Florida Gulf · Tampa Bay
Red Grouper: size limit, bag limit & season
Checked against FWC · July 1, 2026
In Florida's Gulf waters, including Tampa Bay, a red grouper must be at least 20 inches (total length) to keep. The bag limit is 2 per harvester (within the 4-fish Gulf grouper aggregate). Season: Open year-round.
The rules
| Size limit | 20" minimum (total length) |
|---|---|
| Bag limit | 2 per harvester (within the 4-fish Gulf grouper aggregate) |
| Season | Open year-round |
| Rules & notes | Open year-round in the Gulf. Gulf grouper aggregate: 4 fish/harvester/day. |
Gulf grouper aggregate: all grouper species combined count toward a 4-fish-per-harvester-per-day limit.
Not legal advice. These are Florida's Gulf-zone limits (Tampa Bay region where FWC sets regional rules), checked against FWC on July 1, 2026. Limits change by region, gear and date — confirm on MyFWC.com before you keep a fish.
When red grouper are most active
Red grouper are caught year-round around the Gulf Coast.
Check it on the water
Log a red grouper in Newbreeds and the size check compares your length against these limits — keeper or release — with a link to FWC to confirm. Every catch also records the tide, pressure trend, water temperature and moon automatically, so over time you see which conditions your red grouper actually bite in. Logging is free.
Get Newbreeds — free All Florida Gulf limits
Questions
What is the size limit for red grouper in Florida?
In Florida's Gulf waters, including Tampa Bay, a red grouper must be at least 20 inches (total length) to keep. Open year-round in the Gulf. Gulf grouper aggregate: 4 fish/harvester/day.
How many red grouper can I keep in Florida?
The Gulf-zone bag limit is 2 per harvester (within the 4-fish Gulf grouper aggregate).
When is red grouper season in Florida?
Red grouper are open year-round in Florida's Gulf waters.
When is the best time to catch red grouper around Tampa Bay?
Red grouper are caught year-round around the Gulf Coast.