Fish guide
Gag
Mycteroperca microlepis. Also called Gag grouper, Gray grouper.
From shore here gag are juveniles living in the creeks for a few months (anglers report fish of about 4 to 10 in); adults live on offshore reefs. Release them.
Showing the fish for Charleston and the Lowcountry, SC.
Season in Charleston
NOAA: juvenile gag live in estuaries in structured habitat; adults are offshore. Charleston anglers report small juvenile gag on docks, piers and oyster beds around Folly and Mt. Pleasant that leave the creeks around October (CharlestonFishing forum, 2015). Mostly small fish; see local notes. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Charleston | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Georgia | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Northeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Florida Keys | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Tampa Bay | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Big Bend | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Docks, piers, wrecks and oyster beds in the estuary in summer (CharlestonFishing forum).
On the bottom near rock, ledges, reefs and wrecks; adults in groups of 5 to 50 or alone (Florida Museum).
What to look for
Ledges and hard bottom on the depth finder.
Bait
Live pinfish, Live pogies (menhaden), Live mullet, Pigfish, Cigar minnows, Threadfin herring, Grunts. .
Leader
Common mistakes
- Keeping small inshore gag; they are juveniles
Landing
Turn the fish up quickly before it reaches cover.
Handling
Unhook with pliers; release undersized fish quickly.
Keep or release
Inshore gag along the Atlantic coast are usually juveniles; release them. Rules differ by state and by federal season; see the regulations file. Florida Museum notes ciguatera has been reported but is very rare.
Typical: unknown. Large: More than 3 ft and up to 50 lb (NOAA); maximum 4.75 ft and 80.5 lb (Florida Museum).
South Carolina limits
No state limit entry.
Last checked 2026-10-11. A summary, not legal advice; the official rules win. SC Department of Natural Resources fishing regulations.
Sources
- NOAA Fisheries: gag grouper (Official source)
- CharlestonFishing.com forum, July 2015: inshore gags (juvenile gag around Folly, Mt. Pleasant docks and oyster beds) (Angler knowledge)
- Florida Museum, Discover Fishes: gag grouper (Official source)