Description: color brownish
red; lining of mouth scarlet-orange; blotches on sides in unorganized
pattern; second spine of dorsal fin longer than others; pectoral fins
longer than pelvic fins; squared off tail; margin of soft dorsal black
with white at midfin; black dots around the eyes.
Similar Fish: Nassau
grouper, E. striatus.
Where found: bottom
dwelling fish associated with hard bottom; juveniles OFFSHORE along with
adults greater than 6 years old; fish from 1 to 6 years occupy NEARSHORE
reefs.
Size: common to 15
pounds.
*Florida Record: 39 lbs.,
8 ozs.
Remarks: spawns in April
and May; prefer water temperatures between 66 and 77 degrees F; undergoes
sex reversal, young individual females becoming males as they age;
lifespan of at least 25 years; feeds on squid, crustaceans, and fish.
* 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.
