Grouper may change their color but not their spots!
Gag grouper are mostly caught in the same dark brown color as the Black grouper but are also found in light gray or green hues as pictured above. The most distinctive difference between the gag and black grouper is the chain pattern of the Black grouper. Gag grouper will have a blotched pattern but never the distinctive chain pattern. The Yellowfin grouper pictured at the bottom is in it's Red phase but also has a Green phase. Scamp and Yellowmouth grouper are two more commonly caught fish in the Sarasota area and it will take a trained eye to tell them apart from Black or Gag grouper. When the colors match, you need to look for the subtle deference's in patterns, mouth size and color, tail and fin shapes, etc. Another popular grouper is the Red grouper.