What's In Season?
The world of fisheries management is always evolving with a lot of different variables. From stock assessments, to previous years catch rates, to human disasters, to things like hurricanes and other acts of God... all kinds of things determine "this year's season". To complicate things even further there is Federal and State management of fisheries within their own territorial waters. In the State of Florida on the West Coast boarding the Gulf of Mexico, Florida state waters extend out to 9 nautical miles (nm). Federal waters off of Florida extend from 9nm out to 200nm. In some fisheries like the Red Snapper the State of Florida manages only the private recreational anglers and state guide charter boats out to 200nm. Below is some of the major targeted Reef fish species out of Destin with information on when and who these fish can be harvested, size limits, and bag limits. It is important that if you book a charter boat anywhere in the Gulf of Mexico that you check with them on how the vessel is permitted and what are their specific vessel's season dates.
Red Snapper
2024 Federally Permitted For-hire Red Snapper Season:
June 1st - August 27th
​
2024 Florida Private Rec and State Guide Boat Season:
June 1st thru July 31st, then 3 day weekends
(Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) Sept. 1 thru Nov. 30
including Labor Day (9/2), Veterans Day (11/11),
and Thanksgiving Day (11/28)
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Daily Bag Limit: 2 per person
Minimum Size Limit: 16" Total Length
Greater Amberjack
2024 Federal and the State of Florida Season
September 1st - October 31st
​
Daily Bag Limit: 1 per person
Minimum Size Limit: 34" Fork Length
Grey Triggerfish
2024 Federal and the State of Florida Season
March 1st - May 31st
August 1st - December 31st
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Daily Bag Limit: 1 per person
Minimum Size Limit: 15" Fork Length
Gag Grouper
2024 Federal and the State of Florida Season
September 1st - September 15th
​
Daily Bag Limit: 2 per Person
(4 fish per Person Grouper Aggregate)
Minimum Size Limit: 24" Fork Length
Red Grouper
2024 Federal and the State of Florida Season
January 1st - June 30th
​
Closed February 1st - March 31st
when fishing beyond the 20 fathom break
​
Daily Bag Limit: 2 per person
(4 fish per Person Grouper Aggregate)
Minimum Size Limit: 20" Total Length
Scamp Grouper
2024 Federal and the State of Florida Season
January 1st - December 31st
​
Closed February 1st - March 31st
when fishing beyond the 20 fathom break
​
Daily Bag Limit: 4 per person
(4 fish per Person Grouper Aggregate)
Minimum Size Limit: 16" Total Length
Vermillion Snapper
aka "Mingo Snapper"
2024 Federal and the State of Florida Season
January 1st - December 31st
​
Daily Bag Limit: 10 per person
Minimum Size Limit: 10" Total Length
King Mackerel
2024 Federal and the State of Florida Season
January 1st - December 31st
​
Daily Bag Limit: 3 per person
Minimum Size Limit: 24" Fork Length