Atlantic Gag Grouper Closes August 2

If you've been running out to the ledges off the east coast for gag grouper, that window just shut. Both state and federal waters of the Atlantic closed to recreational gag harvest at 12:01 a.m. on August 2, 2026 — and it's staying closed for the rest of the year.

What changed

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued an executive order at its May 2026 meeting in Ft. Myers closing recreational gag grouper harvest in all Atlantic state waters, including the waters off Monroe County. The date was set to match the adjacent federal closure.

On the federal side, NOAA Fisheries had already set the 2026 South Atlantic recreational gag season at just 93 days — May 1 through August 2 — a sharp cut from prior years. NOAA's rule, published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2026, states the shorter season was necessary because recreational gag landings exceeded the annual catch limit in 2025. Continuing at the old pace risked blowing through the 2026 limit of 220,030 pounds gutted weight, so the season was trimmed to keep landings in check. The closure runs until 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2027, when the 2027 season is set to reopen.

Both agencies pointed to the same goal: aligning state and federal seasons so there's one clean date anglers have to remember, rather than a gap where state waters stay open after federal waters close (or vice versa).

Don't confuse this with the Gulf

This closure is Atlantic-side only — the stretch of state and federal waters off Florida's east coast and the Keys (Monroe County waters included). Gag grouper in the Gulf of America run on a separate stock assessment and a separate calendar: NOAA Fisheries has the Gulf recreational gag season opening September 1 and closing October 1, 2026. If you fish both coasts, that's two different closures to track this year.

Bottom line for anglers

Gag grouper harvest is off the table in Atlantic waters through the end of 2026. Practice careful release if you're targeting other reef species nearby — gag will still show up as bycatch on structure. Check MyFWC.com's grouper regulations page before you head out, since it's being updated with the new dates.

Sources FWC: Executive order closing gag grouper in Atlantic state waters starting August 2 NOAA Fisheries: 93-day 2026 recreational gag season, South Atlantic Federal Register: 2026 Recreational Accountability Measure and Closure for Gag in the South Atlantic NOAA Fisheries: 2026 Gulf gag recreational season (for comparison)