The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) today approved a rule that lowers the recreational bag limit for red grouper in Gulf of Mexico state waters from two fish daily per person to one fish. The new limit takes effect in January.

The FWC wants to help ensure that a 10-year rebuilding plan for the overfished Gulf red grouper fishery is successful. The FWC expects the reduced bag limit to result in a 30-percent annual reduction in Gulf red grouper recreational harvest.

Today, Florida anglers may harvest two red grouper daily in Gulf state waters (out to nine nautical miles from shore). In federal waters, which extend beyond state waters, all recreational harvest of red grouper is currently prohibited until Jan. 1 under a temporary federal rule. When federal waters reopen to red grouper harvest in January, a one-fish daily limit also will apply.

The recreational five-fish daily aggregate grouper bag limit and the 20-inch total length minimum size limit for red grouper remain unchanged in both state and federal waters.

For further information on grouper management in Florida, see MyFWC.com/marine/grouper/.

A bad day of fishing is much better than a good day of cutting the grass.

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