When is grouper season in Islamorada?
Black and red grouper can be kept from May 1 to December 31 in all Monroe County waters, and are closed from January 1 to April 30. Gag grouper has a shorter season set each year; in 2026 it ran May 1 to August 1. The limit is three grouper per person, no more than one of them gag or black.
The fish
Black, red and gag grouper are the Keys’ main groupers. FWC says grouper fishing from a boat usually means baits fished near the bottom, and NOAA describes the flavour as mild but distinct, somewhere between bass and halibut. Goliath and Nassau grouper are protected from harvest in Florida.
Season and the opening-day tournament
The season is the story here. All Monroe County waters close to black and red grouper from January 1 to April 30, and the Jeff Leonia Reel and Steel Classic is held each year on opening day for hogfish and grouper, 30 April to 1 May in 2026. One Islamorada operator’s month table lists grouper in February; it can be caught and released then, but not kept.
Can you keep grouper?
Charter captain and crew may keep none.
Red grouper: 20 inches, up to three within the three-grouper total, same May-to-December season. Gag: 24 inches, a season FWC sets each year.
Every limit is on what fish you can keep.
| Rule | FWC, Keys state waters |
|---|---|
| Minimum size | 24 in TL |
| Bag limit | 1 gag or black, within 3 grouper |
| Season | May 1 to Dec 31 (closed Jan 1 to Apr 30) |
| Source | FWC: Black grouper |
Which trip to book
From May to December, a reef or wreck trip ($700–$1,400 per boat for a half day in October 2026) or a guided spearfishing trip.
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Islamorada Spearfishing Adventures
5.0 Google · 132 reviews · read 4 October 2026
Guided spearfishing for snapper, grouper and hogfish, four to eight hours, ages 10 and up.
Departs: Three Waters Resort Marina
Check availability -
Snap 'Em Up Fishing Charters
5.0 Google · 71 reviews · read 4 October 2026
Lists grouper among its half-day reef targets.
Departs: IslaMarina
Check availability -
A Fishing Guru
4.6 Google · 20 reviews · read 4 October 2026
Offshore and reef trips naming snapper and grouper.
Check availability
Google · 132 reviews · read 4 October 2026 Read for this page on 6 October 2026: FWC: groupers ; NOAA Fisheries: black grouper ; Keys tourism council: tournaments .
Check it at the source
- FWC — Grouper regulations Grouper seasons and limits, which differ between Atlantic and Gulf waters. Link checked 6 September 2026
Grouper: questions
Can you keep grouper in the Florida Keys in January?
No. Black and red grouper are closed from January 1 to April 30 in all Monroe County waters; they can be caught and released, but not kept, until May 1.
What is the grouper limit in Florida?
Three grouper per person in Keys state waters, no more than one of them gag or black. Black grouper must be 24 inches and red grouper 20 inches total length. On a charter the captain and crew may keep no black grouper.
Next step
Looking for fishing trips in Islamorada?
Islamorada Charters Fishing is an independent guide — no boats, no bookings, nothing to sell. It exists so you can ask better questions before you hand an operator a deposit.
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