Florida's Gulf Grouper Season Opens

It must be springtime in southwest Florida. Gulf grouper season is open.

Red, black, yellowfin, yellowmouth, rock hind, red hind and scamp Gulf of Mexico grouper species can be harvested in Florida waters. 

The season started Monday, April 1. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, this harvest season will remain open through Jan. 31, 2014.

State waters in the Gulf are from shore to nine miles out. 

Fishing for gag grouper, however, is different from other grouper species, according to a FWC news release. 

Gulf of Mexico gag grouper will also open to harvest April 1 in state waters off the following counties only: Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor, including all waters of the Steinhatchee River, Apalachicola Bay and Indian Pass. This season will remain open through June 30, with the first day of the closure being July 1.

Gag grouper will be open to recreational harvest in the rest of Gulf state waters (not including Monroe, Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor) from July 1 through Dec. 3. The season in Gulf of Mexico federal waters also opens July 1 and will close when the annual catch target is projected to be met, which is expected to be sometime between Nov. 11 and Dec. 3.

April 1 also marks the close of the spiny lobster recreational and commercial season. That season will reopen Aug. 6. 

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