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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 oz. Remarks: forms spawning aggregations in
water no shallower than 120 feet in Middle Grounds area, January through March; current
research 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. |