Short answer: The 2026 Gulf gag grouper season is September 1 through September 30, 2026, in both state and federal waters. Harvest closes at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2026. After that, every gag goes back in the water until the next season opens.
NOAA sets the gag dates each year, FWC matches them in state waters, and they move. Check the current dates before you book a gag trip. The 2026 season is posted on FWC’s grouper regulations page.
Why gag season is so short
Gag is managed by quota. Federal rules keep the recreational gag season closed from January 1 through August 31 every year, 2026 included, so the earliest it can open is September 1. NOAA then projects when the year’s catch target will be reached and sets the closing date to match, and FWC lines state waters up with it.
That is why the window changes every year. The 2024 season was September 1 through 15, 2024, and the 2025 season was September 1 through 14, 2025. The 2026 season, at 30 days, is the longest of the three.
If you remember gag opening in June, that was the old rule. Since 2024 the season starts in September, and anything that says “summer and fall” is out of date. NOAA can also close early if landings run ahead of the projection.
Gag grouper limits in 2026
Minimum size is 24 inches total length. The bag limit is 2 gag per person per day, within a 4-grouper aggregate, so a person keeping 2 gag and 2 red grouper is at their limit. Captain and crew keep zero, so only your group’s fish count.
Our two gag trips
We run gag two ways during the season, one on each boat.
- Inshore Gag Grouper (Seasonal) on the 27′ AmeraCat: from $1,400 for up to 4 anglers, $75 per extra person up to 6, 8:00 AM start. Gag on the catamaran, working structure closer to home. This is the most popular trip on our inshore menu.
- Offshore Gag Full Day on the 35′ center console: from $2,400 for up to 4 anglers, $100 per extra person up to 6, 8 hours, 8:00 AM start. Bigger baits, deeper wrecks and stubborn fish that do not come easy. This is our most popular offshore trip, and it is booked by phone.
Gag also shows up on the long runs. In September 2026 the roughly 100-mile Middle Grounds trips have been putting limits of gag in the box alongside limits of red snapper and red grouper, three of our top targets on one run. That only lines up for a few weeks a year.
Gag fishing is heavy-tackle bottom fishing. The fish hits hard and heads straight for the rocks, so your job is to turn it in the first few seconds. We rig for it and coach you through it, and beginners do fine.
Booking a gag trip
Gag dates fill faster than anything else on our calendar. Weekends and the best weather windows go first, and once the season closes the chance is gone until next year. If gag is on your list, call 352-770-2520 as soon as the dates are announced, usually in late spring or summer.
Tackle, bait, ice, water and fish cleaning are included. You do not need a fishing license: our FWC charter license covers everyone on board.
Booking policies (deposits, rescheduling, weather calls) are on our FAQ page.
Season dates in this guide were checked against NOAA and FWC on September 19, 2026, and this page is updated when each year’s dates are announced. Current dates for every species we target are on the Fish We Catch page, and there is more on the fish itself on our gag grouper page.
