Black Grouper

Source: Species facts, status language, and imagery adapted from the NOAA Fisheries species profile (last updated 06/25/2026). Ocean City charter and Maryland record notes are editorial orientation for OCEANCITY.MD readers. Always confirm current seasons, sizes, and bag limits before you fish—rules change.

About the species

The black grouper is a large, bottom-dwelling reef fish found in the warm waters of the southeastern United States including the South Atlantic, Gulf of America* (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Florida Keys, and Caribbean. Recognized by their dark, blotchy patterns and powerful build, these fish are highly sought after for both commercial and recreational fishing due to their firm, mild-flavored meat. They inhabit rocky reefs and ledges, feeding on smaller fish and crustaceans. Black grouper look similar to gag grouper and are often found in the same habitats.

Maryland record catch

Confirm whether Maryland DNR publishes an Atlantic state-record category for Black Grouper on the current sport-fish record board.

Verify on Maryland DNR — Sport Fish State Records . Record boards change when DNR accepts a new fish.

Maryland size & bag limits

Maryland lists black grouper in the snapper grouper complex grouper set: recreational limit is 1 of any species or combination of listed groupers—verify COMAR 08.02.05.29.

Editorial only — verify before you keep a fish. Confirm current seasons, sizes, and creel on Maryland eRegulations — Atlantic seasons, sizes & limits . Rules change; this page is orientation, not the legal digest. Also see verify regulations.

Population & fishing rate

Black grouper have an olive or gray body, with black blotches and brassy spots. Their cheeks are gently rounded.

Biology Black grouper begin life as a female and some change into males as they grow – usually between 2 to 4 feet in length (approximately 11 to 14 years old). The overall sex ratio is generally one male for every four females.

Black grouper are generally solitary fish until spawning season when they aggregate and spawn in huge numbers. Eggs are fertilized externally and float with the currents.

Young black grouper primarily feed on crustaceans, mostly shrimp, while adults mainly prey on fish and squid. They have large, powerful jaws and use their mouth and gills to suck up prey. Teeth plates in their throats prevent the prey from escaping once swallowed. Black grouper are known to take advantage of the reproductive aggregations of other species as an opportunity to feed.

Sharks prey upon large black grouper, while other grouper and moray eels prey upon smaller ones.

Where They Live Range Black grouper are found in the western Atlantic from Massachusetts to Brazil. They are particularly associated with the southern Gulf of America, Florida Keys, Cuba, the Bahamas, and throughout the Caribbean. The U.S. stock primarily occurs in the Florida Keys.

