Grouper

I hope you find this fish info helpful on Charter Fishing on the Gulf Of Mexico out of Johns Pass Madeira Beach Florida.   Please call me if there are any other questions I can discuss with you.

The Grouper Family (typically caught species)

Red Grouper: Epinephelus morio

Appearance:

  • 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

Additional Information

State Record: 42 lb 4 oz, caught near St. Augustine Inlet

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Gag Grouper: Mycteroperca microlepis

Appearance:

  • Brownish gray in color with dark, worm-like side markings
  • Fins dark, with anal and caudal having a white margin
  • Lack of brassy spots as found on black grouper
  • Slightly concave tail
  • Noticeable spur located on the preopercle

Grouper are born as females but can later become male. Gag and red grouper are the most widely distributed of the Florida groupers. Goliath and Nassau grouper are protected from harvest in Florida waters. Grouper spawn between January and May with some of the more tropical species spawning year-round.

Additional Information

State Record: 80 lb 6 oz, caught near Destin

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Black Grouper: Mycteroperca bonaci

black

Appearance:

  • Olive or gray body coloration with black blotches and brassy spots
  • gently rounded preopercle
  • Similar in appearance to gag and yellowfin groupers

Additional Information

State Record: 113 lb 6 oz, caught near the Dry Tortugas

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Scamp Grouper: Mycteroperca phenax

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Appearance:

  • Color light gray or brown
  • Large adults with elongated caudal-fin rays
  • Reddish brown spots are on sides that tend to be grouped into lines

Additional Information

State Record: 28 lb 6 oz, caught near Mayport

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Rock Hind Grouper

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Speckled Hind Grouper

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Red Hind Grouper

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Goliath Grouper: Epinephelus itajara

Description

The giant of the grouper family, the goliath (formerly called jewfish) has brown or yellow mottling with small black spots on the head and fins, a large mouth with jawbones that extend well past its small eyes, and a rounded tail. It also has five dark body bands or stripes that are most visible on young goliath.

  • Harvest and possession has been prohibited in both state and federal waters off Florida since 1990.

goli

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Graysby Grouper 

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