| 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 oz. 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; lifes-pan of at least 25 years; feeds on squid, crustaceans, and fish. Distribution: Western Atlantic coast, ranging from Virginia to Rio de Janeiro; occasionally north and south of usual limits. |
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