How to Get a Florida Goliath Grouper Harvest Permit for 2026 Reading Time: 2 minutes
A man and a woman up to their chests in the clear waters of the Florida Keys holding a medium-sized Goliath Grouper on a clear day
Photo courtesy of Goliath Charters Key West

Goliath Grouper are a heavily regulated species in Florida. But after being on the brink of survival for decades, their populations have recovered to a point where the FWC has begun issuing a very limited number of permits for their harvest.

Every year, from Oct 1–15, the FWC opens applications for the limited Goliath Grouper harvest season for the following year. In 2026, the season will take place from March 1 through May 31. The permits to harvest Goliath Grouper will be issued through a random draw lottery.

To apply, head to GoOutdoorsFlorida and pay a $10 fee. If you end up being one of the 200 lucky applicants and you win a harvest permit, you’ll have to pay an additional $150 if you’re a Florida resident and $500 if you’re from out of state.

An angler in a hat standing on a boat and holding a Goliath Grouper he caught towards the camera, with turquoise waters, mangroves, and overcast skies in the background.

With the harvest permit, you’ll be able to keep one Goliath Grouper measuring 24–36 inches during the open season. For the Grouper you decide to keep, you’ll have to report your harvest and submit a fin clip for genetic analysis.

The harvest regulations only apply to state waters, while federal fishing grounds will remain closed for retention. Generally, you can catch your one fish almost anywhere in Florida state waters. However, the Everglades National Park harvest season is limited to 50 Goliath Grouper. Also, you can’t keep any Goliath Grouper caught in the waters of Martin County, south through the Atlantic coast of the Keys, the St. Lucie River and its tributaries, nor Dry Tortugas National Park.

So if you’d like to keep a Goliath Grouper, don’t miss the application period between Oct 1 and Oct 15. It’s your one chance to enter the lottery and win a harvest permit. Of course, if you’d just like to wrestle a monster Grouper and release it afterwards, you can find a charter here.

Have you had a chance to keep a Goliath Grouper? How do you feel about the harvest regulations? Let us know in the comments below!

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