Applications for the 2026 limited recreational harvest of goliath grouper in Florida state waters will close on October 15. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced that permits for this opportunity will be distributed through a random lottery system, with applications available online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. The application fee is $10 plus additional charges.
The program allows a total annual harvest of up to 200 goliath groupers, with no more than 50 permitted from Everglades National Park. Participants must obtain both a permit and tag, which cost $150 for residents and $500 for non-residents, plus fees. These permits and tags are nontransferable and exemptions do not apply.
Each permit holder may harvest one fish per open season, which runs from March 1 through May 31. Only hook-and-line gear is allowed, and fish must measure between 24 and 36 inches in total length. After harvesting a fish, participants are required to properly tag it, report harvest data, and submit a fin clip for genetic analysis.
Harvesting goliath grouper remains prohibited in federal waters as well as specific areas such as Martin County south through the Atlantic coast of the Keys, all of the St. Lucie River and its tributaries, and Dry Tortugas National Park.
According to FWC, “This unique recreational opportunity is possible through successful conservation efforts by state and federal agencies over the past three decades that aided the goliath grouper population’s rebuilding.”
The agency also stated: “This opportunity is intended to provide additional access to this fishery while balancing the values of various stakeholder groups. Adult goliath grouper will continue to be prohibited from harvest statewide as well as goliath in heavy dive ecotourism areas. This limited harvest is not intended to address fishing depredation concerns.”
For more information about eligibility requirements or regulations related to the goliath grouper harvest permit lottery, visit the FWC’s Goliath Grouper Harvest Permit webpage or MyFWC.com/Marine.
