Gulf reef fish are the bottom-dwelling fish, such as snappers, groupers, amberjacks and triggerfish, that live around natural and artificial reefs on the continental shelf and are the main targets of offshore charter trips. Charters also troll for pelagic species that roam open water, such as king mackerel, cobia and mahi-mahi.[1][2][3] Several reef fish stocks are under federal rebuilding plans.[4][5]
Red snapper
Red snapper reach about 40 inches and 50 pounds, and Gulf fish up to 57 years old have been recorded. They live near hard bottom at depths of about 30 to 620 feet, and females can spawn from age two, from May to October. The Gulf stock is not overfished and not subject to overfishing but remains under a rebuilding plan begun in 2005, with a target of 2032.[1]
Groupers
Gag can exceed 3 feet and 50 pounds. They start life as females, mature at about age four and change to males at around age eight, and in the Gulf they spawn from late January to mid-April. The Gulf gag stock was assessed as overfished in 2021 and is under a rebuilding plan.[4]
Red grouper reach almost 50 inches and more than 50 pounds. They also change sex as they age, and they excavate patches of seafloor that create habitat for other species. The Gulf stock was assessed in 2025 as not overfished.[6]
Greater amberjack
Greater amberjack can grow to 6 feet and 200 pounds, though most caught are under 40 pounds. Adults gather around reefs and wrecks at 60 to 240 feet, while juveniles shelter under floating sargassum. The Gulf stock was first declared overfished in 2001 and is under a rebuilding plan targeting 2028.[5]
Gray triggerfish
Gray triggerfish reach about 28 inches and 13 pounds and live on hard bottom and artificial reefs at 80 to 300 feet. Males build and guard nests in the sand from April to August.[7]
Vermilion snapper
Vermilion snapper reach about 2 feet and 7 pounds and live at 60 to 400 feet, most often shallower than 180 feet. They can spawn by age one or two, and the Gulf stock is not overfished.[8]
Pelagic species
King mackerel reach about 5.5 feet and 100 pounds, migrate seasonally, rarely enter water colder than about 68 °F, and form separate Gulf and Atlantic populations.[2] Florida's minimum size is 24 inches fork length.[9]
Cobia grow to about 6 feet and 100 pounds and often gather around buoys, wrecks, reefs and large animals such as rays; fish found in the northeastern Gulf in summer move to south Florida in winter.[10] They spawn in the Gulf from April through September.[11] Florida's minimum size is 36 inches fork length.[12]
Mahi-mahi, or dolphinfish, live in the open ocean, often under floating objects and sargassum. They are usually about 3 feet long, mature in four to five months and live about four years at most.[3] In Florida's Gulf state waters the bag limit is 10 per person or 60 per vessel, whichever is less.[13]
References
- ^ ^ "Red Snapper". NOAA Fisheries, updated September 17, 2026. fisheries.noaa.gov
- ^ ^ "King Mackerel". NOAA Fisheries, updated June 26, 2026. fisheries.noaa.gov
- ^ ^ "Dolphinfish". Florida Museum of Natural History, updated February 5, 2025. floridamuseum.ufl.edu
- ^ ^ "Gag". NOAA Fisheries, updated June 25, 2026. fisheries.noaa.gov
- ^ ^ "Greater Amberjack". NOAA Fisheries, updated June 25, 2026. fisheries.noaa.gov
- ^ "Red Grouper". NOAA Fisheries, updated June 25, 2026. fisheries.noaa.gov
- ^ "Gray Triggerfish". NOAA Fisheries, updated June 25, 2026. fisheries.noaa.gov
- ^ "Vermilion Snapper". NOAA Fisheries, updated September 17, 2026. fisheries.noaa.gov
- ^ "King Mackerel". Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. myfwc.com
- ^ "Cobia". NOAA Fisheries, updated September 24, 2026. fisheries.noaa.gov
- ^ "Cobia". Florida Museum of Natural History, updated February 6, 2025. floridamuseum.ufl.edu
- ^ "Cobia". Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. myfwc.com
- ^ "Dolphinfish/Mahi-Mahi". Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. myfwc.com