At a meeting in March, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a limited, highly regulated recreational harvest of goliath grouper in state waters beginning in the spring of 2023.

The unique recreational opportunity is possible through conservation efforts by state and federal agencies that aided in the goliath grouper population rebuilding over the course of three decades, following years of overfishing. The limited harvest will allow access to a fishery that has been closed since 1990 by issuing up to 200 harvest permit tags via random-draw lottery.

The approved recreational harvest of goliath grouper includes:

• A recreational harvest of up to 200 goliath per year, with a maximum of 50 from Everglades National Park.

• A required recreational goliath harvest permit and tag, issued via a random-draw lottery, to legally harvest a goliath ($150 for residents, $500 for non-residents).

• Limiting harvest to one fish per person per open season with permit and tag, non-transferable.

• A March 1 through May 31 season.

• Allowable gear will be hook-and-line only.

• A slot limit of 24 inches to 36 inches total length.

• Harvest would be permitted in all state waters, except those of Martin County south through the Atlantic coast of the Keys, all of the St. Lucie River and its tributaries, and Dry Tortugas National Park.

• Post-harvest requirements, such as proper utilization of the harvest tag, reporting harvest data and submitting a fin clip for genetic analysis.

Harvest will continue to be prohibited in federal waters.

“After decades of closure to this fishery, we welcome this opportunity for a highly regulated, limited take of goliath grouper,” FWC Commissioner Robert Spottswood said. “In addition, the post-harvest data reporting will help guide future management decisions for this species.”

FWC staff have gathered stakeholder comments on the topic since 2017 from its commenting webpage, various commission meetings and workshops. The opportunity is intended to provide access to the fishery while balancing the values of various stakeholder groups. Goliath grouper over 36 inches in length will continue to be prohibited from harvest, as well as those in heavy dive ecotourism areas. The limited harvest is not intended to address fishing depredation concerns.

For additional information, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and click on “Commission Meetings.”