Description: brownish gray
in color with dark worm-like markings on sides; strong serrated spur at
bottom margin of preopercle, less noticeable in large specimens; fins
dark, with anal and caudal having white margin. Often confused with black
grouper; tail of gag is slightly concave, black is square; gag has white
margin on anal and caudal fins, black does not; under 10 pounds, gag's
spur on preopercle is distinctive, where black is gently rounded.
Similar Fish: black
grouper M. bonaci.
Where found: adults
OFFSHORE over rocks and reefs; juveniles occur in seagrass beds INSHORE.
Size: common to 25
pounds.
*Florida Record: 71 lbs.,
3 ozs.
Remarks: forms spawning
aggregations in water no shallower than 120 feet in Middle Grounds area,
January through March; current reseach to identify similar aggregations
off Atlantic coast is ongoing. Young gags are predominantly female,
transforming into males as they grow larger; feeds on fish and squid.
* The Florida records
quoted are from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's
printed publication, Fishing
Lines and are not necessarily the most current ones. The records are
provided as only as a benchmark.
