Misty Grouper regulations in South Carolina

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Misty Grouper has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 3.

Misty Grouper size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
SC state waters (to 3 mi)	Open year-round	No minimum size	3 per person per day (grouper aggregate)
Federal waters (3–200 mi)	Open year-round	No minimum size	3 per person per day (grouper aggregate)

Notes

Counts toward the 3-fish grouper/tilefish aggregate.
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: None
Limit: 3 per person per day (grouper aggregate)
statewide — as printed: “Misty Grouper | Open year-round | 3 per person per day (grouper aggregate) | None”

Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, captured 2026-10-01 (2026 season).

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About the misty grouper

Species of fish

Hyporthodus mystacinus, the misty grouper, black grouper, convict grouper, eightbar grouper or moustache grouper, 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 is primarily found in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico with populations present around the Galapagos Islands and Central American coastlines.

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 Misty Grouper in South Carolina?

No minimum size in South Carolina state waters.

How many Misty Grouper can you keep per day in South Carolina?

3 per person per day (grouper aggregate).

When is Misty Grouper season in South Carolina?

Open year-round.

Is my Misty Grouper a keeper today?

Misty Grouper has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 3.