Appearance

• Black grouper begin life as a female and some change into males as they grow – usually between 2 to 4 feet in length (approximately 11 to 14 years old). The overall sex ratio is generally one male for every four females.
• Black grouper are generally solitary fish until spawning season when they aggregate and spawn in huge numbers. Eggs are fertilized externally and float with the currents.
• Young black grouper primarily feed on crustaceans, mostly shrimp, while adults mainly prey on fish and squid. They have large, powerful jaws and use their mouth and gills to suck up prey. Teeth plates in their throats prevent the prey from escaping once swallowed. Black grouper are known to take advantage of the reproductive aggregations of other species as an opportunity to feed.
• Sharks prey upon large black grouper, while other grouper and moray eels prey upon smaller ones.
• Where They Live Range Black grouper are found in the western Atlantic from Massachusetts to Brazil. They are particularly associated with the southern Gulf of America, Florida Keys, Cuba, the Bahamas, and throughout the Caribbean. The U.S. stock primarily occurs in the Florida Keys.
• Habitat Juvenile black grouper commonly live in seagrass and oyster rubble habitat in the Carolinas, and along reefs in the Florida Keys and in Brazil. Adults prefer rocky bottoms, drop-off walls and ledges, caves, crevices, and coral and artificial reefs. Black grouper are relatively sedentary and can remain in one particular site for some time. They move to progressively deeper waters as they age. They are found inshore up to depths of 656 feet (200 meters).
• Fishery Management NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic , Gulf , and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils manage the black grouper fishery.
• In the South Atlantic, black grouper are managed under the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan :
• Commercial fishermen must have a permit to fish, land, or sell black grouper. Managers limit the number of available permits to control the number of fishermen harvesting black grouper. Annual catch limits are used for black grouper in the commercial and recreational fisheries. These fisheries are closed when their annual catch limit is projected to be met. Both the commercial and recreational fisheries have size limits to reduce harvest of immature black grouper. In the South Atlantic, the commercial and recreational fishing seasons are closed from January through April to protect black grouper during their peak spawning period. Gear restrictions are used to reduce bycatch and protect habitat. There are eight deep-water marine protected areas and several spawning special management zones to protect habitats. The Oculina Experimental Closed Area is closed to fishing for and possession of all snappers and groupers to protect deepwater coral habitat and the reef fish it supports. In the Gulf of America, black grouper are managed under the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan :
• Commercial vessels must have a reef fish permit and individual fishing quota (IFQ) allocation to harvest black grouper. Black grouper is part of the Other Shallow-Water Grouper catch share category in the IFQ program. The annual catch limit is allocated between the commercial (76 percent) and recreational (24 percent) fisheries. The IFQ program ( catch shares ) allocates the commercial catch limit among shareholders with measures to prevent fishermen from harvesting more than their individual allocation. To reduce bycatch, there are restrictions on the type of gear fishermen may use and where they can fish. Minimum size limits protect immature black grouper. In the Gulf, year-round and/or seasonal area closures for commercial and recreational sectors to protect spawning groupers. Commercial data reporting requirements are in place. In the U.S. Caribbean, black grouper are managed under the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan , the St. Croix Fishery Management Plan , and the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan :
• Managed with other groupers under each fishery management plan: Grouper 4 Complex in Puerto Rico (black, red, tiger, yellowfin, and yellowmouth groupers). Grouper 5 Complex in St. Croix (black, red, tiger, and yellowfin groupers). Grouper 4 Complex in St. Thomas and St. John (black, red, tiger, and yellowfin groupers). Commercial and recreational annual catch limits for the Grouper 5 Complex in Puerto Rico and commercial annual catch limits for the two Grouper 4 complexes in St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John. Seasonal closure for black grouper in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John from February 1 through April 30 each year. Harvest Commercial Fishery In 2024, commercial landings of black grouper totaled 97,000 pounds and were valued at more than $666,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . There are limited landings in the U.S. Caribbean.
• Gear Types, Habitat Impacts, and Bycatch Commercial fishermen mainly use hook-and-line gear, including longlines and handlines, to harvest black grouper. Trawl gear, fish traps, and bottom longlines are prohibited in some areas to reduce bycatch. Several areas are closed to all fishing to protect snappers and groupers, including black grouper.
• Sea turtles and other reef fishes, such as snappers and groupers, can be incidentally caught while fishing for black grouper. In certain areas, fishermen are required to use circle hooks to improve the chance of survival of any unintentionally caught fish and to reduce turtle hookings.
• Commercial and charterboat/headboat reef fish fishermen must use appropriate release gear and follow handling protocols to increase the chance of survival for any incidentally caught sea turtles .
• Fishermen are encouraged to use venting tools or fish descenders when fish are caught showing signs of barotrauma. Barotrauma occurs when reef fish are quickly brought to the surface by hook-and-line and the gas in their swim bladders expands. Venting tools help deflate the expanded abdominal cavity, potentially reduce injury to the fish, and make it easier to return to deep water.
• Recreational Fishery Black grouper is a popular fish among recreational fishermen in the South Atlantic, Gulf of America, and Caribbean. In 2024, recreational anglers landed 100,000 pounds of black grouper, according to NOAA Fisheries’ recreational fishing landings database .
• Annual catch limits and accountability measures. Bag and size limits. The recreational fishery is closed during the spawning season (from January through April). In the Gulf of America:
• Annual catch limits and accountability measures. Bag and size limits. The recreational fishery is closed during the spawning season (from February 1 through March 31) in deep water (greater than 120 feet) to protect spawning aggregations. In the U.S. Caribbean:
• Annual catch limits. Seasonal closure for recreational fishing of black, red, tiger, yellowfin, and yellowedge groupers from February 1 through April 30. Bag and vessel limits.
• *Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. On August 7, 2025, NOAA Fisheries and the National Ocean Service amended regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the renaming. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes or previously published materials.
• Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Perciformes Family Serranidae Genus Mycteroperca Species bonaci Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 06/25/2026

