NOAA Fisheries announced a final rule that changes how many Gag and Black Grouper recreational anglers can keep per boat in South Atlantic federal waters.
Private and for-hire vessels will soon share a single limit for Gag and Black Grouper combined. But let’s break this down and go through what you should expect as of October 28, 2026.
What Changes on October 28?
Until now, boats followed two separate vessel limits. A vessel limit is a cap on how many fish the entire boat can keep, no matter how many anglers are aboard. Private boats could keep 2 Gag and 2 Black Grouper per day in the South Atlantic, while charter boats and headboats could keep 2 of each per trip. Together, that came to as many as four fish per vessel.
The new rule, known as Regulatory Amendment 36, merges those limits into one:
- Private recreational vessels: 2 Gag or Black Grouper per vessel, per day, in any combination
- For-hire vessels (charter boats and headboats): 2 Gag or Black Grouper per vessel, per trip, in any combination
- Individual bag limit: Stays at 1 Gag or Black Grouper per person, per day
- Captain and crew on for-hire trips: Bag limit remains zero
The vessel limit applies only when two or more anglers are on board, and the stricter of the two limits always wins. NOAA Fisheries offered two examples. Three anglers on a private boat can land 2 Gag or Black Grouper combined per day, while a solo angler can still keep one.
Why the Change?
The goal is to help rebuild the South Atlantic Gag Grouper stock. A 2021 stock assessment found Gag overfished and undergoing overfishing. In response, a 2023 rule known as Amendment 53 introduced the original vessel limits to reduce harvest. Black Grouper was included because recreational anglers often mistake it for Gag.
After those limits took effect, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council proposed a single combined cap. According to the Federal Register notice, the Council found that the aggregate limit could offer more protection to both species and potentially shorten the Gag rebuilding timeline if it reduces landings. The Gag stock is under a rebuilding plan and is expected to be rebuilt by 2032.
What Else Anglers Should Know
The 2026 recreational Gag season in South Atlantic federal waters ran from May 1 to August 2. Recreational harvest will reopen on May 1, 2027, unless otherwise specified, making 2027 the first Gag season under the new combined limit.
During the public comment period, one commenter argued that a two-fish cap is unfair for headboats carrying 40 or more people. NOAA Fisheries kept the limit in place but noted that the Council is developing Regulatory Amendment 39, which considers limits on headboats with more than six anglers on a trip.
Planning a bottom fishing trip on Florida’s Atlantic coast? Our Grouper season in Florida guide breaks down seasons, bag limits, and size limits by species. If you need help telling Gag and Black Grouper apart, check out our rundown of the types of Grouper in Florida.
What do you think about the new combined vessel limit for Gag and Black Grouper? Hit the comment button below and share your thoughts.
The concept and outline of this article were created by people engaged by FishingBooker. Artificial intelligence tools were used to flesh out and reformat information into a blog article. Before being published, this article was edited and fact-checked by FishingBooker staff.
