Gag Grouper Season Is Here — Save on Tampa Bay Fishing Charters This September
- captaincodygibbons
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Gag grouper season in Tampa Bay opens every September, and it's one of the best times of year to book a trip. To celebrate, Captain Cody's Tampa Bay Fishing Charters is offering $75 off all fishing charters through September 15, 2026. Use promo code 75off when booking online or call. If you've been waiting for the right time to book a Tampa Bay gag grouper fishing charter, this is it.
Why Gag Grouper Season in Tampa Bay Is a Big Deal
Gag grouper are some of the most sought-after fish in Tampa Bay — and for good reason. They're delicious, they put up a serious fight, and they typically run 20 to 30 lbs, making for a great day on the water and a freezer full of quality fillets. You can find them both inshore and offshore, which makes them accessible whether you're looking for a shorter trip close to home or want to venture out a little further.
"Here are the methods I use to catch gag grouper. I grew up fishing here in Tampa Bay, and they've worked well for me," say Captain Cody Gibbons
There are two go-to methods for putting gag grouper in the boat:
Trolling deep-diving lures. This is a favorite approach — deep-diving lures that dive to around 25 feet, run on a larger spinning reel, trolled along ledges and rock piles. It's an active, exciting way to fish. You work the structure until that drag starts screaming, and there's nothing quite like that first run.
Bottom fishing with cut or live bait. Using that same heavy spinning reel setup, drop a chunk of cut bait or live bait straight down to the bottom and hold on. This method can take a little patience — sometimes it's a slow build — but it consistently produces fish.
If your goal this year is filling the freezer with gag grouper, we recommend booking a 6-hour inshore trip. And if you want a change of pace, snapper are biting well right now too. September also brings the first hints of fall temperatures to Tampa Bay, which kicks off the fall bite — so there's a lot to be excited about on the water this month.
Gag Grouper Season Regulations: FWC Guidelines for September 2026
Before you book, here's what you need to know about the current regulations:
Season dates: Recreational gag grouper season in Tampa Bay and federal waters runs September 1 through September 30, 2026.
Bag limit: Anglers may keep 2 gag grouper per person per day, with a minimum size of 24 inches total length, as part of the 4-fish aggregate grouper limit.
Goliath grouper: Goliath grouper can be legally targeted in Tampa Bay during September, but it's strictly catch-and-release — fish must be released immediately, alive and unharmed.
As always, we stay current on FWC regulations and will make sure your trip is fully compliant, so all you have to worry about is reeling them in.
Book Your Tampa Bay Gag Grouper Fishing Charter
Whether you're chasing gag grouper for the table, going after snapper, or just want to get out on the water as the fall bite starts to turn on, now's the time to save on Tampa Bay fishing charters. The $75 discount runs through September 15, 2026, on all charters.
About Captain Cody's Tampa Bay Fishing Charters
Captain Cody's Tampa Bay Fishing Charters offers private, custom inshore and nearshore fishing trips throughout Tampa Bay. As a Tampa Bay native, Captain Cody calls ahead of every trip to talk through what you're hoping to catch, then builds the day around it — whether that's working the backcountry and mangroves for redfish, snook, and trout, or anchoring up on a reef to fill the cooler with bottom fish. Every trip is backed by a No Fish, No Fee guarantee, and the crew handles the license, gear, bait, and cleaning your catch, so all you have to do is show up ready to fish. It's this kind of guest-first approach that has earned Captain Cody's a strong reputation and consistently high ratings on Google — book your trip today and see why anglers keep coming back.