Biology

• Black grouper are found in the western Atlantic from Massachusetts to Brazil. They are particularly associated with the southern Gulf of America, Florida Keys, Cuba, the Bahamas, and throughout the Caribbean. The U.S. stock primarily occurs in the Florida Keys.
• Habitat Juvenile black grouper commonly live in seagrass and oyster rubble habitat in the Carolinas, and along reefs in the Florida Keys and in Brazil. Adults prefer rocky bottoms, drop-off walls and ledges, caves, crevices, and coral and artificial reefs. Black grouper are relatively sedentary and can remain in one particular site for some time. They move to progressively deeper waters as they age. They are found inshore up to depths of 656 feet (200 meters).
• Fishery Management NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic , Gulf , and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils manage the black grouper fishery.
• In the South Atlantic, black grouper are managed under the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan :
• Commercial fishermen must have a permit to fish, land, or sell black grouper. Managers limit the number of available permits to control the number of fishermen harvesting black grouper. Annual catch limits are used for black grouper in the commercial and recreational fisheries. These fisheries are closed when their annual catch limit is projected to be met. Both the commercial and recreational fisheries have size limits to reduce harvest of immature black grouper. In the South Atlantic, the commercial and recreational fishing seasons are closed from January through April to protect black grouper during their peak spawning period. Gear restrictions are used to reduce bycatch and protect habitat. There are eight deep-water marine protected areas and several spawning special management zones to protect habitats. The Oculina Experimental Closed Area is closed to fishing for and possession of all snappers and groupers to protect deepwater coral habitat and the reef fish it supports. In the Gulf of America, black grouper are managed under the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan :
• Commercial vessels must have a reef fish permit and individual fishing quota (IFQ) allocation to harvest black grouper. Black grouper is part of the Other Shallow-Water Grouper catch share category in the IFQ program. The annual catch limit is allocated between the commercial (76 percent) and recreational (24 percent) fisheries. The IFQ program ( catch shares ) allocates the commercial catch limit among shareholders with measures to prevent fishermen from harvesting more than their individual allocation. To reduce bycatch, there are restrictions on the type of gear fishermen may use and where they can fish. Minimum size limits protect immature black grouper. In the Gulf, year-round and/or seasonal area closures for commercial and recreational sectors to protect spawning groupers. Commercial data reporting requirements are in place. In the U.S. Caribbean, black grouper are managed under the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan , the St. Croix Fishery Management Plan , and the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan :
• Managed with other groupers under each fishery management plan: Grouper 4 Complex in Puerto Rico (black, red, tiger, yellowfin, and yellowmouth groupers). Grouper 5 Complex in St. Croix (black, red, tiger, and yellowfin groupers). Grouper 4 Complex in St. Thomas and St. John (black, red, tiger, and yellowfin groupers). Commercial and recreational annual catch limits for the Grouper 5 Complex in Puerto Rico and commercial annual catch limits for the two Grouper 4 complexes in St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John. Seasonal closure for black grouper in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John from February 1 through April 30 each year. Harvest Commercial Fishery In 2024, commercial landings of black grouper totaled 97,000 pounds and were valued at more than $666,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . There are limited landings in the U.S. Caribbean.
• Gear Types, Habitat Impacts, and Bycatch Commercial fishermen mainly use hook-and-line gear, including longlines and handlines, to harvest black grouper. Trawl gear, fish traps, and bottom longlines are prohibited in some areas to reduce bycatch. Several areas are closed to all fishing to protect snappers and groupers, including black grouper.
• Sea turtles and other reef fishes, such as snappers and groupers, can be incidentally caught while fishing for black grouper. In certain areas, fishermen are required to use circle hooks to improve the chance of survival of any unintentionally caught fish and to reduce turtle hookings.
• Commercial and charterboat/headboat reef fish fishermen must use appropriate release gear and follow handling protocols to increase the chance of survival for any incidentally caught sea turtles .
• Fishermen are encouraged to use venting tools or fish descenders when fish are caught showing signs of barotrauma. Barotrauma occurs when reef fish are quickly brought to the surface by hook-and-line and the gas in their swim bladders expands. Venting tools help deflate the expanded abdominal cavity, potentially reduce injury to the fish, and make it easier to return to deep water.
• Recreational Fishery Black grouper is a popular fish among recreational fishermen in the South Atlantic, Gulf of America, and Caribbean. In 2024, recreational anglers landed 100,000 pounds of black grouper, according to NOAA Fisheries’ recreational fishing landings database .
• Annual catch limits and accountability measures. Bag and size limits. The recreational fishery is closed during the spawning season (from January through April). In the Gulf of America:
• Annual catch limits and accountability measures. Bag and size limits. The recreational fishery is closed during the spawning season (from February 1 through March 31) in deep water (greater than 120 feet) to protect spawning aggregations. In the U.S. Caribbean:
• Annual catch limits. Seasonal closure for recreational fishing of black, red, tiger, yellowfin, and yellowedge groupers from February 1 through April 30. Bag and vessel limits.
• *Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. On August 7, 2025, NOAA Fisheries and the National Ocean Service amended regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the renaming. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes or previously published materials.
• Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Perciformes Family Serranidae Genus Mycteroperca Species bonaci Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 06/25/2026

