SlotGaugeCheck a catchGag Grouper regulations in South Carolina
· Saltwater · 2026 season
Gag Grouper size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC state waters (to 3 mi) | Open year-round | 24 inch minimum | 1 per person per day (gag or black grouper, not both), within the 3-grouper aggregate; 2 per vessel in federal waters |
| Federal waters (3–200 mi) | May 1 – August 1 | 24 inch minimum | 1 per person per day (gag or black grouper, not both), within the 3-grouper aggregate; 2 per vessel in federal waters |
Notes
- Counts toward the 3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate.
- For-hire captains and crew have a zero bag limit.
- State waters (0–3 mi) have no closed season; federal closures from SAFMC apply beyond 3 mi and can change mid-year when catch limits are met — check safmc.net before an offshore trip.
Exact South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wording
- Season
- Open year-round in state waters
- Size
- 24 inch total length
- Limit
- 1 per person per day (gag or black grouper, not both), within the 3-grouper aggregate; 2 per vessel in federal waters
- statewide — as printed
- “Gag Grouper | Federal waters closed Aug 2, 2026 – Apr 30, 2027 | 1 per person per day (gag or black grouper, not both), within the 3-grouper aggregate; 2 per vessel in federal waters | 24 inch total length”
Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, captured 2026-10-01 (2026 season).
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About the gag grouper
Species of fish
The gag grouper, also known as velvet rockfish, the gag, or charcoal belly, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It comes from warmer parts of the West Atlantic, including the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. It is a drab, mottled-gray fish lacking the distinguishing features of most other groupers. Its pattern of markings resemble the box-shaped spots of the black grouper. It lacks the streamer-points on the tail fin that scamp and yellowmouth grouper have and lacks yellow coloration around the mouth.
Read more about Mycteroperca microlepis on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, not Wikipedia.
All 106 South Carolina species A–Z →
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Gag Grouper in South Carolina?
24 inch minimum in South Carolina state waters.
How many Gag Grouper can you keep per day in South Carolina?
1 per person per day (gag or black grouper, not both), within the 3-grouper aggregate; 2 per vessel in federal waters.
When is Gag Grouper season in South Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Gag Grouper a keeper today?
A gag grouper is a keeper today if it measures at least 24 inches, with a daily limit of 1.