Gulf gag grouper recreational season ends at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1

The Gulf recreational gag season is on its last two weeks. An FWC executive order matched NOAA’s federal dates: Gulf state waters — excluding all Monroe County state waters — opened Sept. 1 and run through Sept. 30, 2026. Harvest closes at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1 and stays closed for the rest of the year. Federal Gulf EEZ waters use the same clock.

The rules did not loosen for the short season. Minimum size is 24 inches total length. The bag is two gag per person inside the four-grouper aggregate. Charter captain and crew are at zero. Private-boat reef-fish anglers still need the State Reef Fish Angler Designation (renew it annually). FWC says keeping state and federal seasons lined up is meant to stay inside the recreational quota and avoid a 2027 payback.

NOAA’s 2026 bulletin is why the calendar stops on Oct. 1. SEDAR 72 still has Gulf gag overfished and undergoing overfishing. Managers project the recreational annual catch target will be met by Oct. 1, and the accountability measure requires a close when that target is met or projected to be met. After the close, the recreational bag and possession in federal Gulf waters are zero through Dec. 31.

Photo: Joe Richard via Florida Sportsman (gag grouper, Gulf 2026 season package).

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Florida Sportsman — Gag Grouper Opens in the Gulf of America (FWC, Sept. 1, 2026). Also: NOAA Fisheries — 2026 gag recreational season in federal waters of the Gulf and FWC — Recreational gag grouper season will open Sept. 1–30 in Gulf state waters (Aug. 7, 2026).