Where they live

Range

• Black grouper are found in the western Atlantic from Massachusetts to Brazil. They are particularly associated with the southern Gulf of America, Florida Keys, Cuba, the Bahamas, and throughout the Caribbean. The U.S. stock primarily occurs in the Florida Keys.
• Habitat Juvenile black grouper commonly live in seagrass and oyster rubble habitat in the Carolinas, and along reefs in the Florida Keys and in Brazil. Adults prefer rocky bottoms, drop-off walls and ledges, caves, crevices, and coral and artificial reefs. Black grouper are relatively sedentary and can remain in one particular site for some time. They move to progressively deeper waters as they age. They are found inshore up to depths of 656 feet (200 meters).

Habitat

• NOAA Fisheries and the South Atlantic , Gulf , and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils manage the black grouper fishery.
• In the South Atlantic, black grouper are managed under the Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan :
• Commercial fishermen must have a permit to fish, land, or sell black grouper. Managers limit the number of available permits to control the number of fishermen harvesting black grouper. Annual catch limits are used for black grouper in the commercial and recreational fisheries. These fisheries are closed when their annual catch limit is projected to be met. Both the commercial and recreational fisheries have size limits to reduce harvest of immature black grouper. In the South Atlantic, the commercial and recreational fishing seasons are closed from January through April to protect black grouper during their peak spawning period. Gear restrictions are used to reduce bycatch and protect habitat. There are eight deep-water marine protected areas and several spawning special management zones to protect habitats. The Oculina Experimental Closed Area is closed to fishing for and possession of all snappers and groupers to protect deepwater coral habitat and the reef fish it supports. In the Gulf of America, black grouper are managed under the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan :
• Commercial vessels must have a reef fish permit and individual fishing quota (IFQ) allocation to harvest black grouper. Black grouper is part of the Other Shallow-Water Grouper catch share category in the IFQ program. The annual catch limit is allocated between the commercial (76 percent) and recreational (24 percent) fisheries. The IFQ program ( catch shares ) allocates the commercial catch limit among shareholders with measures to prevent fishermen from harvesting more than their individual allocation. To reduce bycatch, there are restrictions on the type of gear fishermen may use and where they can fish. Minimum size limits protect immature black grouper. In the Gulf, year-round and/or seasonal area closures for commercial and recreational sectors to protect spawning groupers. Commercial data reporting requirements are in place. In the U.S. Caribbean, black grouper are managed under the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan , the St. Croix Fishery Management Plan , and the St. Thomas and St. John Fishery Management Plan :
• Managed with other groupers under each fishery management plan: Grouper 4 Complex in Puerto Rico (black, red, tiger, yellowfin, and yellowmouth groupers). Grouper 5 Complex in St. Croix (black, red, tiger, and yellowfin groupers). Grouper 4 Complex in St. Thomas and St. John (black, red, tiger, and yellowfin groupers). Commercial and recreational annual catch limits for the Grouper 5 Complex in Puerto Rico and commercial annual catch limits for the two Grouper 4 complexes in St. Croix and St. Thomas/St. John. Seasonal closure for black grouper in federal waters around Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John from February 1 through April 30 each year. Harvest Commercial Fishery In 2024, commercial landings of black grouper totaled 97,000 pounds and were valued at more than $666,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . There are limited landings in the U.S. Caribbean.
• Gear Types, Habitat Impacts, and Bycatch Commercial fishermen mainly use hook-and-line gear, including longlines and handlines, to harvest black grouper. Trawl gear, fish traps, and bottom longlines are prohibited in some areas to reduce bycatch. Several areas are closed to all fishing to protect snappers and groupers, including black grouper.
• Sea turtles and other reef fishes, such as snappers and groupers, can be incidentally caught while fishing for black grouper. In certain areas, fishermen are required to use circle hooks to improve the chance of survival of any unintentionally caught fish and to reduce turtle hookings.
• Commercial and charterboat/headboat reef fish fishermen must use appropriate release gear and follow handling protocols to increase the chance of survival for any incidentally caught sea turtles .
• Fishermen are encouraged to use venting tools or fish descenders when fish are caught showing signs of barotrauma. Barotrauma occurs when reef fish are quickly brought to the surface by hook-and-line and the gas in their swim bladders expands. Venting tools help deflate the expanded abdominal cavity, potentially reduce injury to the fish, and make it easier to return to deep water.
• Recreational Fishery Black grouper is a popular fish among recreational fishermen in the South Atlantic, Gulf of America, and Caribbean. In 2024, recreational anglers landed 100,000 pounds of black grouper, according to NOAA Fisheries’ recreational fishing landings database .
• Annual catch limits and accountability measures. Bag and size limits. The recreational fishery is closed during the spawning season (from January through April). In the Gulf of America:
• Annual catch limits and accountability measures. Bag and size limits. The recreational fishery is closed during the spawning season (from February 1 through March 31) in deep water (greater than 120 feet) to protect spawning aggregations. In the U.S. Caribbean:
• Annual catch limits. Seasonal closure for recreational fishing of black, red, tiger, yellowfin, and yellowedge groupers from February 1 through April 30. Bag and vessel limits.
• *Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. On August 7, 2025, NOAA Fisheries and the National Ocean Service amended regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the renaming. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes or previously published materials.
• Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Perciformes Family Serranidae Genus Mycteroperca Species bonaci Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 06/25/2026

