The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced it will accept applications for the 2026 limited recreational harvest of goliath grouper in state waters. Applications can be submitted from October 1 to October 15 for the upcoming season.
According to FWC, this opportunity follows decades of conservation efforts by both state and federal agencies that have helped rebuild the goliath grouper population. The permits will be distributed through a random lottery system. The application fee is $10 plus additional fees, and interested applicants can apply online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Key regulations for the harvest include a total annual limit of up to 200 goliath groupers, with no more than 50 allowed from Everglades National Park. To participate, anglers must obtain both a permit and tag through the lottery; these cost $150 for residents and $500 for nonresidents, with permits being nontransferable. Each participant may harvest only one fish per season during the open period from March 1 through May 31.
Only hook-and-line gear is permitted, and there is a slot size limit requiring fish to be between 24-36 inches in total length. After harvesting a fish, participants must properly apply their tag, report harvest data, and submit a fin clip for genetic analysis.
Harvesting goliath grouper will not be allowed in certain areas such as Martin County south through the Atlantic coast of the Keys, all of the St. Lucie River and its tributaries, or Dry Tortugas National Park. Federal waters remain closed to this harvest.
“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 details on eligibility requirements or how to apply for a permit, visit FWC’s Goliath Grouper Harvest Permit webpage or check MyFWC.com/Marine under “Recreational Regulations,” “Reef Fish” and “Goliath Grouper.”
