800 pounds.
- Where they live
- Western Atlantic and Gulf. Gag and scamp: North Carolina south through the Gulf. Red grouper: Massachusetts through the Gulf. Black grouper: the US stock is mainly in the Florida Keys. Goliath: the Gulf and Florida Keys.
- Habitat
- Hard bottom, ledges, rock piles, reefs and wrecks. Red grouper are common at 10 to 60 feet; gag over hard bottom at 60 to 500 feet; scamp over low-profile live bottom at 75 to 300 feet; black grouper on rocky bottom and reefs, moving deeper with age; goliath on shallow coral and artificial reefs. Young gag use estuaries and grass beds.
- Diet
- Fish, crabs, shrimp, squid and octopus, often swallowed whole.
- Lifespan
- Long-lived: gag up to 26 years, red grouper up to 29, black grouper and scamp up to 30, and goliath more than 30 years.
- On the table
- Red grouper: mild but distinct flavor, between bass and halibut, sweeter and milder than black grouper; very firm, moist, flaky white meat. Black grouper: mild, firm and flaky. Gag is often sold as black grouper and tastes very similar.
Where
Where to catch grouper with a charter
Counts are captains who list grouper, as of October 2026. Months come from the state wildlife agency or local captains’ published calendars where we have one; seasons and limits change, so check current rules.
Before you go
What to know about grouper fishing
Things to know
- Gag, red, black grouper and scamp are federally managed by the South Atlantic and Gulf councils, with seasonal closures during spawning and size and bag limits – check SAFMC, the Gulf Council and your state agency for current rules.
- Gag, red and black grouper start life as females and some later become males – most gag over 45 inches are male; they gather to spawn, which makes them easy to overfish.
- In South Atlantic federal waters, anglers must carry a descending device and dehooking tool, and use circle hooks with natural bait north of 28 degrees N.
- Goliath grouper harvest has been closed in federal waters since 1990; Florida allows a limited harvest in state waters – see FWC.
- South Atlantic red grouper is overfished and under a rebuilding plan; the Gulf stock is not overfished (2025 assessment).
How charters catch them
- Bottom fishing with live bait such as cigar minnows, or squid
- Using depth finders to find deep rock piles, ledges, wrecks and artificial reefs
- Vertical hook-and-line gear (federal waters)
- Spearfishing without rebreathers, where allowed
Related fish
Fish caught on the same kind of trip
Questions
Grouper questions
Can I keep a goliath grouper?
Not from federal waters, where harvest has been closed since 1990. Florida permits a limited harvest in state waters; check FWC for details.
How do I tell a gag from a black grouper?
Gag have a deeply notched gill cover and white edges on the tail and anal fin; black grouper have rounded cheeks and black blotches with brassy spots.
Why do big groupers tend to be males?
Gag, red and black grouper start out as females, and some change to males as they grow older and larger.
Facts on this page come from official fisheries and wildlife sources, checked October 2026:
Size and bag limits and seasons change and differ by state. Check the state agency before you keep a fish.
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