Ocean City & Mid-Atlantic context

From Ocean City, Maryland, use this Black Grouper profile as NOAA Mid-Atlantic directory context—not a promise you will meet the species on every charter.

Always verify current Maryland and federal size, season, and bag rules for your exact date and coordinates before you keep any catch.

Source facts and imagery are adapted from the NOAA Fisheries species profile for Black Grouper.

What charter to book from Ocean City

Black Grouper may appear on Ocean City trips depending on season and habitat—use the NOAA biology below and book the charter archetype that matches how you will actually fish.

Possible / related

• Bay guide — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
• Inshore charter — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
• Casting / light tackle — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
• Nearshore wreck / bottom — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
• Offshore charter — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
• Head / party boat — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.

Not typical from OC

• Trolling charter — Not a typical Ocean City trolling charter target for Black Grouper.

Start with the charter directory trip-type picker so you compare boats inside the right archetype—not a bay-guide quote against a canyon invoice.

Related reading

• Plan a fishing day in Ocean City — Pick the trip archetype before you chase a species story.
• Charter directory stubs & trip-type picker — Compare boats inside the right archetype.
• Verify Maryland fishing regulations — DNR + NOAA steps before you keep any fish from an OC trip.
• Nearshore wreck fishing hub — Structure days from West Ocean City.
• Offshore sport fishing hub — Canyon and bluewater context from Ocean City.

Fishery management

• Commercial Fishery In 2024, commercial landings of black grouper totaled 97,000 pounds and were valued at more than $666,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . There are limited landings in the U.S. Caribbean.
• Gear Types, Habitat Impacts, and Bycatch Commercial fishermen mainly use hook-and-line gear, including longlines and handlines, to harvest black grouper. Trawl gear, fish traps, and bottom longlines are prohibited in some areas to reduce bycatch. Several areas are closed to all fishing to protect snappers and groupers, including black grouper.
• Sea turtles and other reef fishes, such as snappers and groupers, can be incidentally caught while fishing for black grouper. In certain areas, fishermen are required to use circle hooks to improve the chance of survival of any unintentionally caught fish and to reduce turtle hookings.
• Commercial and charterboat/headboat reef fish fishermen must use appropriate release gear and follow handling protocols to increase the chance of survival for any incidentally caught sea turtles .
• Fishermen are encouraged to use venting tools or fish descenders when fish are caught showing signs of barotrauma. Barotrauma occurs when reef fish are quickly brought to the surface by hook-and-line and the gas in their swim bladders expands. Venting tools help deflate the expanded abdominal cavity, potentially reduce injury to the fish, and make it easier to return to deep water.
• Recreational Fishery Black grouper is a popular fish among recreational fishermen in the South Atlantic, Gulf of America, and Caribbean. In 2024, recreational anglers landed 100,000 pounds of black grouper, according to NOAA Fisheries’ recreational fishing landings database .
• Annual catch limits and accountability measures. Bag and size limits. The recreational fishery is closed during the spawning season (from January through April). In the Gulf of America:
• Annual catch limits and accountability measures. Bag and size limits. The recreational fishery is closed during the spawning season (from February 1 through March 31) in deep water (greater than 120 feet) to protect spawning aggregations. In the U.S. Caribbean:

Harvest

• See the NOAA wild-caught fishery section for landings and gear notes when published for this species.

Landings and management details matter most for the waters where Black Grouper is actually fished—see the NOAA species profile .

Seafood facts

After a real OC boat day or market stop for Black Grouper, Seafood after boat days covers dock buffer and cook-your-catch pacing.

Scientific classification

Plan the rest of the trip